Bartali's Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy's Secret Hero by Megan Hoyt (A Book Review)
- thenerdyhammy
- Aug 27
- 2 min read
Ages: 4 - 8
Description: History, Picture Book
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Pages: 40
Published: 2021
Location: Italy
Time Period: 1940s
Blurb:
“Gino Bartali pedaled across Italy for years, winning one cycling race after another, including the 1938 Tour de France. Gino became an international sports hero! But the next year, World War II began, and it changed everything. Soldiers marched into Italy. Tanks rolled down the cobbled streets of Florence. And powerful leaders declared that Jewish people should be arrested.
To the entire world, Gino Bartali was merely a champion cyclist. But Gino’s greatest achievement was something he never told a soul—that he secretly worked with the Italian resistance to save hundreds of Jewish men, women, and children, and others, from certain death, using the one thing no authority would question: his bicycle.” (Taken from Amazon)
Review:
“Some medals are pinned to your soul, not your jacket.”
This picture book about a little known hero during World War II is absolutely gorgeous. The writing is simple and heartfelt, the art is stunning, and Bartali himself is brave, cunning, compassionate, and humble. “Those who have suffered in their soul, in their heart, in their spirit, in their mind, for their loved ones are the real heroes,’ Gino said, ‘I’m just a cyclist.’” The book's main focus is on this cyclist’s underground activities during World War II.
The back content offers a timeline with more facts and important dates about Bartali’s life, a “Dear Reader” page written by Bartali’s granddaughter, and an “Author’s Note” that shares more information about the underground group, DELASEM, that Bartali worked with.
Related Resources:
Gino Bartali Museum of Cycling (located in Florence, Italy)
If you’re planning a trip to Italy, you might want to add this place to your itinerary. The museum focuses on Bartali’s career as a cyclist and displays his trophies and other items. There is also a section dedicated to other famous cyclists, bicycles from the time period, and an archive with audio and visual testimonies about Bartali.
YouTube: Gino Bartali | Trailblazers - Episode 7 | Eurosport
This short documentary (around 8 minutes) gives a fuller look at Bartali’s life. There is footage from his races, pictures, and clips from later interviews with the famous cyclist.
Note: The video mentions death camps and how anyone caught helping Jews would be killed. The video and Bartali also share about the death of his brother (car accident) and some of the resulting trauma.
Pinterest: World War 2 Books
Check out our boards for more videos, activities, and other resources.
Content in Summary:
The only content concerns here are mentions of Adolf Hilter’s antisemitic agenda and some of the persecutions (arrests, firing, etc.). Nothing overtly graphic is mentioned or illustrated.
Content in Detail:
Past Philosophies & Ideologies:
Mentions of Adolf Hitler’s antisemitic agenda and persecution:
Hitler declared that Jews were not “human.”
A full page illustration of children sitting in a canvas truck (surrounded by soldiers). A mother stands outside holding the hand of a little boy inside.
Mention of Jews being fired from their jobs, being forced out of their homes, and being packed in trains and sent away.
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