Midstream Changes

School Library Journal

These mini-biographies of seven men and one woman who started out in one career and found themselves in another provide proof that changes are always possible, and not necessarily bad, even when they arrive unexpectedly. Included are Milton Bradley, who became the czar of the board game when his lithography business was ruined by an odd quirk of fate; Colonel Harland Sanders, who was facing a retirement in poverty after his businesses failed, and whose recipe for fried chicken made him world famous; and Mary Kay Ash, who built her own cosmetic empire. The stories are inspirational and encouraging. The problem is that young readers--including most teenagers--seldom imagine themselves as working adults, let alone as adults retooling for a second or third career. They will most likely think these success stories interesting but irrelevant to their concerns. Thus, this undemanding, thought-provoking book may be of more interest in vocational guidance, business, and adult education courses, or in literacy programs in which adult students with some knowledge of the complexity of the working world would better understand the enormous achievements and courage of these individuals. Black-and-white photographs suggest the humble beginnings that launched these amazing careers. --Joan McGrath, Education Centre Library, Toronto, Ontario, Canada