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This Boy

The Early Lives of John Lennon & Paul McCartney

Author Ilene Cooper
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Hardcover
$17.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | Viking Books for Young Readers
7.19"W x 9.31"H x 0.7"D  
On sale Aug 15, 2023 | 192 Pages | 978-0-451-47585-5
| Grades 5-9
Reading Level: Fountas & Pinnell Z
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“An impressive achievement… “This Boy” is a wonderful primer for the kind of kid who is nuts enough about music to want to grasp the social context in which it was made.”—The New York Times

An inside look at the early lives of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, This Boy is a perfect book for any young reader embracing their inner Beatlemania.

Meant for younger readers, This Boy is a gripping biography of two musical legends. Beginning with their births during World War II England and ending with their famous performance on The Ed Sullivan Show, this book is action packed from beginning to end. Whether you are a lifelong Beatles fan or new to their music, this book is an excellent source of Beatles lore that is relatively unknown. 

    With expert research from Ilene Cooper and rarely seen photographs of the Beatles in their early days, this book will serve as not only an interesting biography of two significant historical figures, but also a fun read about rock and roll and how the lives of two people can change the world.
For over 20 years, Ilene Cooper has been writing both fiction and nonfiction books for children, including The Golden Rule, Jack: The Early Years of J.F.K., and her chapter books (Absolutely Lucy) and early readers (Little Lucy) about a beagle named Lucy. She is also the children’s books editor at ALA Booklist magazine. View titles by Ilene Cooper
“An impressive achievement… “This Boy” is a wonderful primer for the kind of kid who is nuts enough about music to want to grasp the social context in which it was made.”—The New York Times


★“Generously illustrated with period photographs, the beautifully written result is fascinating and compulsively readable, as Cooper dramatically demonstrates that, together, [John Lennon and Paul McCartney] made magic.”—Booklist, starred review

★"Illuminating reading for dreamers and doers already attuned to beats of their own."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review


★ “Cooper masterfully weaves the very different but overlapping lives of [Lennon and ­McCartney]…Lennon’s prickly personality and wild wordplay, compounded by his chaotic family life, is contrasted with McCartney’s loving extended family and his meticulous dedication to craft…An amazing trove of contemporaneous snapshots of the boys and their milieu round out the compelling narrative…A WWII book, a rock ‘n’ roll book, a buddy adventure…Highly recommended for middle graders and middle schoolers.”—School Library Journal, starred review
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About

“An impressive achievement… “This Boy” is a wonderful primer for the kind of kid who is nuts enough about music to want to grasp the social context in which it was made.”—The New York Times

An inside look at the early lives of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, This Boy is a perfect book for any young reader embracing their inner Beatlemania.

Meant for younger readers, This Boy is a gripping biography of two musical legends. Beginning with their births during World War II England and ending with their famous performance on The Ed Sullivan Show, this book is action packed from beginning to end. Whether you are a lifelong Beatles fan or new to their music, this book is an excellent source of Beatles lore that is relatively unknown. 

    With expert research from Ilene Cooper and rarely seen photographs of the Beatles in their early days, this book will serve as not only an interesting biography of two significant historical figures, but also a fun read about rock and roll and how the lives of two people can change the world.

Author

For over 20 years, Ilene Cooper has been writing both fiction and nonfiction books for children, including The Golden Rule, Jack: The Early Years of J.F.K., and her chapter books (Absolutely Lucy) and early readers (Little Lucy) about a beagle named Lucy. She is also the children’s books editor at ALA Booklist magazine. View titles by Ilene Cooper

Praise

“An impressive achievement… “This Boy” is a wonderful primer for the kind of kid who is nuts enough about music to want to grasp the social context in which it was made.”—The New York Times


★“Generously illustrated with period photographs, the beautifully written result is fascinating and compulsively readable, as Cooper dramatically demonstrates that, together, [John Lennon and Paul McCartney] made magic.”—Booklist, starred review

★"Illuminating reading for dreamers and doers already attuned to beats of their own."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review


★ “Cooper masterfully weaves the very different but overlapping lives of [Lennon and ­McCartney]…Lennon’s prickly personality and wild wordplay, compounded by his chaotic family life, is contrasted with McCartney’s loving extended family and his meticulous dedication to craft…An amazing trove of contemporaneous snapshots of the boys and their milieu round out the compelling narrative…A WWII book, a rock ‘n’ roll book, a buddy adventure…Highly recommended for middle graders and middle schoolers.”—School Library Journal, starred review

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Additional formats

  • This Boy
    This Boy
    The Early Lives of John Lennon & Paul McCartney
    Ilene Cooper
    Audiobook Download
    Aug 15, 2023
  • This Boy
    This Boy
    The Early Lives of John Lennon & Paul McCartney
    Ilene Cooper
    Ebook
    Aug 15, 2023
  • This Boy
    This Boy
    The Early Lives of John Lennon & Paul McCartney
    Ilene Cooper
    Audiobook Download
    Aug 15, 2023
  • This Boy
    This Boy
    The Early Lives of John Lennon & Paul McCartney
    Ilene Cooper
    Ebook
    Aug 15, 2023

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