First published 2007
Barack Obama grows up caught between worlds, his mixed heritage leaving him searching for where he belongs. The young man from Hawaii faces questions about his identity that follow him through his formative years. He discovers his calling in public service, channeling his experiences into a drive to help others. Obama's path takes him from community organizing in Chicago to the halls of power in Washington, D.C. As he builds his political career, he carries the weight of history on his shoulders. His election to the U.S. Senate makes him only the fifth African American to achieve this milestone. Now the man once called "the skinny kid" sets his sights higher, working toward a goal that seemed impossible just decades before. His journey from uncertainty to leadership shows how personal struggle can fuel public purpose.
Genres: biography, history, american, african-american, political-science, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, personal-journey
Setting: Chicago, Hawaii, Washington D.C.
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
48 pages · Paperback · Grosset & Dunlap