The Little Girl with the Big Voice

Gr 3–5—Teenage singer-songwriter McDonald narrates her journey from a shy and squeaky-voiced child to a contestant on NBC's vocal talent competition show The Voice. Much of the beginning half of McDonald's autobiography communicates the toll that constant race- and appearance-motivated bullying by classmates had on her, and the difficulty of being confident in herself while constantly being made to feel less than. Martinez's illustrations smartly expand on what is hinted at the text: images of cruel-looking smiley faces ask questions like "Is that horsehair?" in speech bubbles. Adults can unpack these scenes with children and discuss the concepts of macro- and microaggressions. McDonald finds solace in music and later forms a supportive and loving group of friends. After she worked up the courage to perform at the famous Harlem Apollo Theater, her dad secretly signed her up for The Voice. The book includes a new song about believing in oneself and one's dreams as well as discussion questions and a thorough glossary. McDonald also lists a number of interesting suggestions for activities related to a variety of creative arts, encouraging young readers to explore the gamut. Martinez's vibrant images convey a great deal of movement, often showing sound swirling around McDonald and adding much to the occasionally workmanlike writing.