Miley Cyrus Auto Biography
Sporting a list price of over $25, Miley Cyrus by Amie Jane Leavitt is a ridiculously overpriced slim contemporary biography of the young actress currently taking the Tween Nation by storm with a series of sold-out concerts in conjunction with her schoolgirl-by-day/rock-star-by-night hit Disney Channel series Hannah Montana. It's billed as "A Robbie Reader" and a quick perusal of the back cover informs that, "The Robbie Reader series features short, easy-to-read nonfiction chapter books for the beginning reader."
Featuring plenty of large, high-quality pictures of Miley Cyrus -- including several with country music star father Billy Ray Cyrus -- only 16 of its 32 pages actually contain text to be read, if you exclude the chronology, filmography, discography, list of articles and works consulted, glossary, and index at the back of the book. The reading level is geared toward ages 4-8, with pronunciation respelling, as in this except from Chapter Three chronicling her display of talent at a young age, through auditions for her first acting parts:
Miley first auditioned for Hannah Montana at age eleven but was deemed too young, until she got her "Big Break" (Chapter One) two years later. Her given name is Destiny Hope, but her happy disposition as a baby earner her the nickname "Smiley Miley" (Chapter Two). The plot and costuming of Hannah Montana (Chapter Four) is explained, with a discussion of the songs she sings on the show producing this informative little nugget: "She is such a good singer that Hollywood Records has asked her to record four albums for them." Finally, we learn a little bit about her "Best Friends" (Chapter Five), including co-stars Emily Osment and Mitchel Musso.
Her five siblings are acknowledged, though their complicated parentage is not. Therefore, the chronology begins with Miley's birth, but inquisitive minds might wonder why Brandi, Trace, and Christopher Cody aren't on the timeline, yet younger brother Braison Chance and younger sister Noah Lindsey are. Now, there's food for discussion!
Its library binding indicates that Miley Cyrus is obviously meant to be read at your local public library, and any fully-informed person would be crazy to shell out the kind of money they're asking to own this book. Because of this -- and hopefully to warn off potentially bitter future purchasers -- the grade is dragged down in this otherwise fine introduction to the young starlet's life for the curious juvenile.
