Sound Trackers: Heavy Metal Paperback

Gr 5-8-Full- or double-page spreads briefly highlight the careers of representative artists from each musical style. Metal includes bands like Black Sabbath, Cream, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and Van Halen. Pop covers artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Elton John, Madonna, and Prince. While the uninitiated will get a good sense of the most important musicians that define each style, the brief entries are reminiscent of encyclopedia articles. Though Brunning offers a straightforward presentation of facts, some point of view is evident as when he criticizes Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury for becoming "a victim of the ignorance of the risks of his decadent lifestyle" in Pop. Color photos abound, along with CD graphics that contain notable recordings. Sidebars provide contextual information such as the impact of MTV on a recording's success. Both books include a two-page "Gazetteer" of other examples of the genre. Readers would probably do better with individual biographies or materials published for adults. Still, the lively format of these books may appeal to reluctant readers.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ

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