John Lennon

Gr 9 Up—Since Lennon's murder in l980, many books and magazine articles have attempted to portray this complicated man. Edmondson's biography makes a valiant effort to be objective. The book reads like an annotated chronology of his life, often described month by month. Each chapter is followed by footnotes that draw heavily on two adult titles, Ray Coleman's Lennon: the Definitive Biography (1992) and Philip Norman's John Lennon: The Life (2008, both HarperCollins). Lennon was truly a man of many contradictions. He is known for his support of peace movements and yet he had turbulent relationships with his family and fellow Beatles. His volatile marriage with Yoko Ono, his business dealings, and his struggles with drugs and alcohol are covered in minute detail. The book points out that he was a creative person who experimented with overdubbing, sound effects, and technical tools. A few photos are scattered throughout. A brilliant chapter on the challenges of writing biographies is well worth reading before starting the book itself since it poses several questions about the personal and private lives of people and muses about whether it is necessary to understand an individual in order to appreciate his contributions. However, in terms of teen appeal, Elizabeth Partridge's book (Viking, 2005) has a better narrative flow and is more accessible.—Peggy Fleming, formerly at Churchville-Chili High School, Churchville, NY