From Booklist
Gr. 6-9. Like other books in the Just the Facts Biographies series, this title targets reluctant, struggling, and ESL readers with basic sentence constructions, simple vocabulary, and clear explanations of concepts. Using just enough facts and without sensationalizing, Krohn discusses Winfrey's difficult experiences (teen pregnancy, childhood sexual abuse) as well as her triumphs. Fact boxes explore relevant topics, such as the civil rights movement and affirmative action, in greater detail. Young people will particularly enjoy the smattering of color and black-and-white photographs of the media mogul throughout her life, including a high-school yearbook picture. The straightforward presentation manages to be informative and accessible without talking down to its audience, making it a good crossover for adult literacy students. Readers will find plenty to support reports here, but many will pick this up on their own for the inspiring, uplifting story. A glossary, source notes, and suggested readings close this solid entry in a new series. Gillian Engberg
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Oprah Winfrey FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Susan Hepler, Ph.D.
With quotes based on numerous magazine articles, this biography of "one of the most powerful brand names in entertainment industry" invites a wide range of reader types. Short, punchy sentences do not gloss over her early years—raised by her grandmother, molested by older family members and others, a bookish child in spite of no support. Oprah Winfrey has inspired millions of people on her talk show and the book shows how she received mentoring and made strong friendships as she rose to prominence. Numerous boxes of "It's a Fact" convey bits of information about Oprah, the times, while captioned photographs of Oprah (starting in high school, one assumes, because there are none from her early years) and others break up the page. Short sections, plenty of white space, and above all, Oprah Winfrey's positive attitude, invite less able readers to keep on reading. Glossary, index, source notes for quotes, many websites, and a bibliography are included. 2005, Lerner, Ages 10 to 16.
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