Publisher Description
For young readers inspired by bestselling autobiographies such as Essentially Charli and Reach for the Skai comes the extraordinary true story of how a nine-year-old DJ from Dubai became an international superstar, as told in her own words—with some help from her “Momager”—with a foreword by Wyclef Jean.
Dubai wunderkind Michelle Rasul was only a toddler when she first got behind the turntables. By the time she entered the 2021 DMC Global DJing Championship, she was on her way to becoming an international celebrity. Her inspiring autobiography is a testament to passion, talent, family, love, and perseverance—and above all, a celebration of Girl Power with some scratching and a beat.
Award-winning children’s author Rabiah York takes the reader through DJ Michelle’s extraordinary life in a rollicking, intimate narrative driven by Michelle’s own words—joined by the star’s mother, Saida Rasul. (Or “Momager,” as the family prefers.) In conversation, mother and daughter open up not only about the magic of music in their lives, but about the discipline it takes to journey from precocious youngster to professional scratch DJ. For all of Michelle’s positivity, she is unflinchingly honest about the obstacles she has had to overcome to achieve such astonishing success at such a young age.
The print edition is enhanced by colorful photographs and other fun multimedia inserts—including (but not limited to) crucial bits of DJ history; text messages from friends, fans, and celebrities; even a school assignment.
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“In this breezy, upbeat account, Rasul, an award-winning DJ, looks back on her life…Bright graphics, photos, sidebars, and celebrity profiles pop up on every page; the tone is relentlessly cheerful and encouraging. There aren’t that many books for this age group about hip-hop or DJing, let alone any that highlight tween celebrities. This attractive offering fills that void nicely.”
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Booklist (starred review)
About the Authors
Michelle Rasul—better known as DJ Michelle—is recognized as one of the world’s top professional scratch DJs. A child celebrity and social media phenomenon, she is one of the youngest turntablists ever to enter the DMC World Championship and the youngest finalist of the Goldie Awards 2021. Her message is always the same: It’s never too early and never too late to start following your dreams! Her goal is spreading the good vibes and making people happy. Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, her home is now in the skyscraper-filled city of Dubai. Find her on social media @iamdjmichelle.
Eileen Stevens is a voice-over actress whose voice can be heard on cartoons, promos, programs for English-language learners, and audiobooks. An Earphones Award–winning narrator, she is also an audiobook director and producer.
Rabiah York is an award-winning author of the picture book The Conference of The Birds. Her latest picture book, The Gift of Ramadan, was highly recommended by SLJ as “a perfect addition to holiday book collections,” while her deeply personal and acclaimed debut YA novel, No True Believers, draws on her experience as an American Muslim at home and abroad. After embracing Islam at the age of eighteen, she earned a BA in religious studies from George Washington University and has an MFA in creative writing from Spalding University.
About the Narrators
Wyclef Jean is a multiplatinum Haitian musician and former member of the hip-hop trio the Fugees, as well as an actor and producer. Throughout his career, as a member of the Fugees, a collaborator with other musicians, and a solo artist, he has sold more than fifty million albums. He has worked with such artists as Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, T. I., Mary J. Blige, and Destiny’s Child.
Cary Hite has performed in several theaters across the country as a cast member in the longest-running African American play in history, The Diary of Black Men. He also appeared in Edward II, Fences, Macbeth, Good Boys, Side Effects May Vary, and the indie feature The City Is Mine. He has voiced several projects for AudibleKids, including Souls Look Back in Wonder, From Slave Ship to Freedom Road, and Papa, Do You Love Me?
Eileen Stevens is a voice-over actress whose voice can be heard on cartoons, promos, programs for English-language learners, and audiobooks. An Earphones Award–winning narrator, she is also an audiobook director and producer.
Soneela Nankani is an award-winning narrator with over three hundred titles in many different genres including Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, and Nonfiction. She has garnered sixteen Earphones Awards, nominations for Audie and SOVAS awards, and was recently awarded AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voice Lifetime Achievement Honor. Her audiobooks have been featured in Best Audiobooks lists by AudioFile magazine and the Washington Post, among others. In her spare time, she loves to read (yes, really), learn languages, try new recipes, and travel. She lives in the DC area with her husband and two mischievous daughters.
James Langton, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and later as a musician at the Guildhall School in London. He has worked in radio, film, and television, also appearing in theater in England and on Broadway. He is also a professional musician who led the internationally renowned Pasadena Roof Orchestra from 1996 to 2002.