Danny Glover

KLIATT

This "Black Americans of Achievement" biography series, classified as juvenile literature, is available in hardcover editions as well as the paperbacks, at twice the price. They are filled with b/w photographs and each contains the same introductory essay on achievement by Coretta Scott King. Each book emphasizes the obstacles to achievement each subject faced; for example, Halle Berry's father was an alcoholic who deserted his white wife and two bi-racial daughters when Halle was just four years old. The authors of that biography are careful to talk about the problems of alcoholic parents, bi-racial marriages, growing up black in a white community and other things that Halle personally has had to deal with—plus she is a diabetic. Some of the subjects, such as Danny Glover, were born and spent their childhoods in the South during segregation. Angela Bassett was born to a struggling family in Harlem in the 1950s. The sure-fire selection for YA readers is the biography of Venus Williams. Her obstacles to achievement? "[Tennis stars] do not normally come from a burned-out, gang-ruled neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles. They do not normally have to worry about gunfire, or practice with old balls on the broken glass-covered neighborhood courts, as Venus Williams did. They have not normally been coached by a father who taught himself tennis from books and instructional videos, as Venus Williams was coached." These are clearly meant to be inspirational. The covers are full-color portraits of the subject. Category: Biography & Personal Narrative. KLIATT Codes: JS—Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2001, Chelsea House, 108p. illus. bibliog. index., Ages 13 to18. Reviewer: Claire Rosser; KLIATT

VOYA

This is a multi-book review of two volumes in the "Black Americans of Achievement" series. Blakely's biography begins with actor Danny Glover's early days at San Francisco State University (SFSU), the site of his political awakening, before tracing his activism to the present. His struggle with dyslexia also is recounted. The development of his acting career is followed from his first stage experience at SFSU through blockbusters such as the Lethal Weapon series and pet projects such as Buffalo Soldiers. Blakely's style is uneven and sometimes seems too conversational—"[he] could relate to the delinquents, because, after all, he was no teen angel." Some research seems suspect as well. Glover and Mel Gibson are described as initially having little in common when they met for the first Lethal Weapon film in 1987 because Glover was a family man and Gibson "was still living the single life." Gibson, however, was married in 1980, had several children, and is an ardent family man. Blue and Naden's biography of Halle Berry traces her life and struggle as a biracial child through her success as an actress. Prejudice that Berry encountered growing up is discussed. In contrast to Glover's activism, Berry's life seems more focused on her acting career, and parallels between Berry and Dorothy Dandridge take an entire chapter, focusing primarily on Dandridge. A historical perspective of African American actresses in Hollywood also is given. The style here is generally more even than Blakely's. Both books are keen on putting the lives of their subjects in historical perspective; however, the transitions to the explanations often seem forced and contrived, lacking clear flow. The books can be used inschool and public libraries. They might meet user interests and could be useful in reports on successful contemporary African Americans or biographies in general but cannot be considered definitive. Index. Photos. Biblio. Chronology. Filmography. VOYA CODES: 2Q 3P M J S (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2002, Chelsea House, 108p. PLB
— Mike Brown