Barack Obama

VOYA - Mary Ann Darby

The latest additions to this series profile pop stars such as BeyoncT and Usher as well as actors, authors, and politicians. Each book opens with a brief discussion on how information for the books is gathered and cited, an aspect sure to please teachers and librarians. For students attuned to the news and politics, Barack Obama's life is similarly illustrated. From his unusual childhood and rebellious teen years to law school and work, Obama's story is related in an interesting fashion. Students might skip over some sections dealing with Obama's early jobs and political races, but the book has a thorough index and clear subheadings within each chapter that make informed browsing easy for readers. Obama's biography ends before he becomes a presidential candidate, but there is enough interesting material about his background to make it a satisfying read. Junior high librarians will find this series to be a solid addition to their biography section. The tales about each person gleaned from a broad variety of sources show students the value of balanced reporting. The vivid color photos and user-friendly layout of the books as well as their moderate length will provide students with a thorough yet undaunting look at people they care about who are in the news.