Part of my World: What I've Learned from the Little Mermaid about Love, Faith and Finding my Voice by Jodi Benson with Carol Traver Review

 Happy Monday Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I want to thank you all for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.

I haven't really talked too much on my blog about my not really being a Disney fan anymore, but I have to be honest that I've been very disheartened with some of the company's recent decisions, and it doesn't really seem to be a company, that as a Christian, I can find much value in anymore. 

However, when I was a big Disney fan, The Little Mermaid was pretty much always my favorite, and I loved the fact that Jodi Benson (the woman who does Ariel's voice), is a Christian, and often uses her platform from this character to share her faith.

When I heard she had a book releasing about her faith and her journey to become the voice behind such a famous character, I knew I couldn't wait to read it.

Today I'm excited to share my review of this one with you all, and I hope you'll keep reading below to find out what I ended up thinking about it.

Part of my World: What I've Learned from the Little Mermaid about Love, Faith and Finding my Voice by Jodi Benson with Carol Traver:

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Tyndale Momentum 

Publication Date: September 13th, 2022

Genre: Christian Non Fiction/Biography/Memoir

Synopsis:

Join Disney Legend Jodi Benson on a magical journey from a Midwestern town to the bright lights of Broadway and the recording booth where she brought one of the most beloved Disney princesses of all time to life!

A treasure trove of colorful characters and unforgettable anecdotes, Part of My World reads like a real-life fairy tale as a girl with a big voice and even bigger dreams sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, Jodi shares lessons she's learned about faith, friendship, love, loss, taking chances, making mistakes, following God's call, and chasing your dreams. In Part of My World you'll come alongside Jodi as she
struggles to find her footing in the rehearsal halls of Manhattan;
finds (then loses, then marries) her prince charming;
makes a splash on Broadway;
gives voice to a feisty redheaded mermaid, a blonde bombshell named Barbie, and a Tony-nominated powerhouse named Polly; and
searches for her own personal happily ever after.

Written with warmth, humor, and disarming vulnerability, Part of My World is a captivating glimpse behind the curtain at the making of one of the most celebrated animated movies of all time, and a must-read for Disney fans of all ages. 

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

Jodi Benson is someone I've long admired, and I was really looking forward to hearing her tell her story, especially in regards to her faith. As a child, The Little Mermaid was my all time favorite movie, so this one was especially exciting for me, and I loved how it's full of plenty of behind the scenes looks into Jodi's early days with Disney, and how she was lead to the role of Ariel in the first place.

Many things I was expecting from this one, but certain components still ended up surprising me. I remember loving the Dance Workout with Barbie VHS from my childhood, and I was completely blown away that Jodi had been the voice of Barbie for that lesser known title.

My favorite part of the story was Jodi's faith journey, and I enjoyed reading about the many struggles she's overcome along the way, and how she's been determined to keep Jesus at the front and center of every part of her life.

While I loved this one overall, my only complaint was that certain parts of the faith element seemed to be implying almost a progressive or prosperity gospel message, and while it didn't all come across that way, certain components did. 

Overall, a wonderful memoir, and one I'd recommend to anyone who has grown up a fan of this extraordinary lady.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much to Tyndale for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Tyndale) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review. 

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)