Under Pressure

The boy who turned stage fright into stardom

Long before the world knew him as Freddie Mercury, he was Farrokh Bulsara—a shy boy at boarding school in India. He missed his family, endured teasing and sometimes doubted himself. But Farrokh loved music. With a countdown to his very first performance, readers watch him battle stage fright, lean on his friends and step up to the piano. As his fingers fly across the keys, fear turns into joy and even his bullies cheer for him. This inspiring picture-book biography captures a defining childhood moment of the boy who dreamed big—and grew up to become Freddie Mercury, a legend.