The History of Rock: For Big Fans and Little Punks

Through capsule biographies of the many musicians across genres whose works can be classified as rock, Nabais attempts to capture the breadth and influence of a famously slippery, expansive, and syncretic genre. The text focuses on personalities, biographical details, and record sales over the memorable sounds these artists created, offering a strangely muted picture of a musical revolution (Run DMC’s “initial songs were really innovative, mixing Rock with Hip-Hop”) and some assessments that miss the mark (“Debbie [Harry] was really pretty and had a strong sense of style... and that’s why she became a Pop icon”). A comprehensive glossary offers slightly more detail about the defining elements of the many rock subgenres mentioned throughout, but additional information early on might have been useful for young readers lacking context. Raimundo’s smoothly stylized portraits effectively convey the musicians’ signature looks. Ages 9–12. [em](Sept.) [/em]