Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through The Motown Sound

Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through The Motown Sound by Andrea Davis Pinkney, 166 pages

This book follows Motown from its very beginning through today.  The book discusses the founder, Berry Gordy, in his childhood and early life and goes on to discuss the various groups that made up the sound of Motown.  Some of the early groups, like The Miracles, with Smokey Robinson, and The Marvelettes get a lot of attention in this book, as does singer, Mary Wells.  But lots of other singers and groups also get mention, like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and The Jackson 5.  The book also talks about the Civil Rights movement and how Motown affected and was affected by the turmoil going on during that time.  Pinkney is an excellent writer and the book is informative and entertaining.  There was at least one spot where the names being mentioned in a group didn't seem to work quite right.  The group members were listed and then a different person, not mentioned in the original list, was said to have left the group, which was a little confusing.  Despite this flaw, overall I really enjoyed it and kids who are interested in African American history will want to read this.