If Gadot is less of a heroine than the character she portrays, this book may convince readers she’s close enough.
Some authors would find it a challenge to write an entire book about an actress who’s played only one really big role, but Sherman makes a case that Gal Gadot has spent her whole life preparing to play Wonder Woman.
Gadot’s parents taught her to be confident. When she was 3, she sneaked into their rooftop party, late at night, and when no one paid attention to her, she started spraying the guests with water. At 20, she trained soldiers in the Israeli military. And when she became Miss Israel, as a teenager, she felt uncomfortable with the role and often refused to wear the makeup and gowns required of a Miss Universe contestant, showing up at many events in casual outfits. If these details aren’t genuinely heroic, the book frames them to sound like an origin story. It makes her sound assured and rebellious, two of the main requirements for a superheroine. But when the biography isn’t talking about Wonder Woman, it sometimes feels padded. It indulges in plot summaries of some of the movies she’s appeared in, and there’s a description of the hotel she ran with her husband that reads like promotional copy: “Guests appreciate the quiet privacy as well as the views of the nearby Mediterranean Sea.” But there is a fair amount of information about her audition for the role of Wonder Woman, which is what kids really want.
If Gadot is less of a heroine than the character she portrays, this book may convince readers she’s close enough. (Biography. 6-12)Pub Date: April 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5415-2358-6
Page Count: 52
Publisher: Millbrook/Lerner
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
A solid base hit, with guidance on the great American pastime—and life itself.
Actor Renna, best known for his role in the 1993 film The Sandlot, offers baseball-themed anecdotes and affirmations.
Heartfelt reminders that life’s a marathon, not a sprint, may be familiar, but many young readers will find them revelatory. The author also stresses that failure is just as much a part of life as success, encourages children to embrace individuality and work hard despite being the underdog, and emphasizes that practice shows commitment and “prepares you for the big game or the test.” All these lessons will be relatable to young people, and many are supported by real-life stories: basketball superstar Michael Jordan’s short-lived stint in minor league baseball, an unexpected victory during Game One of the 2015 World Series, and Renna’s willingness to swallow his fear when, as a young teen, he was handed a new script just an hour before shooting a pivotal scene in The Sandlot. Each tidbit stands alone, but taken together, all 20 tenets provide a lively road map to life. The colorful spot art features images of diverse young baseball players, plus some visually appealing double-page spreads filled with movement and action. White space is used thoughtfully, allowing readers to reflect on how these words of wisdom might apply to them.
A solid base hit, with guidance on the great American pastime—and life itself. (Informational picture book. 7-11)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780593754870
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
Though a bit loose around the edges, a charmer nevertheless.
Tales of a fourth grade ne’er-do-well.
It seems that young Jordan is stuck in a never-ending string of bad luck. Sure, no one’s perfect (except maybe goody-two-shoes William Feranek), but Jordan can’t seem to keep his attention focused on the task at hand. Try as he may, things always go a bit sideways, much to his educators’ chagrin. But Jordan promises himself that fourth grade will be different. As the year unfolds, it does prove to be different, but in a way Jordan couldn’t possibly have predicted. This humorous memoir perfectly captures the square-peg-in-a-round-hole feeling many kids feel and effectively heightens that feeling with comic situations and a splendid villain. Jordan’s teacher, Mrs. Fisher, makes an excellent foil, and the book’s 1970s setting allows for her cruelty to go beyond anything most contemporary readers could expect. Unfortunately, the story begins to run out of steam once Mrs. Fisher exits. Recollections spiral, losing their focus and leading to a more “then this happened” and less cause-and-effect structure. The anecdotes are all amusing and Jordan is an endearing protagonist, but the book comes dangerously close to wearing out its welcome with sheer repetitiveness. Thankfully, it ends on a high note, one pleasant and hopeful enough that readers will overlook some of the shabbier qualities. Jordan is White and Jewish while there is some diversity among his classmates; Mrs. Fisher is White.
Though a bit loose around the edges, a charmer nevertheless. (Memoir. 8-12)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-338-64723-5
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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