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nerfherder86's review
3.0
A picture book that uses bright colorful abstract paintings to tell the story of George Mendoza, who went blind at age 15 but still had some peripheral vision. He ran in the "Olympics for the Disabled" in 1980 and 1984, setting records. Began to paint "what he sees" and also became a motivational speaker for kids; has a foundation to promote art.
wordnerd153's review
3.0
The illustrations, done by George Mendoza, are vibrant and interesting. Unfortunately, the text felt uninspired and unsophisticated. As my husband said, just because you write for a 5-year old doesn't mean you have to write like one. Interesting man, boring biography.
tashrow's review
5.0
George loved to move, so he decided to be a basketball player. Then one day the world outside looked red to him and he started to see other colorful squiggles in the air and suffer from constant headaches. The doctor told him that he was going blind, but George didn’t lose all of his sight, instead he continued to see bright colors and flashing lights. He had to stop playing basketball because he could no longer see the basket. Eventually, George took up running, mostly because it made him so tired that he could forget being blind. He could run very fast, so fast that he went to the Olympics, twice. But George continued to see a world of colors that no one else could see. It wasn’t until a friend was killed that he started to ask himself why he was there, and George started to talk about being blind to groups and also to paint the world that he sees.
A truly inspirational story, Mendoza is an example of someone being incredible resilient in the face of a life-changing disability. The fact that he began to run after losing his sight is amazing and also inspiring. But it is his visions and his art that shine on the page, a world painted in colors that only he can see. The process of George becoming an artist is shown in all of its slow progression which also gives the sense that there is time to find your path, time to be the person you are meant to be.
Seeing his paintings on the page is immensely powerful. They are bold and bright, done in thick lines. They have a voice to them that shouts on the page and they tell the story of what George sees more clearly than any words can.
Highly recommended, this picture book biography is a powerful tale of resilience and overcoming barriers. Appropriate for ages 7-10.
A truly inspirational story, Mendoza is an example of someone being incredible resilient in the face of a life-changing disability. The fact that he began to run after losing his sight is amazing and also inspiring. But it is his visions and his art that shine on the page, a world painted in colors that only he can see. The process of George becoming an artist is shown in all of its slow progression which also gives the sense that there is time to find your path, time to be the person you are meant to be.
Seeing his paintings on the page is immensely powerful. They are bold and bright, done in thick lines. They have a voice to them that shouts on the page and they tell the story of what George sees more clearly than any words can.
Highly recommended, this picture book biography is a powerful tale of resilience and overcoming barriers. Appropriate for ages 7-10.
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