Louis Armstrong: King of Jazz (African-American Biographies)

Gr 6-9-Although much has been written about both of these men, these two books provide engaging introductions to them. Old begins with Armstrong's somewhat turbulent youth in New Orleans, during which an incident with a gun landed him in the Colored Waifs' Home for Boys. There he met a music teacher who gave him the chance to play in a band, an event that changed his life. Robeson had a very different experience. In his youth, he was a standout at Rutgers University where he played football, baseball, and basketball and was named class valedictorian. It wasn't until he was in law school that he entered the professional theater. Later in his life, communist leanings placed him under the scrutiny of the U.S. government. Although these are not extensive biographies, both describe the difficulties these men experienced. Both books bring their subjects alive with insightful and revealing quotes. Crisp black-and-white photos as well as a clean design make these titles eye-catching and highly readable.-Kristen Oravec, Woodridge Middle School, Peninsula, OH

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