From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-In the 1950s, Dandridge was talented, beautiful, and ambitious, and the first African-American woman nominated for an Oscar as Best Actress. Yet, she was unable to maintain stardom in Hollywood, and she died at age 42. Unfortunately, this book does not do justice to its subject's life. The prose is dry, unengaging, even plodding. Schoell describes Dandridge's dysfunctional family and unfulfilling relationships, but does little to examine and interpret the impact of race and gender on her life. The black-and-white photographs do little to advance the narrative. This biography merely provides teens with an outline of the actress's life and the era in which she lived.
Carol Jones Collins, Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Carol Jones Collins, Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
