Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuoso

Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuoso  

By Andrea Davis Pinkey  

Illustrated by Brian Pinkey  

The Tale of a Vocal Virtuoso is a picture book about the legendary singer Ella Fitzgerald. It has an interesting format and narrator. It is narrated by a cat named Scat Cat Monroe. Scat Cat Monroe says he knew Ella and got his name from her. The book is told in 4 ‘tracks’ like a chapter book with an index. The book goes from Scat Cat’s introduction to the track that shows Ella growing up in Yonkers. It talks about how she was discovered after starting to win musical competitions and perform even though she was originally anxious about it. She is discovered by Bardou Ali, who works for the Chick Webb Orchestra.  In 1937, The Savoy Battle of the Bands occurred. It pitted the Benny Goodman orchestra against the Chick Webb Orchestra. The contest lasted five hours but Ella’s orchestra eventually won. According to the book, this was Ella’s big break and she soon landed record deals and nightclub spots.  She soon met Dizzy Gillespie, another singer, and performs at Carnegie Hall. The book concludes, rather abruptly, with Scat Cat Monroe talking about how he knew Ella. There is a section in the back that has a biography and sources. The art is beautiful and well done. There is a fantastical element to some of the images, like when Ella is seen flying over New York in a scene where she sings. This book tries to accomplish a lot in a short number of pages. The author could have focused on one point in her life, such as the Carnegie Hall performance instead of trying to trace most of her career. This would be a good introduction to Ella Fitzgerald but there are some more current works about her life that would be better suited for a library's collection.  

BIBLIO: 2002, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 4-10, $6.99-$26.63 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Picture Book 

ISBN: 978-1439591604  

 

 

Displacement

 

Displacement  

By Kiku Hughes  

Displacement is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel. Kiku is a 16-year-old girl on vacation in San Fransisco. Her Grandmother had lived in Japanese internment camps but died before Kiku was born so she does not know a lot about that aspect of her culture. When she hears Trump talking about banning Muslims from entering the US, she is ‘displaced’ in time and ends up waiting for her number to be called to enter an internment camp. She stays as one in California before being taken to a The Delta Internment Camp in Topaz, Utah. In the first camp, Kiku lives with a young woman named May. May is involved in resistance efforts, Kiku mentions that she never learned about resistance because all she was taught was that the people just took what was happening to them. This book teaches a lot of important history that is not taught in schools. It discusses a Loyalty Questionnaire that if two specific questions were both answered no, you would be sent to another camp. A throughline throughout the book is Kiku’s grandmother, Ernestina. She is at the same camps as Kiku and while they do not interact Kiku feels very connected to her. After she tries to contact her grandmother, Kiku is whisked back to the present day where no time has passed. She talks to her mother and her mother reveals she went through the same ‘displacement’. They end up diving into family history and they learn a lot. This book has themes of generational trauma, love, loss, and hope. It ties back to the recent past when republicans were trying to ban some religious groups from coming to the US. The book discusses the children being held at the Mexican border. This book is essential reading and needs to be in libraries.  

BIBLIO: 2020, Macmillian, Ages12-18, $17.99 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Young Adult  

ISBN: 9781250193537

 

Legendborn

 Legendborn  

By Tracy Deonn  

Legendborn centers around the life and story of Bree Mathews, a student enrolled in the Early College program at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. She enrolls shortly after her mother dies mysteriously. She doesn’t remember much about that day and tries to investigate what happened. This book is a story of power and self-discovery. Shortly after arriving at school, Bree discovers she can be a part of a secret magical society where all the members are Legendborn and descended from the Knights of the round table. She soon meets a boy named Nick and they grow very close. Romance is essential to the plot but does not take up the whole of it, which can be a problem in young adult literature nowadays,  Legendborn includes both Celtic mythologies along with stories of slavery and the great migration. Deonn does a great job of intertwining all of these stories. The book is action-packed and engaging and would be perfect for any library to be put in their young adult section. There are some triggering aspects to the book. Particularly with death and dying; readers should be warned beforehand. Bree is a very complex, likable, and fleshed-out character which is very refreshing. The themes of slavery and injustice are deftly explored with care and consideration. The ‘uncomfortable’ subjects are not shyed away from or downplayed. Legendborn would also be very good for a book club or book reading so participants could share their ideas. There are so many plot twists that would make the book enjoyable for this audience. Deonn is an amazing writer, and this book is filled with great worldbuilding and engaging prose among other things. This book won the Coretta Scott King award which is very prestigious. It has a sequel called Bloodmarked that has great reviews.  

BIBLIO: 2020 Margaret K. McElderry Books, Ages14-18, $13.99-$19.99 

REVIEWER: Ella Frey  

FORMAT: Young Adult  

ISBN: 9781534441606