Mariah Carey

School Library Journal

Gr 5 UpPopular subjects, large-print format, and ample white space make these titles natural selections for new adult and reluctant teen readers. The biographies follow a formula to describe the artists' childhood years and the trials and tribulations that they endured before achieving success. Large, full-color photos grace the covers and average-to-poor quality black-and-white snapshots appear throughout. Carey includes the singer's recent separation from her husband. It is a bit simplistic and repetitive, but there is enough story to sustain interest. However, readers may be distracted by the shift from strict chronological order. The profile of Rodriguez is based on personal interviews with the filmmaker and is the strongest of the three entries. Fortunately, it is as much about growing up in a large family and following your dreams as it is about filmmaking, since his big screen hits are rated "R." A strong sense of family is also evident in Selena's story. Marvis discusses the singer's tragic death and touches on her many visits to schools, but sadly there is no mention of the "stay in school" message she delivered so often. There is also nothing said about the icon status that she has achieved since her death. One sentence is repeated verbatim three times. Still, all three titles provide examples of people with humble beginnings who worked hard and were able to achieve their goals.Linda L. Plevak, Alamo Area Library System, San Antonio, TX