From Booklist
Gr. 3-6. This brief biography in the Taking Part series introduces young fans to the Orlando Magic basketball center. Born in New Jersey, O'Neal was brought up all over the world as an Army brat, and was greatly influenced by his drill sergeant father and education-conscious mother. Although his early adolescence was marred by disruptive behavior, he was always a good student; and finding basketball helped him focus his energies in a positive direction. Since his 1992 draft by the NBA, he has distinguished himself as a player, a rap artist, and an actor. Crafting an unbiased biography of a 22-year-old superstar may be an impossible task, but Tallman tries to delve beneath the media hype. The writing style is fairly clear, though young readers may miss some subtleties (i.e., "notwithstanding his almost nutrient-free diet of pizza and fast-food burger, Shaq's body fat count was low"). Large print and numerous full-color action photos add to the appeal. Kay Weisman
