Book Review 12

Bibliography
Stanley, Diane. 2000. Michelangelo. Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 9781404681101

Plot Summary

Diane Stanley’s nonfiction book about Michelangelo begins at his birth and goes all the way to his death at the age of 89. In between she packs valuable information that helps the reader feel they really know the man behind the art. From Michelangelo’s life as a child to his inability to make friends, Stanley helps develop a background that is essential to understanding Michelangelo’s work ethic and drive, as well as the many successes and failures he experienced along the way.

Critical Analysis

Stanley’s style is to intertwine the work Michelangelo did with the story of his life, a style that is effective and helps the reader understand how wholly Michelangelo lived for his art. Organized chronologically, the book documents Michelangelo’s work, travel, and personal relationships as his life progresses. This format is effective and allows Stanley to take massive amounts of information and break it into digestible, interesting sections that help build the life of the man from beginning to end. Full of quotes, such as Michelangelo saying he has “a wife who is too much for me….it is my art, and my works are my children,” there is true voice in this story that takes it beyond fact accumulation and makes it relatable to children of all ages. The design of the book is also appealing and draws the reader in immediately. Readers are offered the opportunity to see colorful illustrations depicting Michelangelo as he ages working on his craft. Pictures of the Sistine chapel and David, two of Michelangelo’s most famous works, are shown as they are talked about, and the intricate detail within the drawings offers the reader a better understanding of the painstaking work that went into every piece of art Michelangelo produced.

Review Excerpts

"The author "brings to bear an uncanny ability to clarify and compress dense and tricky historical matter, scrupulous attention to visual and verbal nuances, and a self-fulfilling faith in her readers' intelligence.” Publishers Weekly

"Her careful use of scale and color contribute to the success of the scenes." School Library Journal

"Stanley particularly excels in selecting and integrating just enough context and detail to assure a genuine, empathetic treatment." Kirkus Reviews

Connections

*Read Leonardo da Vinci by Diane Stanley and have students create a Venn diagram showing the differences and similarities between da Vinci and Michelangelo. Lead a class discussion asking students to tell which artist they feel contributed the most to the world and use evidence from the books to back up their opinions.
*Have students act out da Vinci’s life in a readers theater to make nonfiction more real for them.