WORTHY

Actor and talk-show host Jada Pinkett Smith foreshadows the range of emotions she projects in her memoir by beginning with quiet despair and transitioning to a fierce tone. Smith shares intimate details of growing up in Baltimore; with a mother who was addicted to heroin and an absent father, she was raised mainly by her grandmother. Smith shouts as she recounts being held at gunpoint while dealing drugs in her youth. She speaks fondly of the late legendary rapper Tupac Shakur, with whom formed an everlasting bond as a teen. A sound bowl rings at each turning point in Smith's life before she shares an inspiring revelation and softly asks listeners introspective questions. The details of Smith's life--including the infamous slap--are captivating. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2023]