The careers of four famous people and one soccer team are chronicled in these five volumes. Readers will learn that artist Kendrick Lamar recorded his first songs at age 16 and became the first rapper to win a Pulitzer, while Stephen Curry was rejected by his dream school before taking Davidson College to the NCAA championship. Though raised in a working-class neighborhood, Sonia Sotomayor’s determination to practice law led her to Yale, and eventually the Supreme Court. Information about personal lives is limited to brief mentions of parents and relationships, and no personal data on the soccer stars is included at all. Laudatory in their praises, authors omit controversy while charitable works are noted. Photographs accompany the texts but do not enhance them. Narratives run a little dry, but the information contained in these titles would be suitable for report purposes. However, numerous biographies have already covered these subjects, and interested readers will probably prefer individual titles on U.S. Women’s Soccer team members. VERDICT These volumes feature subjects already covered in other books and at best would be additional purchases.

The lives of an eclectic mix of famous people and one environmental movement are chronicled in these six titles. Readers learn about King Charles’s life including his difficult childhood, Dwayne Johnson’s success as a wrestler and actor, Adele’s astronomical rise to stardom as a singer, Ketanji Brown Jackson’s road to the Supreme Court and The Sunrise Movement’s formation and accomplishments. Also, readers will become acquainted with the inspirational life of the late entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker. Employing direct prose, the authors neatly convey relevant facts in each of the subjects’ lives from birth until the current day. There are no discernible errors except in the volume on Jackson where a former Speaker of the House of Representatives is referred to as a Senator. Charles’s coronation is anticipated: “…his coronation at Westminster Abbey that happened the following year.” While the volumes on Charles, Adele, Johnson, Jackson, and The Sunrise Movement are timely, the narratives tend to be dull recitations of facts. There are already many serviceable volumes on Walker; the books on the others will be quickly dated. Also, the titles already lack some currency: there is no mention of the ongoing family conflict in Charles’s life or of recent Supreme Court opinions authored by Jackson. Little is detailed about the personal lives of the Sunshine Movement’s members; just the works and progress of that organization. Fans of Johnson and Adele will probably appreciate the photographs. VERDICT Though these volumes neatly relate the lives of noteworthy people, there is nothing outstanding about them and most are already or soon will be dated. Selectors can find better titles.

This is a wonderful, hardcover book, celebrating the life and numerous accomplishments of the singer, Adele. The songstress, known for her emotional songs and larger than life voice, has won 15 Grammy awards, met with English royalty, and sung with many celebrities. This book takes the reader on a journey from Adele’s childhood to her current life in her thirties, highlighting major events like meeting Paul McCartney, releasing her first breakout album named 19, and appearing on SNL for the first time. Another important focus for this book is Adele’s vocal health. Her vocal chords have given her health issues on and off for years, and fans wondered if her voice would return. Thankfully, with scientific advancements and surgery, Adele was able to regain her powerful voice, and continue her career. This is a great primer book for anyone interested in learning more about the life of this dynamite singer. Reviewer Rating: 5—Children’s Literature