Steve Jobs

Gr 5–7—Standing out from the rush of postmortem profiles, this biography focuses most intently on the entrepreneur and innovator's earliest influences, from his mechanically gifted adoptive father and the electronics enthusiasts who clustered in "Silicon Valley" to his exposure to Zen Buddhism, calligraphy, and the idea that art and engineering are not mutually exclusive pursuits. Lakin goes on to cover Jobs's entire roller-coaster career up to his death last year and ensuing memorial service, and serves up at least mentions of his personal relationships, siblings, and offspring. Though the lack of illustrations or any leads to further information (aside from endnotes on the author's adult-level sources) seriously limit the book's appeal, Lakin's summary of Jobs's formative years, and particularly her absorbing, detailed account of Apple's first heady days, will provide students of his achievements with unusual insight into his values and distinctively brash personality.—John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York City