Before the legend of Billie Holliday, there was a girl named Eleanora. The world, however, would know her as Billie Holliday, possibly one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. Eleanora's journey into legend took her through pain, poverty and run-ins with the law. By the time she was fifteen, she knew she possessed something that could change her life - a voice. Eleanora could sing! Her remarkable voice led her to a place in the spotlight with some of the era's hottest big bands. Billie Holliday sang as if she lived each lyric and in many ways she had.Through a sequence of raw and poignant poems, award-winning poet, Carole Boston Weatherford chronicles Eleanora Fagan's metamorphosis into Billie Holliday and the dream she pursued with passion.
Browse the best books of the summer including popular series, classics, and editors' picks in our Teen Summer Reading Store. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 8 Up—In this fictionalized memoir, Weatherford has composed nearly 100 first-person narrative poems that detail Holiday's life from birth until age 25, the age at which she debuted her signature song, "Strange Fruit." The poems borrow their titles from Holiday's songs, a brilliant device that provides readers with a haunting built-in sound track. Weatherford's language is straightforward and accessible—almost conversational. She captures the woman's jazzy, candid voice so adroitly that at times the poems seem like they could have been lifted wholesale from Holiday's autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues. Cooper's sepia-toned, nostalgic, mixed-media illustrations provide an emotional counterpoint to the text. Resembling old photographs seen through a lens of aching hindsight, they make explicit the pain that Weatherford studiously avoids giving full voice to in her poems. Although Holiday's early life was one of relentless rejection, discrimination, and poverty, the author stays true to her subject and maintains a resolute and defiant tone, albeit one tinged with regret. Prostitution, rape, jail time, and violence are mentioned, but the book ends on the proverbial high note, before the singer's drug use, alcoholism, and early death. This captivating title places readers solidly into Holiday's world, and is suitable for independent reading as well as a variety of classroom uses.—Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
In a series of free-verse poems and bluesy lyrics, headed by song titles, Weatherford retraces Holiday’s childhood and early career in the renowned jazz singer’s own voice. “At eleven, I had the body / of a grown woman, / the mouth of a sailor, and a temper / hot enough to fry an egg.” Growing up in Baltimore, she moved to Harlem with her sometimes-absent mother after being molested by a neighbor, and quickly fell in love with late-night life. Dubbed “Lady Day,” she earned money singing in clubs, was “discovered” by jazz-enthusiast John Hammond, and battled racism on a groundbreaking tour with Artie Shaw’s all-white band. Closing with Holiday’s spectacular headline gig at the Café Society, where she sang “Strange Fruit”—“how could I not claim: / this is my song?”—Weatherford leaves the 25-year-old at a high spot in her career, before later troubles and drug addiction. After the whole story readers will find a generous assortment of recommended reading and listening at the end of this proud, clear-voiced testimonial. Grades 6-9. --John Peters
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Sarah Miller
Format:Hardcover
Wowie, wow, wow. This little beauty just leapt to the top of my wish list. I've had my eye on Carole Boston Weatherford ever since she wrote Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (Caldecott Honor Book), but as far as I'm concerned she's topped it with Becoming Billie Holiday.
The writing is killer and the format unique: an illustrated fictional verse memoir. And get this -- the title of each poem is a Billie Holiday song. I know next to nothing about Billie Holiday's life, but fictional or not, I'm perfectly content getting all my information here. My sense is that Weatherford was true to her subject; regardless, I don't care to break this book's spell with plain old facts. Straight non-fiction would be hard pressed to duplicate the imagery and sense of character Weatherford's poems convey.
To crown it all, I don't think you even have to be a Holiday fan to dig this book. Lady Day had it rough, and her childhood makes for compelling reading. Among other things there's prostitution, rape, racism, and reefer in here -- none of it tawdry, but gritty enough to rule out the elementary school crowd.
The writing is killer and the format unique: an illustrated fictional verse memoir. And get this -- the title of each poem is a Billie Holiday song. I know next to nothing about Billie Holiday's life, but fictional or not, I'm perfectly content getting all my information here. My sense is that Weatherford was true to her subject; regardless, I don't care to break this book's spell with plain old facts. Straight non-fiction would be hard pressed to duplicate the imagery and sense of character Weatherford's poems convey.
To crown it all, I don't think you even have to be a Holiday fan to dig this book. Lady Day had it rough, and her childhood makes for compelling reading. Among other things there's prostitution, rape, racism, and reefer in here -- none of it tawdry, but gritty enough to rule out the elementary school crowd.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By TeensReadToo
Format:Hardcover
Gold Star Award Winner!
Billie Holiday does not have a happy life story. After all, she sang the blues for a reason. A biography written in verse seems only appropriate for a woman who lived her life in song -- whose only reliable escape was via music.
Weatherford uses Holiday songs as poem titles throughout the book, which, in addition to the first person perspective, serves to bring the reader close to the narrative. While the story of Holiday's life is disturbing, Weatherford does a fantastic job of pulling readers in for an occasional close-up, and in giving them much-needed distance -- room to breathe.
Subtlety is key, and both author and artist seem to realize the delicate balance.
Floyd Cooper used a subtractive technique for the gorgeous illustrations, meaning he used erasers to make shapes and then enhanced them with mixed media. The heavily textured, sepia tones flow seamlessly into the verse.
Then we have the book itself, smooth to the touch, but grainy and old school. Billie Holiday all over. This publisher, Wordsong, created a perfect marriage of author & artist, then packaged the work brilliantly in a book for the ages.
Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince
Billie Holiday does not have a happy life story. After all, she sang the blues for a reason. A biography written in verse seems only appropriate for a woman who lived her life in song -- whose only reliable escape was via music.
Weatherford uses Holiday songs as poem titles throughout the book, which, in addition to the first person perspective, serves to bring the reader close to the narrative. While the story of Holiday's life is disturbing, Weatherford does a fantastic job of pulling readers in for an occasional close-up, and in giving them much-needed distance -- room to breathe.
Subtlety is key, and both author and artist seem to realize the delicate balance.
Floyd Cooper used a subtractive technique for the gorgeous illustrations, meaning he used erasers to make shapes and then enhanced them with mixed media. The heavily textured, sepia tones flow seamlessly into the verse.
Then we have the book itself, smooth to the touch, but grainy and old school. Billie Holiday all over. This publisher, Wordsong, created a perfect marriage of author & artist, then packaged the work brilliantly in a book for the ages.
Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince
By Taryn B.
Format:Hardcover
This is a fictional verse memoir based on Billie Holiday's early life and rise to stardom. In a creative twist, most of the poems in the book share titles with Holiday's songs. Billie (who was born Eleanora) had a difficult childhood, and this novel does not shy away from any tough topic. The novel really gives you a sense of the hardship Billie endured as she grew up and the prejudices she faces as she began to tour. The artwork by Floyd Cooper is amazing as well. Definitely check this one out!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A real eye opener
Carole Boston Weatherford is a class act. I don't know if there's anything I can say which will do this poet justice. Read more
Published 23 months ago by A. Felsted
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Reading from a Beautiful Voice
Many of us weren't born in the 1940s or earlier but we can just imagine how it was through the music of the great Billie Holiday. Read more
Published on October 28, 2010 by Mr. Thi
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good idea, awful execution
It is surprising that Carole Boston Weatherford, author of Becoming Billie Holiday, has won poetry awards. Read more
Published on October 8, 2010 by Jessica Burton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lady Day
The book has some serious subjects, much like the music of Billie Holiday. In fact much of the poetry at the beginning of the book will make you gasp. Read more
Published on October 6, 2010 by Steven C. Thedford
5.0 out of 5 stars
An entertaining and adept view on Billie Holiday's life and work
I feel like "experience" is a truly fitting adjective for this text. I would actually recommend it to children and adults alike, not only because of the richness in historical... Read more
Published on August 1, 2009 by Lindsey Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
A "must" for jazz history fans
If you enjoy jazz and its history, you can't go wrong with this story of Billie Holiday. Billie is sure to be on any jazz-lover's short list of influential jazz vocalists for her... Read more
Published on February 6, 2009 by John Erisman
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
