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The star of Risky Business, Rain Man, Top Gun, and other popular movies overcame dyslexia and a broken home with hard work and a fierce determination to succeed.

96 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2000

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About the author

Joanne Mattern

1,007 books26 followers
Mattern is the author of many books for children. Her favorite topics include animals, biography, and history. She lives in the Hudson Valley of New York State.

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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
8 reviews2 followers
February 13, 2015
February 5, 2015

Tom Cruise had a hard time growing up. First, he moved around a lot. This made his childhood hard because he had to make friends every time he changed school. "His childhood was filled with upsets. His family moved frequently, forcing Cruise to change schools fifteen times"(Mattern 10). Another reason Ton Cruise had a hard time growing up was that his parents divorced. After his parents divorced his family had very low income--once his family didn't even have enough obey for Christmas gifts. In all, Tom had a very hard time growing up.

In Cruise's life he had to face a big problem: his learning disability known as dyslexia. First, it was a big problem because it caused bullying in the schools he went to. People always thought of him as the dumb kid. Another reason dyslexia was an obstacle for him was that it made it harder learning scripts for movies. "The legal terms in the scripts for A Few Good Men and The Firm were especially challenging for Cruise because of his dyslexia"(Mattern 56). Overall, Tom had to face a big problem throughout his life.

Tom Cruise was a very worked very hard in his life. First, he did things that the character would do in real life so he knows how to act every part better. This type of hard work had a good effect on him. "Besides pleasing audiences, Cruise continued to impress directors and other actors"(Mattern 58). Another way Tom worked had was that he studied harder and harder to overcome his learning disability dyslexia. To make his life easier he would often rewrite parts of the script for a movie. In conclusion, Cruise worked hard all the time.

February 13, 2015

Tom Cruise took many risks. First, he made his own production. "To further ambition, he formed Cruise/Wagner Production with his long time publicist and friend Paula Wagner"(Mattern 62). Another reason Tom is brave is that he participates in dangerous stunts of movies. Once he had to play football and he got a minor concussion. Overall, Tom Cruise is brave in several ways.

Most on Tom Cruise's movies were a big success. First, "Mission: Impossible" was a blockbuster. "'Mission: Impossible' went on to become a blockbuster , grossing more than $400 million. Cruise's production went off to a good start"(Mattern 63). Another movie that was a success was "Interview with the Vampire." Tom had changed Anne Rice's mind about him. In all, Cruise's movies usually were successful.

According to my definition Cruise is a hero. First, he helped a woman he didn't know when she was hit by a car. Cruise followed the ambulance to the hospital so he knows how she feels. "When Cruise discovered that he had no health insurance, he paid her entire hospital bill"(Mattern 64). Another way Cruise is a hero is that he rescued people in Capri, Italy. He helped them in a boating accident. Tom Cruise is a hero according to my definition.
8 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2015
Tom Cruise, by Joanne Mattern

“I always look for a challenge and something that’s different” -Tom Cruise. In 1962 Thomas Cruise Mapother is born in Syracuse, New York. At the age of 12 Cruise’s parents divorce. In 1978, his mother, Marry Lee Pfeiffer, marries Jack South. When he was 19 years old, Tome cruise appeared in his first movie, Endless Love. In 1987, he marries Mimi Rogers. In 1990, Cruise receives his first Oscar, divorces Mimi Rogers and marries Nicole Kidman. In 1993, he adopts Isabella Jane Kidman Cruise. Two years later, Cruise adopts Connor Antony Kidman Cruise. In 1996, he produces and stars in Mission: Impossible, one of the biggest money making films in history. The next three years, Tom Cruise receives two more Oscars. The theme of this story is “even if life seems hard sometimes, never give up and keep going”. Thus, this exiting biography written by the amazing author, Joanne Mattern, was skillfully developed trough the author’s use of description.

The biography, Tom Cruise, taught the readers a lot of facts about Cruise’s life. The reader can realize that this book is a biography, because this book talks a bout Tom Cruise’s life, and usually biographies talk about a person’s life. Tom Cruise became famous because of his talents of actor and even for his “beauty”. From this person’s life we can learn that even though life seems hard sometimes, one never give up but should just keep going. As one can see, Tom Cruise taught the readers very important life lessons.

The biography, Tom Cruise, is a very fascinate, descriptive and very interesting book. I would highly recommend this book to middle scholars. To Thomas Cruise Mapother fans. Finally to all young actors who want to become famous and follow a good career. This biography teaches high moral standard life lesson “even if life seems hard sometimes, never give up and keep going”. As one can see, the amazing biography, Tom Cruise, is considered very exciting because of its use of description.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews