Living
Ella: A Novel
05/09/2024 12:00 AM EST •
05/02/2024 03:32 PM EST
Ella: A Novel
by Diane Richards
This telling of Ella Fitzgerald's teenage years is compelling. There are numerous ways her young life could have been snuffed out. Through sheer determination, she persevered until she got her only break, literally drawing the right straw on amateur night at the Apollo Theater in 1934 at the age of 17. The hardships she endured are heartbreaking. I could not put the book down as I hoped the next chapter would bring young Ella the break she needed. Early videos of her performances which are available online enrich the story.
Jen, Breakwater Books, Guilford