I got this book expecting to see several pictures of MJ performing or some with him doing other activities, say riding a bike, volunteering his time at a children’s hospital, something. I can appreciate this photographer wanting people to remember MJ before his Thriller days but I found this book to be pretty boring. I kind of think this guy is another opportunist trying to make money off of MJ’s death. The pictures were not really MJ at his best, There’s a picture of him waking up from sleep, one blurry one of him running from a crowd of fans running into a limousine. Some of these pictures I’ve seen before in all the commerative magazines that came out after his death. Overall not that impressed.
Rating: 2 / 5

This is a collection of photos of Michael Jackson and his environs over several years before he really hit it big as a solo artist with Thriller. I can’t say that any of them pop out at me as memorable; and many of them are high ISO grainy images not particularly suited for such large blowups. The accompanying text is interesting as it returns again and again to Mr. Jackson’s childlike essence; but there is not a lot of text. Also, much of what made Jackson special was dance, and these photos do not capture that well.

So, I cannot recommend this book. The images are not of high enough quality, nor is their any sustaining narrative, just a random collection of photos this particular photographer happened to own. Suitable just for the kind of fan who collects every bit available.
Rating: 3 / 5

I was hoping for pictures of Michael Jackson as a young boy, more of the Jackson 5 era. My 4 year old twin nieces adore Rocking Robin and have seen videos of Michael Jackson singing this on the internet, and they think he is just the coolest! They can’t really connect that he grew into a man they just think he is the boy that is a little older than them that in their view is “the best singer ever!”. This book focuses more on his teens and young adulthood and the pictures are just beautiful. This isn’t book isn’t written with any kind of opinion towards MJ, it is just a celebration of Michael Jackson’s rise to his throne as the King of Pop.
Rating: 3 / 5