I am Lucille Ball

Graphic Novel name: I am Lucille Ball
Author: Brad Meltzer
Illustrator: Christopher Elipoulos
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Publication date: 2015
Non-fiction biographical
Page count: 38
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets
Jazma Online

The book gave over view about life of comedian Lucille Ball. It is geared more ages 5 through 10. The book tells how Lucille Ball got start in entertainment industry. It talked about even her early years enjoying entertaining others. Book talked about how not everyone appreciated her comic ways. Her Grandmother Peterson did not like Lucille’s goofiness. Her Grandma thought Lucy was not supposed to be bold, sassy, or silly. Lucy would be set to bed before sun down. Lucy could recall lying in bed while other children were outside playing. No matter how tough those days were, Lucy had one thing to get through the days. Her sense of humor.

Lucy would act out movies as child with friends in her back yard. This was when about eight years old.

Inspiration to go into comedy came from her principal of her school – a man named Bernard Drake- realized this and even told Lucy this when she was 12 years old. He was the very first person to label her wild and fun behavior as talent.

The book tells how when Lucy was thirteen, a friend and her put on first amateur production, a play called Charley’s Aunt.

It was the first time Lucy felt wonderful feeling that comes from getting laughs on a real stage. Book talked about how Lucy loved having starring role, selling tickets, swept up after, and even turned out lights.

Lucy was very enthusiastic in her high school performances. When she was fifteen, during one musical, Lucy did a dance with so much excitement, she fell into the orchestra pit and dislocated her arm. Lucy’s Mother sent her to acting school in New York when she was seventeen.

Lucy had very difficult time getting break in movies. She went to many tryouts without success. She got her first break in movies when she was twenty-one years old.

I liked learning that next she had on-screen acting credit in a short football comedy starring...The Three Stooges. She learned how not to flinch when a pie hit her face in what was called slapstick part.

I also learned how “I Love Lucy” show found fame on television. It was not easy to get show on TV. Every week, America turned in to see what Lucy was up to. They wanted to see what new trouble she’d get into. Lucy starred with her husband Cuban Desi Arnaz. Desi was called Ricky in I love Lucy Show. Their best friends Ethel and Fred, would get into many crazy adventures. Every week watchers of show wanted to see who would show up. They had famous guest stars in black and white show, like Harpo Marx and even Superman! I recall watching Superman episode. I bet somewhere on internet.

Lucy was the first woman to run a major Hollywood studio. I learned Desi and Lucille’s studio Desilu, used the money from I Love Lucy to produce other shows like Star Trek and Mission Impossible.

Here is really important thing tried to inspire from book. In life, people try to put you down because you are different from everyone else. Go look in the mirror. When someone tries to put you down, that person in mirror will pick you back up. When you are sad, that’s who’ll help you laugh it off. To find happiness in life, you have to do what you do best. The possibilities will be endless. The person you need to love most is yourself.

The book concluded with two page time line. Lucille Ball was born on August 6, 1911. She married Desi Arnaz on November 30, 1940. The first episode of I Love Lucy aired on CBS on October 15t, 1951. She won first Emmy for Best comedienne in 1952. She died in Beverly Hills, California on April 26, 1989. Lucille was Posthumously awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom on July 6, 1989.

I also noticed Brad wrote inspirational book I am Neil Armstrong. I think rather amazing change of voice from his work as Novelist and comic book author.

I got both I am Lucille Ball and I am Neal Armstrong through library. I found both graphic stories in children’s section. The main focus is how ordinary people change the world.


Allen Klingelhoets