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From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

James Cross Giblin’s astute and insightful biography of the infamous Wisconsin senator looks at both the life of the man and and the post-war climate in the late 1940s and early 1950s that helped fuel his rise to national power. Yet some of the most fascinating traits Giblin reveals about McCarthy precede his infamy. A highly motivated self-starter, McCarthy sought his first elected office when still in his twenties, and from early in his political career he found ways to exploit the truth and the media, using negative campaign tactics that are common today. He boldly altered his personal history to make himself appear a more patriotic and appealing candidate in his early runs for office. All these details, along with McCarthy’s gambling, drinking, and ever-growing fanaticism that was as much or more about the desire for power than the desire to battle Communism make for fascinating reading. It’s also a chilling look at how power and politics can be so easily exploited, one that invites discussion of important topics that have continued relevance today, including the role of journalism and the media in a democracy. (Age 14 and older)

CCBC Choices 2010 © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2010. Used with permission.

From Horn Book

January 1, 2010
Giblin describes how, from an early age, McCarthy displayed admirable qualities--hard work, dedication, and ambition. But as he tasted political power, he used his gifts to undermine the public good rather than serve it. This biography, liberally illustrated with photographs, meticulously covers the details of McCarthy's life. Additionally, Giblin does an excellent job of limning the 1950s political and cultural landscape. Bib., ind.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Publisher's Weekly

December 7, 2009
Using extensive detail and context, this ambitious biography explores one of the country's most controversial senators. In 27 chapters, punctuated by b&w photos and political cartoons, Giblin (The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler
) presents Sen. Joe McCarthy as a risk-taking, limelight-loving, revenge-seeking demagogue. The author takes readers from McCarthy's childhood in rural Wisconsin to his work as a judge, Marine, and, finally, U.S. senator. Little-known facts (McCarthy was a chicken farmer before starting high school at age 20, and he graduated in one year) pique interest early. However, the narrative bogs down somewhat. The introduction of numerous political figures and their backgrounds, international crises (alleged torture of German WWII prisoners by the U.S., battles in the Korean War, etc.), polling data, and excerpts from Senate hearings may have younger readers losing the man amid the contextual asides. (Older audiences, though, should appreciate the comprehensiveness.) While the extensive background slows the story, Giblin's unmistakable research and passion for the subject add up to a comprehensive portrayal of a complex figure. Abundant source notes and further reading suggestions conclude this expansive undertaking. Ages 12–up.

From School Library Journal

December 1, 2009
Gr 7-10-Giblin includes considerable information about McCarthy's background and earlier career, but devotes most of the book to his election to the Senate and use of intimidation and smear tactics to gain enormous political power before his eventual public disgrace and early, alcohol-related death. The author provides limited background and context about the public fear of communism, but his main focus is on McCarthy's actions and the damage they did to innocent people and organizations. He includes extensive detail about McCarthy's campaigns and Senate hearings, which occasionally makes for dry reading. However, that problem is eclipsed by the weaknesses of the author's sources and his dated perspective on the McCarthy and early Cold War era. His most cited sources are biographies by Thomas Reeves (Stein & Day, 1982) and journalist Tom Wicker (Houghton, 2006), but he also repeatedly cites Wikipedia and the "Columbia Encyclopedia". Although his source discussion mentions recent scholarship based upon declassified materials in the U.S. and the Soviet Union that documents Soviet espionage and penetration into the American government from the 1930s through the Cold War, he does not adequately take those discoveries into account. McCarthy's behavior and methods were inexcusable, but his crusade makes more sense when placed into the larger context of Cold War fears and the peril that those on the left, many admirers of the ideals of communism, faced when Americans began to view the Soviets as enemies and those who had associated with them as traitors. Excellent quality archival photos and political cartoons appear throughout. An additional title."Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Horn Book

November 1, 2009
Having already explored the lives of Hitler (The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler, rev. 5/02) and John Wilkes Booth (Good Brother, Bad Brother, rev. 5/05), Giblin has selected another villain, Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy, as his latest biographical subject. From an early age, Joe displayed lots of admirable qualities -- hard work, personal charm, dedication, and ambition. But as McCarthy tasted political power -- first as a judge, then as a senator -- he used these gifts to undermine the public good rather than serve it. McCarthy didn't create the Red Scare -- in the aftermath of World War II there was plenty of apprehension about the new world order and the global spread of Communism -- but he exploited that apprehension with his devious witch-hunting tactics, leading President Eisenhower to remark that his behavior amounted to "the most disloyal act we have ever had by anyone in the government of the United States." McCarthy died in 1957 at forty-eight (from cirrhosis of the liver), but his legacy lives on in the collective memory of the nation, reawakened from time to time by political scandals and civil rights abuses. While this biography meticulously covers the details of McCarthy's life, exactly what made him tick remains a mystery; however, Giblin does an excellent job of limning the 1950s political and cultural landscape. Liberally illustrated with photographs. A bibliography, source notes, and an index are appended.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Booklist

October 15, 2009
Grades 8-12 McCarthyism has become a synonym for scare tactics and unfounded accusations against those labeled unpatriotic, and YAs will see the contemporary parallels in this biography of the anti-Communist crusader who rose to power over 50 years ago with strong public support. More than the detailed biographies of individual politicians, it is the early 1950s political scene that will grab todays readers: the atmosphere of caution and fear; people blacklisted for suspected subversive behavior; the enthusiastic crowds who supported Joes fiery rhetoric about getting rid of all the Commie spies and traitors; the firings of those labeled disloyal; and the lies and bluffing. Giblins title, formatted with an open, photo-filled design and written in an easy, direct style, makes no superficial connections, and the afterword, Another McCarthy? will prompt discussion about the accusations of terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11. Just as memorable is the scathing commentary from famous journalist Edward Murrow about the differences between dissent and disloyalty. The extensive back matter includes substantive source notes and a bibliography.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)