Tank Man, Michael Burgan
Tank Man, Michael Burgan
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Tank Man
How a Photograph Defined China's Protest Movement

Author: Michael Burgan

Narrator: Various Narrators

Unabridged: 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Capstone Press

Published: 08/10/2017


Synopsis

No one knew his name. But soon millions would know about his bravery. For almost two months in spring 1989, Beijing’s Tiananmen Square had been the site of growing protests against China's hardline communist  government. In early June, China’s leaders had had enough. In a matter of days soldiers cleared the square. They used sticks and cattle prods. They shot rubber bullets, then real ones. They used bayonets. Student protesters fought back with firebombs and rocks, but they were no match for the soldiers. Gunfire still rang out in parts of Beijing, but China’s leaders felt in control. As tanks rumbled through the streets near Tiananmen Square, a man in a white shirt came suddenly into view. He held up his right hand, like a police officer trying to halt traffic. The first huge tank in a row of four stopped just a few feet in front of the man. The tanks behind it stopped as well. Photographer Jeff Widener took a picture of the brave protester halting the huge armored fighting vehicles. The image was soon sent around the world, becoming one of the most famous photographs ever.

About Michael Burgan

Michael Burgan has written more than 250 books for children and young adults. His specialty is history, with an emphasis on biography. A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in history, Burgan is also a produced playwright and the editor of The Biographer’s Craft, the newsletter for Biographers International Organization. He first started writing for children as an editor at Weekly Reader before beginning his freelance career in 1994. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Barbara on March 20, 2014

This is a great entry in the Captured History series since it provides some information about a photograph that captured the attention of the world when it first appeared back in 1989. Filled with large photographs of this pivotal moment in Chinese history when one brave man, one lone protester, sto......more

Goodreads review by Prem on May 07, 2016

The book traverse through China & its politics through a single photo. Have never heard of Tank Man before picking this book up. Also the experiences of the photographer(s) who cliked this photo. Very well put book with good amount of photos makes this book a good read.......more

Goodreads review by Brenda on August 26, 2017

Interesting. Well-designed with plenty of white space and a photo on nearly every page. Good historical context to help younger readers understand what made this photo so iconic.......more

Goodreads review by Aaron on December 08, 2014

Sacrifice and survival often times go hand in hand. Jumping ahead 45 years to the other side of the world there was another major movement of survival taking shape. Tank Man: How a Photograph Defined China’s Protest Movement is short but powerful read about students gathering and protesting the Comm......more

Goodreads review by Connor on December 15, 2015

Tank Man by Michael Burgan is a really good nonfiction book. This book is about the protests that happened in China about the government. This was probably the best nonfiction book I have ever read. Tank Man is a person who stood in front of tanks because he did not like the government. The chinese g......more