Gr 5-8-The cycling superstar's story is told clearly, without glossing over some of the rough spots in his life. The only child of a single mother who obviously instilled in him the value of perseverance, he started cycling at the age of 13 and suffered many accidents and crashes for years before achieving success. His well-known recovery from cancer is the most spectacular of his many triumphs over adversity, and he has since gone on to be the second person to win the Tour de France five times in a row. (If he wins again this coming July, he will set a world record.) Also covered are his thoroughly admirable fund-raising efforts for cancer research; he refers to "the obligation of the cured." A few black-and-white, fairly unremarkable photos are included, as is a hefty amount of end matter (35 pages): a time line, chapters on how to become a professional athlete and how to become a professional fund-raiser, and several lists for further reading. While a few minor grammatical errors and typos appear in the text, overall this is a straightforward treatment of a popular athlete. Kimberly Garcia's Lance Armstrong (Mitchell Lane, 2002), is for a younger audience.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
