From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8?Parts of this biography are well written, and the bibliography is excellent. The material about Charles's childhood is compelling. Turk includes the unpleasant aspects of his subject's life?his failed marriages and drug addiction. The book is illustrated with generic photos taken primarily from public sources. For example, a picture of a church is accompanied by the caption, "A rural Baptist church in the Deep South. Ray loved to hear the music and sing at church." Many of the same pictures also appear in David Ritz's Ray Charles (Chelsea, 1994). Though Ritz's book is stronger in covering the performer's musical career, it is significantly marred by fictionalization. The two authors disagree on major points such as when Ray's mother is supposed to have said, "He's lost his sight, but he ain't lost his mind." According to Ritz, this turning point happened at home after returning from a clinic. Turk says the incident occurred when neighbors scolded Ray's mother for making the blind boy chop wood. Because of the fictionalization in Ritz's book, Turk's is a better choice.?Tim Wadham, Dallas Public Library, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Description
A biography of the popular singer, who became blind as a young boy.
