Performer Cynthia Erivo “shines in the spotlight,” and this simple biography shows young readers how they can shine like her. It offers lessons drawn from moments in her life, for example, by showing her singing at her school’s Christmas pageant and encouraging readers to “take center stage,” or explaining that she studied music psychology before turning to dramatic arts, and that readers should “realize it’s okay to start over.”
Other wisdom here includes: “Remember it’s okay to not fit in,” “celebrate your individuality,” and “live your truth.” The last is shown on a page that shows Erivo at a podium with Pride flags behind her, as the text tells us, “She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and hopes her activism will make it easier for young people to be themselves.”
The final page shows Erivo pointing an iconic green fingernail at the reader as the text asks “What makes YOU shine like Cynthia?”
The combination of basic biographical facts and inspirational advice feels like a good way to convey Erivo’s importance and make her relatable for younger readers. The clear acknowledgment of her queerness also sets this above certain other biographies for the age group (like the Little Golden Book biographies of Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan, which talk about the artists’ support for equality and LGBTQ rights but never state that they themselves are queer). A recommended title, especially for households where at least one person is already a fan.
