(4) YA Modern Music Masters series. These biographies exemplify the diversity and genius of recent American music icons. Brown's compelling story is set in the context of 1960s civil rights struggles and the Vietnam War, while Bernstein's chronicles the development of his whole-body conducting style and rise to international fame amid equally illustrious influences. The books' design, which includes many black-and-white photos, is drab. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Modern Music Masters titles: Proud and Leonard Berstein and American Music.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(2) 4-6 Leonard Bernstein, through a lot of perseverance and a little luck, made his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic at age twenty-five. Rubin's biography, focusing on the youth and early adulthood of its subject, succeeds with her engaging style and infectious passion. Numerous black-and-white photographs appear throughout. Biographical sketches and a discography are appended. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2011

(4) YA Lerner Biographies series. Bernstein's passion for music shines through in a volume that also adeptly relates basic facts about his career and personal life (his bisexuality is discreetly noted). However, the text is too rushed to provide more than brief mentions of career highlights such as Wonderful Town and West Side Story. Illustrated with black-and-white photos, the book contains a discography and a timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta