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.