Reviews for The International Sweethearts of Rhythm

The average rating for The International Sweethearts of Rhythm based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-04-28 00:00:00 Steve Pearl This book I read for a project and it is a Notable Book for a Global Society award winner and definitely deserves to be one. It is a great and inspiring book about a group of young colored women during the Second World War that started a Jazz band despite all odds. This group of women goes on to inspire the county with their incredible music during this very difficult time. I thought this book was very unique because it is written out in poems, although at first I was a little critical this factor really adds to the book and makes it that much better. The poems really let you feel and sense what these women went through and you really get the idea of what the book is about. Along with the poems, the book is full of deep and inspiring images that bring the words to life. This book would be great for a classroom because it brings in a different style of writing that students do not usually appreciate. It would be a great book to help older elementary students understand and appreciate poetry.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-03-26 00:00:00 Jesse Straughan I learned about The International Sweethearts of Rhythm from a fictionalized account of them in Megan Mayhew Bergman's short story collection, Almost Famous Women. This book was listed as a source in her notes, so I was extremely excited to find a copy of this in my faithful city library system. It's very expensive to buy (even as an ebook), and I'm not sure why, as this is a very slim volume. In fact, I found it rather unsatisfying. So much of the book wasn't even about The International Sweethearts themselves. It was about the racial climate in the surrounding eras, as well as women's presence in jazz. Which is not information I don't want to know, but I felt as soon as the author moved on to talking about the band.... the book was over. I wanted to know so much more! I wanted anecdotes, stories! There were barely any, really. I wanted more... I don't know! Something! Anything! (Perhaps reading a fictional story about them first ruined me for the reality. Ha.) But really, I felt this book could've been so much more. The pictures were lovely, however!