Book Review: Rhythm Ride

RHYTHM RIDE: A ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE MOTOWN SOUND by Andrea Davis Pinkney chronicles the rise of Motown music in Detroit.

Pinkney’s smooth narrative will draw readers into the world of Berry Gordy and the rise of Motown Records. Featuring well-known artists from Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder to the Jackson Five, Pinkney connects key political and cultural movements including the Civil Rights Movement to the evolving Motown sound. In addition to the well-known artists, Pinkney also weaves in fascinating information about song writers, choreographers, and others who worked behind the scenes.

The many captioned black and white photos will attract many readers. Students doing research will appreciate the author’s note, timeline, discography, source notes, further reading, and index.

Appropriate for both middle grades and young adults, librarians will find this work of nonfiction to be an excellent addition to the library’s music biography collection.

To learn more about the author, go to http://andreadavispinkney.com/.

Published by September 29, 2015 by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan. ARC courtesy of the publisher.