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Spirit Seeker: John Coltrane's Musical Journey
An amazingly well-done picture book biography covers John Coltrane’s entire life, weaving in both his drug addiction and his search for meaning through religion—two very complicated aspects of his adult life—in a nonjudgmental, accessible way. Author Gary Golio’s writing is not only successful at explaining its complex subject, but it sings, whether he’s writing about Coltrane’s relationship with music or his conscious decision to turn away from drugs, a struggle at which he succeeded with support. Rudy Gutierrez’s striking illustrations blend photorealistic faces and abstracted bodies that distort into swirling shapes that can be interpreted as music, a drug-addled mind, religious fervor—or all three. The sophisticated art is a great choice for the complexity of Coltrane and the audience for this picture book for older readers. © Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 9-14
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Addiction
Biography
Creativity
Drugs and Alcohol
Faith, Spirituality and Religion
Music and Musicians
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Christian
Publishers:
Clarion, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publish Year: 2012
Pages: 40
ISBN: 9780547239941
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 920 Coltrane
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