"Since Jackson's 2009 death, kids whose feelings about the artist probably varied between disinterest and repulsion are now giving him new consideration. This short biography does the trick, focusing on the two sections of his life that might be most immediate to kids--his childhood and his final few years--while rushing through Jackson's most musically fertile period (the stretch between Off the Wall and Dangerous). Krohn has a knack for honing in on kid-friendly details: 'It was just a coincidence that the Jacksons lived on a street that shared their family name.' The shot of their humble home is striking, and it's only one of a decent amount of photos--roughly one per page. Jackson's early career is the highlight here: his busting of black stereotypes, his signing to Motown (misspelled once as 'Mowtown'), and the abuse at the hands of his father. The accusations of molestation are kept factual but fairly abstract, as is his death. The layout is a bit drab, but this is a snappy read with some fine back matter, too." --Booklist.