Who Is Lin-Manuel Miranda?

Who Was . . . ? Series

by Elijah Rey-David Matos, Who H.Q., David Malan (illustrator)

Step into the spotlight with Lin-Manuel Miranda in this addition to the New York Times #1 Best-Selling series that explains how the Broadway legend got his start before Hamilton and Encanto!Born in New York to Puerto Rican parents, Lin-Manuel Miranda had a passion for the arts and creativity from a young age. He participated in theater as a child and wrote his first Broadway musical, In the Heights, while he was still in college. That show won him his first Tony Award for Best Musical! He went on to create and star in the beloved musical Hamilton about the life of Alexander Hamilton. A nonstop writer, Lin-Manuel contributed music for other major projects such as Moana, Encanto, Star Wars, and The Little Mermaid. He has won a Pulitzer prize, five Grammy awards, three Tony Awards, and two Emmy awards so far in his successful career as a composer, lyricist, actor, and director.

Genres: Biography, Childrens, Nonfiction

112 pages, Paperback

Published August 6, 2024

Reviews

[Abby Rogish Bodin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this so I could use it for my 7th grade English class to write a paper. Ended up learning new things about Lin!

[Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun, fast-paced look into the life and career of one of Broadway’s most electrifying voices, Lin-Manuel Miranda. From his early days to his rise with Hamilton and In the Heights, this biography highlights his creative genius and the impact he’s had on modern theater.

The book does a great job of showcasing Miranda’s passion for storytelling and his ability to blend music, culture, and history in a way that resonates with so many people. It’s inspiring to see how his love for hip-hop and musical theater shaped his path and the groundbreaking projects he’s brought to life. If you’re a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda or just love stories about creativity and determination, this is a quick and enjoyable read.

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who Is Lin-Manuel Miranda? brings you inside the mind of one of the most electrifying voices on Broadway! This fun and fast-paced biography tells the story of how a kid from New York, obsessed with words and music, grew up to revolutionize theater with Hamilton and In the Heights. From his early love of hip-hop to his journey creating musicals that broke all the rules, this book shows how Lin-Manuel’s passion, grit, and love for his Puerto Rican roots changed the world. Perfect for young readers or anyone inspired by creative genius—this is the ultimate backstage pass to his story!

[Nicole Sampson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was in awe over everything Lin-Manuel Miranda has done, even at such a relatively young age. This one didn't capture my kidsʼ attention as well as other books from this series have.

There were some leftist teachings I didn't appreciate, especially since this book is meant for children. For example, the book explains that some people call Latinos Latinx or Latine to include non-binary people. That's not something I want my children learning about at a young age, and it's too confusing for them.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew that Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote and acted in Hamilton. But I didn't know all that he has accomplished. I was truly amazed of all his talents and the things he also accomplished. Grammy Awards, Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Also 2 Emmys, also 2 Olivier Awards. He also achieved his Kennedy Center Honors award in 2018. And many others.
A very good story.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and accessible overview of all the highlights of Lin-Manuel Miranda's career, accomplishments, influences...though maybe a little strange to see the whole Hamilton juggernaut condensed down to about a page and a half.

[Soojung Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this is written accessible but still uses domain specific vocabulary which they define within the writing: gentrificatio, latino/a/e/x, etc.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many distracting and irrelevant tangents.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lin-Manuel Miranda, full of energy, full of talent.

[Danielle England · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well writen, very informative. I think for my (son, 4th grade), some parts went off topic and he lost some interest. Overall we both enjoyed it

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The highlight are the illustrations!