(3) K-3 This picture book inspired by Ella Fitzgerald's friendship with Marilyn Monroe centers on an instance in the 1950s when Monroe's influence supposedly helped black Fitzgerald be allowed to perform at a popular NYC venue. Evoking the nightclub's glitz and glamour, the bright-colored, graphic illustrations on thick pages are the draw here. Short bios of both women and a photo conclude the book.

Reviewer:

(4) 4-6 Calico: The Art of Time Travel series. Illustrated by Courtney Bernard. In each book, two kids flash back in time to meet famous artists of different disciplines: Ella Fitzgerald, Mary Shelley, Monet, and Shakespeare. The structure is formulaic--an unimpressed character gains appreciation while having an impact on a pivotal moment in history--but gentle unpacking of biographical information may spark history young buffs' interest. Each volume is illustrated in a different monochromatic color scheme. Review covers the following Art of Time Travel titles: Get Ella to the Apollo, Mary Molds a Monster, Monet Changes Mediums, and Shakespeare Saves the Globe.

Reviewer: Andrea Curtis

(4) YA Glamour and secrets tempt seventeen-year-old Naomi into friendships with the wealthy Hamptons teenagers her entrepreneurial mother wants her to associate with. As she becomes entangled in their lies and cruelties, Naomi's Midwestern values slip away until unavoidable tragedy strikes. Benincasa's faithful modernization of The Great Gatsby may appeal to some fans of Fitzgerald's portrait of opulence, but it brings nothing original to the table.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) K-3 Candlewick Biographies series. Illustrated by Sean Qualls. In jazzy prose, Orgill tells of young Ella's sad childhood and up-from-her-bootstraps rise to fame. Interspersed in the main text are lyrics from songs Fitzgerald made her own (e.g., "A Tisket, A Tasket"), giving the volume an improvised feel. Qualls's acrylic, pencil, and collage illustrations hum with the energy of a night out in Harlem. This "reformatted edition" includes a list of recommended recordings. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sean Qualls. In jazzy prose, Orgill tells of young Ella's sad childhood and up-from-her-bootstraps rise to fame. Interspersed in the main text are lyrics from songs Fitzgerald made her own (e.g., "A Tisket, A Tasket"), giving the volume an improvised feel. Qualls's acrylic, pencil, and collage illustrations hum with the energy of a night out in Harlem. A list of recommended recordings is appended. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Football Heroes Making a Difference series. Beginning with career anecdotes and brief personal histories, these books then highlight the athletes' impressive on-field statistics and finish with their off-field charity work (e.g., Fitzgerald's memorial fund in honor of his mother; Gonzalez's commitment to helping sick children). The laudatory volumes are well intentioned but information-sparse. Plenty of photographs will appease fans. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Football Heroes Making a Difference titles: Adrian Peterson, Larry Fitzgerald, Tony Gonzalez, and Tony Romo.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) YA Social Issues in Literature series. Each volume presents brief, thoughtful essay reprints (primarily written by literary critics and academics) arranged into three sections that explore the author's life, identify relevant social issues, and discuss current cultural applications. Although the pieces are sometimes awkwardly truncated, they usually present ideas that go well beyond superficial critique, inviting readers to consider fiction as a vehicle for analyzing American identity. Reading list, timeline, Bib., ind. Review covers these Social Issues in Literature titles: Class Conflict in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Racism in Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Racism in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, and Women's Issues in Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) YA These well-written, carefully researched biographies aren't mired in adulation. Meltzer details Steinbeck's self-doubt, messy relationships, and alcoholic bouts as he traces the novelist's rise from college dropout to Nobel Laureate. Stone notes some of the inaccuracies in other Fitzgerald biographies as she follows the jazz singer (and would-be dancer!) from the streets of Harlem to concert halls worldwide. Bib., ind. Review covers these titles: Up Close: Ella Fitzgerald and Up Close: John Steinbeck.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) YA Bloom's Guides series. This thoughtful, well-developed, highly academic volume includes some background information about Fitzgerald, then presents a chapter-by-chapter summary of his novel. Eleven brief essays and snippets from longer critical works follow, exposing readers to a variety of scholarly perspectives and approaches. An annotated bibliography will be useful to young Fitzgerald scholars. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA Understanding Literature series. Though instructive as to biography and literary analysis, these books are overambitious in the number of sophisticated novels and stories addressed. Illustrated with photos and reproductions, topics include influences, plot and character development, themes, and literary devices. Sidebars explain literary terms and offer historical information. List of works, reading list, source notes, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Understanding Literature titles: A Student's Guide to Nathaniel Hawthorne and A Student's Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Reviewer: Connie ANn Kirk

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen. In November 1975, the cargo ship Edmund Fitzgerald and its entire crew sank to the bottom of Lake Superior. Despite the somewhat confusing and dull narration, the ship itself becomes a compelling character in the moody paintings and an epilogue adds emotional depth to the presentation. The inclusion of a map would have been useful.

Reviewer: Kristin Cashore

(4) YA World Writers series. The author of The Great Gatsby is profiled in a fast-paced, fairly thorough biography. Issues such as Fitzgerald's rocky marriage to Zelda, his alcoholism, and his infidelities are handled in a non-sensationalized manner. The text states that Fitzgerald captured his era in his works, but his novels aren't described in enough detail for readers to get a sense of their essence. The book is illustrated with black-and-white photos. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA Lerner Biographies series. Both the biographies in this series--one of the shy Victorian mathematician who wrote Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the other of the charismatic author of The Great Gatsby--offer a well-researched look into each writer's life from his early years to his legacy. Black-and-white photos add further interest. Fitzgerald includes a timeline and online resources. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Lerner Biographies titles: Lewis Carroll and F. Scott Fitzgerald.]

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Feline narrator Scat Cat Monroe guides readers through a four-part presentation of Ella Fitzgerald's development as one of the world's premier jazz singers: "Hoofin' in Harlem," "Jammin' at Yale," "Stompin' at the Savoy," and "Carnegie Hall Scat." The rhythmic prose suits the subject admirably, as do the vibrantly colored scratchboard illustrations, which feature lots of energy and varied perspectives. A discography is included. Bib.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) YA Lerner Biographies series. Illustrated with clear black-and-white photos, these two biographies begin with short chapters describing a memorable event--seventeen-year-old Fitzgerald winning an amateur music contest at the Apollo Theater and Deng impressing American audiences on a 1979 visit. The two books then chronologically and matter-of-factly trace these eventful lives from birth to death. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman