An amazingly well-done picture book biography covers John Coltrane’s entire life, weaving in both his drug addiction and his search for meaning through religion—two very complicated aspects of his adult life—in a nonjudgmental, accessible way. Author Gary Golio’s writing is not only successful at explaining its complex subject, but it sings, whether he’s writing about Coltrane’s relationship with music or his conscious decision to turn away from drugs, a struggle at which he succeeded with support. Rudy Gutierrez’s striking illustrations blend photorealistic faces and abstracted bodies that distort into swirling shapes that can be interpreted as music, a drug-addled mind, religious fervor—or all three. The sophisticated art is a great choice for the complexity of Coltrane and the audience for this picture book for older readers. (Ages 9–14)

Growing up, John was a seeker. He wondered about spirit, and the meaning of life. And whether music could be a key to unlocking those mysteries. Like his grandfather's preaching and his parents' songs, could John's music bring people closer to God?
Told in moving prose and powerfully illustrated, this is the story of a shy, curious boy from a deeply religious family who grew up to find solace and inspiration in his own unique approach to both spirituality and music. John Coltrane--a legendary jazz musician whose work shattered boundaries and continues to influence countless artists to this day.