Children's Literature
- Lauri Berkenkamp
Part of the "Dream Big: American Idols Superstars" series of hi-lo biographies, this book focuses on the life and career of Jennifer Hudson. The book focuses on Hudson's humble beginnings, her experience on American Idol, and her skyrocketing success after being cast as Effie in the movie Dreamgirls. The book features many quotes from Hudson and others as well as sidebars that offer fascinating insider information about the American Idol show, other entertainers with whom Hudson has worked, and Hollywood, in general. The many sidebars, in fact, are a bit distracting since several are at least as long as sections of Hudson's biography. Color photographs of Hudson appear throughout, helping illustrate her rise to fame. While a hi-lo book about American Idol contestants and popular celebrities is an excellent way to spark a struggling reader's interest in a topic, the language and sentence structures used throughout this book may prove too challenging for some. The first sentence alone has almost forty words in it, and its convoluted construction makes it very difficult to decipher. It is an off-putting start to what should be a very appealing book. Readers may find the photos, sidebars, and quotes enough to become fully engaged with the book, but it seems illogical to publish a hi-lo book with such complicated text when the goal is to engage struggling readers. Also included are an American Idol highlights timeline, a glossary, a list of resources, and a complete index. Reviewer: Lauri Berkenkamp
School Library Journal
Gr 5–8—These books lack the excitement and passion that characterize American Idol and its performers. Insights traces the show's stratospheric climb without providing any real insights to fans. Anyone not familiar with it will have a hard time following the cattle call of names and song titles or gleaning any idea why the show has become so popular in the first place. The flat narratives in Underwood and Sparks don't reveal the personalities that made the contestants household names or offer much history prior to the individuals' appearances on American Idol. Full-color photos with extensive, busy captions make following the texts difficult while the backstory that was already covered in Insights suffocates the strangled narratives. The most interesting biographies are those of the non Idol-winners Jennifer Hudson and Kellie Pickler. Their stories are better for having not won American Idol as readers will root for their success and learn that Pickler found her niche at the Grand Ole Opry and Hudson became an Oscar-winning actress.—H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL
