As a digital subscriber, you’ll receive unlimited access to Horn Book web exclusives and extensive archives, as well as access to our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database.
To access other site content, visit The Horn Book homepage.
To continue you need an active subscription to hbook.com.
Subscribe now to gain immediate access to everything hbook.com has to offer, as well as our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database, which contains tens of thousands of short, critical reviews of books published in the United States for young people.
Thank you for registering. To have the latest stories delivered to your inbox, select as many free newsletters as you like below.
No thanks. Return to article
380 pp.
| HarperCollins/Tegen
| May, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-284032-5$17.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-06-284034-9
(2)
YA
With lyrics by Malik "Malik-16" Sharif. It's 1998, and hip-hop reigns supreme in the streets of Brooklyn. Unfortunately, the violence plaguing the community claims the life of Steph Davis, brother to Jazmine and best friend to Quadir and Jarrell. After discovering Steph's recordings and notebooks of his rhymes, the trio sets out to make Steph famous, posthumously. Jackson presents a fast-moving, heart-pounding homage to nineties hip-hop; Brooklyn; and the power of music, love, and friendship.
Reviewer: Monique Harris
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2019
(1)
YA
Sixteen-year-old Bri attends a public arts high school and dreams of being a rapper like her late father. After winning a rap battle in her neighborhood, doors start to open--but at a price Bri isn't sure she's willing to pay. Thomas's sharp, even piercing, characterization includes a remarkably well-rounded cast. A richly woven love letter to hip-hop, with Bri's lyrics and her thought process behind them included throughout.
48 pp.
| Little Bee
| January, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4998-0411-9$18.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Frank Morrison.
This look at the pioneers of rap music begins with canonical African American poets and ends with the women who rapped first: "Female MCs break it down: Salt-N-Pepa and TLC. / Queen Latifah sports a crown, reigning like royalty." The rhymes suffer a bit without a backing track, but the art, spiked with graffiti motifs, hits all the right notes. Glos.
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Joe Morse.
Inspired by K'naan's song "Take a Minute," this text, written as a rap song, sometimes sacrifices content in striving for rhyme. Nevertheless, the right audience will appreciate Indigenous politician/singer Kinew's spotlight on real American and Canadian Indigenous people. The bold art gives context to the fourteen featured men and women, about whom more detailed biographical information is included at book's end.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Artists series.
Each standalone biography highlights a (male) hip-hop artist's artistic influences, childhood experiences, and professional challenges and successes, all supported by healthy source notes; narratives touch on (but don't delve deeply into) controversial aspects. Attractive layouts include colorful sidebars, bolded quotes, and plentiful photos. Though the content will date quickly, this is a well-curated and visually appealing series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Artists titles: Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Drake, Future, J. Cole, and Kanye West.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Artists series.
Each standalone biography highlights a (male) hip-hop artist's artistic influences, childhood experiences, and professional challenges and successes, all supported by healthy source notes; narratives touch on (but don't delve deeply into) controversial aspects. Attractive layouts include colorful sidebars, bolded quotes, and plentiful photos. Though the content will date quickly, this is a well-curated and visually appealing series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Artists titles: Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Drake, Future, J. Cole, and Kanye West.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Artists series.
Each standalone biography highlights a (male) hip-hop artist's artistic influences, childhood experiences, and professional challenges and successes, all supported by healthy source notes; narratives touch on (but don't delve deeply into) controversial aspects. Attractive layouts include colorful sidebars, bolded quotes, and plentiful photos. Though the content will date quickly, this is a well-curated and visually appealing series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Artists titles: Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Drake, Future, J. Cole, and Kanye West.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Insider series.
This title, ideal for student research, explores hip-hop dance in historical, political, and cultural context. The clean layout employs a large font, wide margins, plentiful color photos, and informative sidebars. Overall, this series celebrates hip-hop as the voice of urban and marginalized populations while also objectively addressing concerns such as commercialization. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Insider series.
These standalone series titles, ideal for student research, place facets of hip-hop culture in historical, political, and cultural context. The clean layouts employ a large font, wide margins, plentiful color photos, and informative sidebars. The series celebrates hip-hop as the voice of urban and marginalized populations while also objectively addressing concerns including commercialization and explicit lyrics. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Insider titles: Hip-Hop Culture, The Men of Hip-Hop, The Women of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, and Hip-Hop Groups.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Insider series.
These standalone series titles, ideal for student research, place facets of hip-hop culture in historical, political, and cultural context. The clean layouts employ a large font, wide margins, plentiful color photos, and informative sidebars. The series celebrates hip-hop as the voice of urban and marginalized populations while also objectively addressing concerns including commercialization and explicit lyrics. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Insider titles: Hip-Hop Culture, The Men of Hip-Hop, The Women of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, and Hip-Hop Groups.
24 pp.
| Child's
| August, 2017
|
LibraryISBN 978-1503819986$18.95
(4)
4-6
Superstar Stories series.
Each entertainer's superficially sketched biography is presented in three or four brief chapters punctuated with publicity photographs and sidebars with quotes from the subject. A page of basic background facts precedes a simple narrative covering early breaks in the field, successful milestones, and present-day stardom. "Think About It" questions are appended. There are four other fall 2017 titles in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Superstar Stories titles: Zendaya, Silentó, Jennifer Lawrence, and Pharrell Williams.
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Tim Bowers.
In his easy-reader debuts, Rappy the rapping velociraptor averts multiple disasters on a trip to the supermarket and goes on a class field trip to a library. The books lack much of a story and rely on an inconsistent pseudo-rap rhyme scheme. Bowers's customary cartoonish illustrations showcase a wacky cast of Flintstones contemporaries and capture Rappy's exuberance. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Rappy Goes to the Library and Rappy Goes to the Supermarket.
32 pp.
| HarperCollins/Harper
| April, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-225266-1$16.99
|
PaperISBN 978-0-06-225265-4$3.99
(4)
K-3
I Can Read Book series.
Illustrated by
Tim Bowers.
In his easy-reader debuts, Rappy the rapping velociraptor averts multiple disasters on a trip to the supermarket and goes on a class field trip to a library. The books lack much of a story and rely on an inconsistent pseudo-rap rhyme scheme. Bowers's customary cartoonish illustrations showcase a wacky cast of Flintstones contemporaries and capture Rappy's exuberance. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Rappy Goes to the Library and Rappy Goes to the Supermarket.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Artists series.
Each standalone biography highlights a (male) hip-hop artist's artistic influences, childhood experiences, and professional challenges and successes, all supported by healthy source notes; narratives touch on (but don't delve deeply into) controversial aspects. Attractive layouts include colorful sidebars, bolded quotes, and plentiful photos. Though the content will date quickly, this is a well-curated and visually appealing series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Artists titles: Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Drake, Future, J. Cole, and Kanye West.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Artists series.
Each standalone biography highlights a (male) hip-hop artist's artistic influences, childhood experiences, and professional challenges and successes, all supported by healthy source notes; narratives touch on (but don't delve deeply into) controversial aspects. Attractive layouts include colorful sidebars, bolded quotes, and plentiful photos. Though the content will date quickly, this is a well-curated and visually appealing series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Artists titles: Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Drake, Future, J. Cole, and Kanye West.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Artists series.
Each standalone biography highlights a (male) hip-hop artist's artistic influences, childhood experiences, and professional challenges and successes, all supported by healthy source notes; narratives touch on (but don't delve deeply into) controversial aspects. Attractive layouts include colorful sidebars, bolded quotes, and plentiful photos. Though the content will date quickly, this is a well-curated and visually appealing series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Artists titles: Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Drake, Future, J. Cole, and Kanye West.
(4)
K-3
Big Buddy Pop Biographies series.
In each standard-issue biography, readers are introduced to the celebrity's early life and family, career, achievements, business ventures, and charitable works. The cheerful, adulatory texts are peppered with gratuitous exclamation points ("Fans love to buy goods Rihanna helped create!") and are accompanied by stock photos and "Did You Know?" boxes. Glos., ind. Review covers these Big Buddy Pop Biographies titles: Adele, Carrie Underwood, Drake, and Rihanna.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Insider series.
These standalone series titles, ideal for student research, place facets of hip-hop culture in historical, political, and cultural context. The clean layouts employ a large font, wide margins, plentiful color photos, and informative sidebars. The series celebrates hip-hop as the voice of urban and marginalized populations while also objectively addressing concerns including commercialization and explicit lyrics. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Insider titles: Hip-Hop Culture, The Men of Hip-Hop, The Women of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, and Hip-Hop Groups.
(3)
YA
Hip-Hop Insider series.
These standalone series titles, ideal for student research, place facets of hip-hop culture in historical, political, and cultural context. The clean layouts employ a large font, wide margins, plentiful color photos, and informative sidebars. The series celebrates hip-hop as the voice of urban and marginalized populations while also objectively addressing concerns including commercialization and explicit lyrics. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Insider titles: Hip-Hop Culture, The Men of Hip-Hop, The Women of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, and Hip-Hop Groups.
343 pp.
| HarperCollins/Harper
| October, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-242169-2$16.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Chris Samnee.
Eighth grader Ryan, whose parents are secret agents, is fresh from his life-threatening adventures in Ryan Quinn and the Rebel's Escape. Now he and his friends are trying to rescue two African rap musicians being hunted down by a fictional African nation, which leads to an action-packed climax. This second entry is full of snappy dialogue and likable characters.