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Who Was . . . ? Series
Who Was Aretha Franklin?
There is only one QUEEN OF SOUL! Discover why Aretha Franklin garners so much R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Aretha Franklin is a musical and cultural icon who created an amazing legacy spanning six decades! Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1942, Aretha got her start singing in front of her father's Baptist congregation and found minor success as a gospel singer. She then set her sights on becoming a pop music artist and used her powerful voice and impressive skills on the piano to get a record deal. Aretha released her first of many celebrated albums at the age of 18. In 1987, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, making her the first female artist to grace the prestigious list. With iconic hits such as "Respect" and "Think," and countless awards to her name including eighteen Grammys, Aretha Franklin is one of the bestselling artists of all time.
Aretha Franklin is a musical and cultural icon who created an amazing legacy spanning six decades! Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1942, Aretha got her start singing in front of her father's Baptist congregation and found minor success as a gospel singer. She then set her sights on becoming a pop music artist and used her powerful voice and impressive skills on the piano to get a record deal. Aretha released her first of many celebrated albums at the age of 18. In 1987, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, making her the first female artist to grace the prestigious list. With iconic hits such as "Respect" and "Think," and countless awards to her name including eighteen Grammys, Aretha Franklin is one of the bestselling artists of all time.
112 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2018
37 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 1, 2022
Great book with specific detail told in an engaging manner.
March 8, 2020
The day Aretha Franklin died I was looking over the books at BJ's and happened to see this one. I had to get it. This is part of a children's series and as I have discovered before with children's books, it gives you a concise view of the subject.
In not much more than 100 pages I got the highlights of the singer's life and career. These bite-sized biographies are quite informative.
In not much more than 100 pages I got the highlights of the singer's life and career. These bite-sized biographies are quite informative.
Want to read
May 31, 2020I want to know about her
April 28, 2022
I listened to the audiobook and it was great. If only it came with a playlist or CD so that we could hear the music mentioned.
August 23, 2018
Another solid entry in the Who Is? Who Was? (now called WhoHQ) series of books. I have been reading some of the articles out there since Aretha Franklin's death one week ago, and watching some of the television coverage as well, so I did know a bit about her and her life from those sources. However, yet again, this series delivers a short, informative, and engaging introduction to a famous person which shares many new and intriguing aspects of the person and their life.
This book does a nice job of covering her life from childhood to the present, although it was published shortly before her death so that it leaves off with her retirement in 2017 at the end. It is good to see how the books in this series devote attention to the childhood of the book's subject. Sometimes it feels like the audience of biographies for children and young adults is forgotten by the authors and publishers, as they skim over the person's life starting with birth and fast-forward to adulthood. Kids want to read about the childhood of famous people! Aretha is no exception. Indeed, she had a unique, and in some ways fortunate, childhood growing up with a very famous and successful minister for a father. This situation brought her into contact with quite a number of key figures in music, religion, and politics throughout the black communities in Detroit and across the nation as they toured. However, as this book also shows, there were plenty of troubles and sorrows in her young life as well as joyful times and great moments. The author does a good job of balancing her personal and professional life, successes and failures. I enjoyed this book, and will recommend it to young readers looking to learn more about Aretha Franklin as well as fans of the series in general.
Thanks to Penguin Young Readers for the review copy.
This book does a nice job of covering her life from childhood to the present, although it was published shortly before her death so that it leaves off with her retirement in 2017 at the end. It is good to see how the books in this series devote attention to the childhood of the book's subject. Sometimes it feels like the audience of biographies for children and young adults is forgotten by the authors and publishers, as they skim over the person's life starting with birth and fast-forward to adulthood. Kids want to read about the childhood of famous people! Aretha is no exception. Indeed, she had a unique, and in some ways fortunate, childhood growing up with a very famous and successful minister for a father. This situation brought her into contact with quite a number of key figures in music, religion, and politics throughout the black communities in Detroit and across the nation as they toured. However, as this book also shows, there were plenty of troubles and sorrows in her young life as well as joyful times and great moments. The author does a good job of balancing her personal and professional life, successes and failures. I enjoyed this book, and will recommend it to young readers looking to learn more about Aretha Franklin as well as fans of the series in general.
Thanks to Penguin Young Readers for the review copy.
February 15, 2022
Aretha Franklin was a queen of music in her own right. Her music has influenced many others and she was extremely talented. This book shows the progression of her career and enlightens the reader of her life. It is very worthwhile to read.
June 10, 2025
Crazy fact of the book:
Aretha became pregnant with her first child at 12 years old. The father faced no consequences. In fact he got her pregnant again when she was 14.
An example of the good, traditional values that some people want to drag us back to.
Aretha became pregnant with her first child at 12 years old. The father faced no consequences. In fact he got her pregnant again when she was 14.
An example of the good, traditional values that some people want to drag us back to.
April 28, 2018
Wonderful detail for the age group. I learned so much about this amazing woman!
August 16, 2018
We lost a true legend.
September 1, 2018
Tremendous talent but her personal life was a hot mess.
September 26, 2018
Good read.
August 20, 2020
Lady Soul
Wonderful story about the Queen of Soul . Well written , easy to understand and informative. One of my favorite books.
Wonderful story about the Queen of Soul . Well written , easy to understand and informative. One of my favorite books.
April 19, 2022
Informative children's book, we enjoyed learning about this
March 15, 2023
Definitely a super star fun filled fact book
April 4, 2023
I mean… it’s THEEE QUEEN OF SOUL… Madam Aretha Franklin, of course 5 stars!!!
*caveat* You could have kept that last fact Medina… NO ONE cares.
*caveat* You could have kept that last fact Medina… NO ONE cares.
April 12, 2023
Easy and informational read
January 15, 2024
I love reading these books with my son. It was a quick read, and as always it was a great read. I enjoyed this one, and I learned a lot that I didn't know about Aretha Franklin.
June 18, 2025
I learned a lot about her! I listened to it on Spotify!
June 24, 2025
What a powerful spirit and voice Ms. Franklin had.
February 27, 2020
Aretha Franklin was a child who grew up to know that every night she would wake up to a party downstairs but at church, a lady sang in the church she was inspired to sing and show the world. When Aretha was 13 she had her first child and second child 2 years later. She did not stop her dreams she had her grandma take care of her kids while she was on tour she was very happy when she passed and they honor to this day.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews