Michael Jackson

Library Journal

True, Anderson has written a best-selling unauthorized biography of Madonna, but the material girl is not one to shun publicity. Who knows what secrets Anderson can uncover about the reclusive (and recently wed?) Jackson, but the publisher does promise that he will discuss Jackson's controversial relationship with the children who visited him at Neverland.

Ilene Cooper

Andersen's bio doesn't add a lot that's new to the canon of Jacksonmania, despite the prepublicity hype. Still, this pithily written book, bolstered by interviews with key players, does a good job of pulling the Jackson story together and putting Michael's weirdness into context. Although Andersen has few doubts that Jackson was indeed guilty of pedophilia, the villain of the piece isn't Michael, but rather Michael's father, Joe, a womanizer and an abuser who beat his kids into submission. If Michael's desire is to never grow up, a la Peter Pan, it comes directly from his fear of what a man is, as represented by Joe Jackson. Andersen's reportage is best in the chapters about the child sex-abuse allegations and even offers the specific physical characteristics police were looking for when they photographed Michael. (Alas, a rumored Winnie-the-Pooh tattoo remains unconfirmed.) There are also details of the $26 million out-of-court settlement. As for Michael's latest incarnation as a husband, the book's publishing date only allowed for one brief chapter that summarizes this amazing turn of events. Andersen shouldn't throw away his notes. More than any novel, this book demands a sequel.