Julia Roberts

Children's Literature

Wayne Wilson shares a brief encounter into Julia Roberts' childhood, circumstances leading her to pursue an acting career and glimpses of Ms. Roberts' personal life up to the present time. From being just a 'down home country girl at heart' to a renown celebrity this book is woven with threads from all aspects of her life including her one time desire to be a veterinarian, her box office hits, her flourishing romance, as well as childhood disappointments, a failed marriage, box office flops and her estrangement from her family. This chronological account of Julia Roberts' life flows smoothly from chapter to chapter, interspersed with quotations allowing readers to perceive this down-to-earth person has her feet planted firmly in reality. The author, having written numerous biographies, presents Julia Roberts in an objective manner, which adds to the authenticity of this book. This "Real Life Reader Biography" will provide readers with a sense of commonality with Julia Roberts in that she has encountered many situations experienced by us all. It is an easy to read and pleasant biography of the highest paid actress in history. 2001, Mitchell Lane Publishers, $15.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-These series titles point up both the positives of this high-interest, easy-reading format, as well as its limitations. Both books provide information about popular movie stars in just 32 pages, peppered with stock black-and-white movie stills and publicity photos. The language is straightforward and easy to grasp. There is some personal information, such as the fact that Julia Roberts is estranged from her brother and Sandra Bullock speaks fluent German, but the emphasis is on the actresses' careers, their movies, and the salaries they can command. The texts read like barely fleshed-out versions of the appended filmographies. The most serious drawback, however, is that no sources are cited for the quotes attributed to the stars or to people associated with them.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.