Michael Jackson

March 15, 2011
Grades 5-8 The Graphic Biography series, aimed at struggling readers, brings the lives of famous people into a comics format, and many kids will be interested in this entry on legendary entertainer Michael Jackson. As far as getting across the bones of Jacksons life, this does all right. The narrative appears in blue boxes set in every panel. Where the text falls down is in the dialogue, which ranges from interesting to insipid to confusing. For instance, a brief depiction of the three Jackson girls early on has one sister saying, Janet, lets put on your coat. A strip featuring The Wiz has audience members remarking, This movie stinks. And when Sonny Bono says, Heres Michael Jackson singing Ben, the person shown with him is a woman. Cher? Jackson in drag? Who knows? Artistically, there is also a wide range. Often stilted, the computer-enhanced-like images include many famous faces. Unfortunately, most bear little resemblance to people like Lisa Marie Presley, Madonna, and Diana Ross. What could have been a great package is just okay for larger collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)