Pelé: The King of Soccer

Pele, the Brazilian soccer player famous around the world, is an ideal subject for a graphic biography. His career was a dizzying rags-to-riches story. When Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born, his family had just installed their first electric light, and they named him after Thomas Edison (he acquired his nickname later). His father, a soccer player whose climb to fame was ruined by an early injury, nurtured his son's talent. Pele's rise to fame was meteoric; he played in his first World Cup match at 17 and gave the car he won to his father. More glory as a player awaited, but his life was complicated by political upheaval in Brazil and by personal crises. His greatest pleasure was to slip away and find ordinary children to practice with. Brascaglia crams as much information and drama into his panels as Simon does into the text. An extra dimension is Pele's status as an athlete of color in a country where whites held power. The story is gripping straight through, and a sterling choice for reluctant readers. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)

Gr 7 Up--Pele, widely known as the greatest soccer player of all time, was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, a wiry little village boy from Brazil. With his lightning-speed knack for dribbling and shooting, he quickly ran out of children to play with-- but his father, a former professional player, encouraged his son to embrace the game. Pele earned his nickname as he became a professional soccer player at 15 and won a spot on the national team only a year later. He was dubbed "O Rei" (or "king"), helped Brazil win three FIFA World Cups, and became the all-time leading goal scorer in the history of Brazilian soccer. Simon acknowledges that Pele's life isn't all awards and international fame--the graphic novel covers corrupt sports officials, an authoritarian dictatorship that tries to control Pele as its national treasure, and family strife. However, the focus is on Pele's tremendous impact on soccer internationally and his efforts to improve social conditions in his homeland. The book's linear trajectory is easy to follow, though it spans many years and the political intrigues hint at a much more complicated backstory. Readers who aren't sports fans may find the play-by-play tedious at times, but the dialogue never becomes too technical. The artwork is active and graceful--occasionally frenetic, depicting what Pele called "the beautiful game." VERDICT A great addition for graphic novel collections and a good way to attract reluctant readers.--Michael Marie Jacobs, Darlington School, GA