A review by nerfherder86
Steve Jobs: Insanely Great by Jessie Hartland

4.0

A thorough biography of Steve Jobs, told in graphic-novel style, which technically makes it not a biography, because there are made-up passages of dialogue "to communicate a sense of what I imagine was said," notes the author/illustrator. (But sources are given for some direct quotes). Still, for teens who want to learn more about this computer and marketing genius and icon, but who are daunted by a text-only biography, this is a terrific book to hand them. It goes from his adoption as a baby through childhood tinkering in Silicon Valley, to college to founding Apple, explaining his personality quirks, fallout with CEO, quick mention of his daughter out of wedlock and so forth, not skipping over the negatives among the positives but not dwelling on them either. The black and white cartoony drawings are very tiny, detailed and whimsical--same style as the author's bio of Julia Child, [b:Bon Appetit|19311279|ＢＯＮ　ＡＰＰＥＴＩＴ Bon Appetit |Akane Abe|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386599739s/19311279.jpg|27361316]--which is not my favorite drawing style, but is still fun to read once you get the hang of it. Hand-lettered text twirls around pictures, and there are nice 2-page spreads at the decade marks of his life, showing new technology that came into use in that time (for example, in the 1960s, rabbit ears attenna, black and white tv, no remote controls, film cameras, rotary phones with cords) that today's teens will find amusing and perhaps mindboggling. Bibliography included.