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7 Works 496 Members 8 Reviews

About the Author

Wilborn Hampton is a theater critic for the New York Times. Over the past twenty years, he has reviewed more than 500 stage productions. A former foreign correspondent, he has published several award-winning young adult nonfiction books and biographies. Hampton lives in New York City.

Works by Wilborn Hampton

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Common Knowledge

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Reviews

Kiddie non-fiction is always a tough sell, and at the time this came out, I wasn't buying.
 
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ManWithAnAgenda | Feb 7, 2020 |
I thought this book was very informative and put together. I've learned a lot of Babe, for example that his real name is George, that he had a very troubled childhood, and that he basically grew up in a school. This book gave you a lot of basic knowledge that most people wouldn't necessarily know. The only thing I'd would change is the amount of baseball statistics in the book. It may seem crazy to say that, but I feel like the book should've focused more on the important things rather than ever minor fact. Overall it didn't really take away from the book, but it did feel a bit much a times.… (more)
 
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JasonCam1 | 2 other reviews | Feb 3, 2018 |
Gr 7 Up-This book offers readers a fascinating look at the life of the man who, at the age of seven, was taken by his father to a Roman Catholic institution for homeless and troubled boys for "incorrigible" behavior. The teachers and students at St. Mary's became his family, and Brother Matthias, the athletic director, instilled in him his love of baseball and became a lifelong mentor. In 1914, when Babe was 18, the owner of the Baltimore Orioles offered him a contract. So began his tumultuous career in baseball, which lasted more than 20 years, most of which were spent with the New York Yankees. Hampton's narrative gives baseball lovers plenty of detailed statistical facts, but as a whole, the biography is more a weaving together of the various elements of Babe's personality that made him the larger-than-life legend. His generosity, his inability to control his excessive appetites, his quick temper, and his fondness for practical jokes all come through in this recounting that is more accessible than Leigh Montville's The Big Bam (Doubleday, 2006). Carefully chosen photographs enhance the presentation, and the author is meticulous in listing his sources. His extensive research and engaging conversational tone combine to produce a chronicle of Ruth's life that both fans and novices will find hard to put down.-Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
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KimJD | 2 other reviews | Apr 8, 2013 |
I was never a serious Elvis fan and since most of my knowledge of him came from magazine articles it was nice to hear the story of his life filled in with more details and sympathetic to Elvis as a person rather than an icon.
 
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lindap69 | Apr 5, 2013 |

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Works
7
Members
496
Popularity
#49,831
Rating
½ 3.6
Reviews
8
ISBNs
37
Languages
2

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