The Brave Cyclist: The True Story of a Holocaust Hero

This picture book biography tells the story of Gino Bartali, who became obsessed with bicycles and racing at a young age. Despite being poor and small, his determination and practice lead to his winning the Tour de France, cycling's biggest event. But the world was on the brink of war and things were particularly bad in his home country of Italy. Bartali's special gift of cycling endurance is called in to help the plight of Italy's Jewish population, as he uses his bicycle to smuggle identification documents across Italy, allowing Jews to take on a non-Jewish identity to protect themselves.

So much information is packed within this small picture book and the story is told in a completely compelling way. Although it is subtitled as a show more Holocaust story, it is about Bartali's life and actions rather than the atrocities of genocide. Therefore, even young readers can engage with this story without being overwhelmed by horrifying events. Backmatter rounds out the story with more biographical details about Bartali and his legacy. show less

Once a skinny and weak child, Gino Bartali rose to become a Tour de France champion and one of cycling's greatest stars. But all that seemed unimportant when his country came under the grip of a brutal dictator and entered World War II on the side of Nazi Germany. Bartali might have appeared a mere bystander to the harassment and hatred directed toward Italy’s Jewish people, but secretly he accepted a role in a dangerous plan to help them. Putting his own life at risk, Bartali used his speed and endurance on a bike to deliver documents Jewish people needed to escape harm. His inspiring story reveals how one person could make a difference against violence and prejudice during the time of the Holocaust.

Juvenile Biography of Gino Bartali, games Italian cyclist who won the Giro d'Italia in 1936 and the Tour de France in both 1938 AND again in 1948, after WWII. But it was his heroic actions to help Jewish Italian DURING WWII, unknown to many for so many years, which is the focus of this biography. He used his celebrity and his unique cycling skills to render aid.