About Michael Jackson

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6 Revealing no new information concerning the young entertainer, Haskins uses material gathered from Jackson's friends and associates and also quotes liberally from journalists who have interviewed him. An attempt is made to dismiss innuendos about Jackson's sexual preference, plastic surgery history, family problems, etc., but these controversial topics are only dealt with in passing. Although the book is generally factual, Haskins does make a glaring error by referring to the moon-walk dance step as the worm, something even the most novice of Jackson fans will pick up on. The black-and-white photos are standard shots found in many Jackson biographies, and the sketches, many of which overlay the text, add little and seem somewhat gimmicky. If the demand for new Jackson biographies is there, Haskins' book is straightforward, up-to-date and does surpass the literary standards of the majority of the mass market paperbacks on the market such as Latham's Michael Jackson Thrill (Zebra, 1984) and Those Incredible Boys (Sharon Publications, 1984).Tom S. Hurlburt, Anoka County Library, Blaine, Minn.