School Library Journal Starred Review (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Gr 5 Up-A tour of the musical powerhouse's history done with verve and panache. "The Groove" takes readers through the birth and demise of Motown, one of the most influential African American-owned enterprises in the world's social and musical history. Centering around Gordy Berry, the talented tastemaker and eventual mogul, the ingenious narration highlights the company's humble beginnings—a pipe dream financed by Berry family's investment of $800—and embeds the stories of the many legends and stars that were born in its studios into the social upheavals and landmark events of the time. From the civil rights struggles of the 1960s and the Vietnam protests of the 1970s, these important milestones are interspersed throughout, bringing home the important place Motown had not only in the proliferation of rhythm and blues, rock, and disco into American culture but also its integration into the African American identity. The funky and melodic narrative style never wears thin and the familiar conceit helps make the darker parts of history age-appropriate for the audience. The thorough and detailed resources, photos, time line, and discography will encourage readers to want to learn more about the well-known Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye, and the not-so-well-known Funk Brothers—Motown's official studio band. VERDICT A well-crafted spin that will reverberate in the hearts of music, African American culture, and history buffs.— Shelley Diaz , School Library Journal

Starred Review ALA Booklist (Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Starred Review Veteran author Pinkney takes readers on a road trip to Motown in a book that catches the excitement of Hitsville U.S.A. She uses a clever conceit that keeps it all rolling: the narrative is told in the voice of the Groove: "a tempo that keeps us on track." The book begins where Motown begins, with Berry Gordy, a cocky kid who, as an adult, figured out how to bottle the sounds he heard on the streets of Detroit and put the music out as efficiently as an automobile assembly line. All the stars who got their start at Motown are here, of course okey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, Diana Ross, the Jackson Five, and many more t this is also the story of the behind-the-scenes players and actions that helped build the company. It's juxtaposed against the often literally fiery events that were taking place across the country at the time: war, rioting, and a cultural revolution. The down-home voice, which Pinkney says came from conversations with her cousin, a DJ, adds a lively dimension, only very occasionally overpowering the narrative. Such a distinctive book could have benefited from a more original design, but it is really the words that rock here, and the back matter makes it easy for kids to find those stax of wax.