Selena (Blue Banner Biography) [Library Binding]

Barbara Marvis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2003 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Blue Banner Biography

From the time she was nine years old, Selena sang with the family band. They played at weddings, dances, and festivals. They did not make much money. But after years of hard work, Selena was becoming well known. In 1987, she won the Tejano Music Awards. In 1989, the band signed a contract with EMI Latin. In 1994, the album Selena Live! won a Grammy for the best Mexican-American performance.

Selena was millionaire by the time she was nineteen. She was on her way to international stardom. She was making an English-language album. She had her own boutique.

But not all success stories have happy endings... This is the story of Selena.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up?Popular subjects, large-print format, and ample white space make these titles natural selections for new adult and reluctant teen readers. The biographies follow a formula to describe the artists' childhood years and the trials and tribulations that they endured before achieving success. Large, full-color photos grace the covers and average-to-poor quality black-and-white snapshots appear throughout. Carey includes the singer's recent separation from her husband. It is a bit simplistic and repetitive, but there is enough story to sustain interest. However, readers may be distracted by the shift from strict chronological order. The profile of Rodriguez is based on personal interviews with the filmmaker and is the strongest of the three entries. Fortunately, it is as much about growing up in a large family and following your dreams as it is about filmmaking, since his big screen hits are rated "R." A strong sense of family is also evident in Selena's story. Marvis discusses the singer's tragic death and touches on her many visits to schools, but sadly there is no mention of the "stay in school" message she delivered so often. There is also nothing said about the icon status that she has achieved since her death. One sentence is repeated verbatim three times. Still, all three titles provide examples of people with humble beginnings who worked hard and were able to achieve their goals.?Linda L. Plevak, Alamo Area Library System, San Antonio, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Library Binding edition.

Review

"Real-Life Reader Biographies are...a fine set of non-fictionalized stories which examine the lives of men and women who followed their dreams against all odds. The series will best appeal to . . . beginning readers, as sets of facts within each are offset by numerous black and white photographs to add to leisure interest..." -- Children's BookWatch, October 1997 --This text refers to an alternate Library Binding edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Mitchell Lane Publishers (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584152265
• ISBN-13: 978-1584152262
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #605,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well-done and moving story!, January 3, 2000

By 

Alex (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Selena (Real-Life Reader Biography) (Library Binding)

This book was great. The story was fascinating and covered both her life and death very well. I found out a lot about her family life and their troubles making money. Her death was really sad and moving. She was a wonderful singer and this book does a good job telling her story. Any Selena fan should definitely buy this book!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars this book only states the basics,cost to high for 24 pages, March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Selena (Real-Life Reader Biography) (Library Binding)

this book is a book of basic info you could find out anywhere,it has 24 pages for the cost,personally I thought it was a waste of money.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It was a very factual Biography, January 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Selena (Real-Life Reader Biography) (Library Binding)

It was an easy to read interesting book. The pictures were great! Anyone interested in Selena should read this book.