Janis Joplin

October 11, 2010
Angel (Such a Pretty Face), an admitted Joplin fan, pens a fast-paced biography of the iconic singer's short life and tragic
demise with an undercurrent of homage. Over 10 chapters, the dichotomous nature of the 1960s star emerges—as a self-
destructive, renegade rocker and an insecure, attention-craving young woman—and readers come away with a good sense of both. Evocative writing describes Joplin's world: from her struggles in her confining Texas hometown to the San Francisco hippie scene and her performances. "Her voice purred and rose in a wail that sent shivers through the crowd. She swung her hair and stomped her foot, moaning.... And then her voice escalated in a keening scream." Personal photographs, album covers, and playbills flesh out Joplin's life story (b&w photographs show a young Joplin in a church choir and elementary school operetta, while a later image depicts the singer, a breast bared, in bed with partially nude bandmates). Recalling motifs from that era, curlicue graphics overlay vivid colors to create vertical borders. A time line, source notes, bibliography, and index conclude this tribute to a complicated pioneer. Ages 14–up.

Starred review from October 1, 2010

Gr 9 Up-It was 40 years ago this October that the rock singer died from an overdose of alcohol and drugs at the age of 27. From interviews with her friends and letters that Joplin wrote home, Angel pieces together her subject's short life, contrasting her conservative upbringing in a small Texas town with the wild 1960s, vividly portrayed both in descriptions and in excellent-quality, full-color and black-and-white photos on almost every page. Joplin's husky, passionate singing voice was appreciated by other musicians and by her audiences. She loved to sing the blues with the misery and pain that dominated the lyrics. Bessie Smith and Odetta were her heroines. The author points out that despite the fame and fortune that she achieved, Joplin was basically insecure and in need of acceptance. This book is well researched with more than 100 notes referring to specific quotes from friends, family, and magazines. Teens will be intrigued by the life of this cult figure. Her memory has been kept alive by her recordings and an off-Broadway show, Love, Janis, based on letters she wrote to family and friends during her career, which continues to be staged throughout the country.-Peggy Fleming, formerly at Churchville-Chili High School, Churchville, NY

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from November 1, 2010
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* In an introduction to this long-overdue portrait of the first queen of rock, Sam Andrew, Janis Joplins former bandmate and best friend, says, There was electricity in the air when Janis was around. . . . She was vulnerable, powerful, super wide open, talented, and interesting in a kind of terrifying way. Building from Andrews full-hearted and contradictory description, Angel presents a nuanced account of the groundbreaking musicians life, beginning with her challenging adolescence in Port Arthur, Texas. After giving up on fitting in, she sang along to the blues on long drives with equally rebellious teen friends and learned that she had a powerful voice. Tracking back to Joplins childhood, Angel then moves on to the singers early years of studying and music-making before she finally grabbed attention with Andrews band Big Brother and the Holding Company. Angel writes with both a reporters forthright, detached tone and a fans full-hearted enthusiasm, and she includes numerous revealing quotes from friends and family members, all sourced in the appended notes and bibliography. Without sensationalizing, she also discusses Joplins sex-drugs-and-rock-n-roll lifestyle, which ended with the singers alcohol-and-heroin-induced death at the age of 27. A groovy page design, patterned in shades of purple and acid green; a lively annotated time line; and unforgettable archival images will pull even more attention to this captivating view of a musician rarely spotlighted in books for youth.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)