This biography in the American Icons series from Enslow Publishers is a pretty standard issue, 90 page read.  One formulaic piece that is debatable about its effect is the introductory chapter that outlines the whole story.  This may have been directed by the publisher, but author Marty Gitlin basically tells the story of the book in the 1st chapter.  The rest of the book continues in a chronological order with quite a few more details, but if a student only reads the 1st chapter, they will get to know the bulk of Tyler Perry’s story.  This reader became bored because I already knew what was going to happen next. Unlike other publisher’s biographies, there are no glossy pictures woven throughout.  This is 90 pages of text.

The choice of the publisher to do Tyler Perry was a good one.  Perry had a very hard life as a child and chose to forgive and work hard to accomplish all that he has attained.  This message is a constant backdrop in the story.   As Perry found more success with his writing and performing, he branches out into different venues – from stage to movies to television shows.  He is presented as a very passionate man.  The controversy around his character of Madea, whom Perry himself plays while cross-dressing as a woman, is interesting because not all of his African-American audience liked this strong, religious, blunt woman figure that shows up in so many of his plays and movies.  Some feel it is low-brow humor but most feel it adequately represents the mothers and grandmothers they themselves grew up with.

Ultimately, schools with larger African-American populations should see this biography circulate.  But even those that don’t have that population can purchase this for an example of a contemporary star who continues to push himself despite such a horrible past.  Messages of forgiveness and perseverence will be remembered.