Gr 5-8-The difficult and tempestuous life of the Mexican artist and Communist activist is not something that is easily distilled into an accessible format for this audience. Laidlaw rises to the challenge and relates the story of Kahlo's life, her politics, and her ongoing physical struggles following a near-fatal accident as a schoolgirl. The text is clear, concise, and written with vigor. Frequent sidebars ("The Great Depression," "Leon Trotsky," "Surrealism") and a running time line at the bottom of many verso pages help readers to understand the context in which Kahlo lived and worked. The large, full-color reproductions of her paintings are excellent, and numerous archival photographs and quotes add a personal and immediate connection to the artist's life.-Toniann Scime, Amherst Museum, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.