The History of Rock

November 4, 2019
Through capsule biographies of the many musicians across genres whose works can be classified as rock, Nabais attempts to capture the breadth and influence of a famously slippery, expansive, and syncretic genre. The text focuses on personalities, biographical details, and record sales over the memorable sounds these artists created, offering a strangely muted picture of a musical revolution (Run DMC’s “initial songs were really innovative, mixing Rock with Hip-Hop”) and some assessments that miss the mark (“Debbie was really pretty and had a strong sense of style... and that’s why she became a Pop icon”). A comprehensive glossary offers slightly more detail about the defining elements of the many rock subgenres mentioned throughout, but additional information early on might have been useful for young readers lacking context. Raimundo’s smoothly stylized portraits effectively convey the musicians’ signature looks. Ages 9–12.

October 25, 2019

Gr 3-7-For those middle-grade readers that are ready to rock, this slim introduction to some of the greatest artists in rock and roll history might be the resource to get them going. The short chapters follow a mostly chronological order. Each paragraph within the chapters explains the musician's origin story, their music, and the importance of their contribution. A table provides pertinent biographical information, a suggested song list, and a fun fact. The shining stars of this volume are the colorful, caricature-style illustrations that accompany each biography. More so than the text itself, the illustrations offer a window into the personality and style of each performer and will undoubtedly draw readers in. As an introduction, this volume is highly browsable and will provide a foundation to encourage further exploration. At times, the biographies suffer a bit from overgeneralized platitudes such as "of all time" and "to this day." VERDICT Consider purchasing for large collections that are looking for broader coverage of rock and roll history.-Louie Lauer, Jefferson Elementary School, Fargo, ND

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