Based on Barack Obama’s memoir Dreams From My Father, Nikki Grimes has created a simple biography for young readers.  A mother sits with her young son as he asks her who is that man on TV.  She tells him Obama’s story from his beginnings in Hawaii to his arrival in Washington D.C. I think that this is a great introduction to learn the basic background of Obama.  It is not in any way unbiased though.  Barack Obama is portrayed in only the most positive light.  Fans of Barack Obama will enjoy this book, those who are not probably won’t.

As far as the illustrations by Bryan Collier they are very artistic. But personally, it’s not a style that I liked.  Collier says “Each page is created in watercolor and collage, which acts as a metaphor for piecing different parts or issues together to make something new, whole, or complete.”   So I understand it, I can appreciate it, but in this case I didn’t care for it at all.

Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope isn’t for everyone.  I think either you’ll like it or you won’t.  I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more with a slightly different execution.

Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope is part of my themed reading for the month of February which celebrates Black History Month.  Join me this month as I explore books that celebrate the history of African-Americans.  Also reviewed this month:  The Well by Mildred D. Taylor,  Freedom Walkers, The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman, Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges and  Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson.  Other reviews of interest:  A Thousand Never Evers by Shana Burg, Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman, Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, and Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

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I know what you mean about wanting to like someone’s book because you like that person or something they stand for.  I’ve had several experiences where I was disappointed by something someone wrote, so your nervousness at reading my book makes perfect sense.

My feelings exactly.  While reading a interview with Donna Gephart from Cynthia Leitich Smith at Cynsations I really enjoyed Donna’s own summary of her book.  So instead of my summary, I bring you hers:

A brief summary: Preparing for spelling bees, having a secret admirer, and waiting for her chest size to catch up with her enormous feet are pressure enough, but Vanessa Rothrock must also deal with loneliness and fear as her mother, Florida’s Governor, runs for President of the United States.

Young readers will learn about primaries during this election season as well as the trials and t-r-i-b-u-l-a-t-i-o-n-s involved in competing in spelling bees. All the while, they will hope for this klutzy character to come to terms with herself, her mother’s campaign and ultimately find the courage to thwart an assassination attempt.

Just in time for election day!  A novel that not only is a wonderful coming of age story about the pressures of growing up, but a glimpse into the behind the scenes happenings of an election.  What I love about As If Being 12 3/4 . . . is that it’s a perfect blend of Vanessa’s life.  It’s not heavily focused on the election and it’s not heavily focused on her school day or the spelling bees, although it’s too funny that she has a Secret Service agent guard her locker and stand outside the bathroom. And things get crazy when a secret admirer starts passing her notes and it becomes a national security issue.

Donna Gephart’s writing is great.  Not only does she successfully combine a wide range of topics such as grief, single parenting, working mothers, mother/daughter relationships, the election process and the life and times of a “want to be normal” teenager but she does it with style.  The storyline keeps you turning the page for more and cheering Vanessa on as she deals with crushes, embarrassing moments (which are national embarrassing moments), and other teenage insecurities.

I can only imagine if I read this as an almost thirty something mom and enjoyed it, that preteens will enjoy it even more.  Vanessa is a character that they will be able to relate to and enjoy.  They’ll come away with the thought, “I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way” even if their next move might not be to the White House.

And stick around, coming up next is a great interview with Donna and a yummy recipe for “Mrs. Perez’s Drop-Dean Delicious Lemon Squares” which I kept wanting to taste while reading the book!

Links of interest:  Donna Gephart’s website and blog.  Edited  to add:  My author interview with Donna and her yummy lemon square bars.
Genre:  Middle Grade Fiction, approx ages 9-12.
Publisher:  Delacorte Books for Young Readers.  February 12, 2008.
Hardcover, 240 pages. ISBN:  0385734816
As If Being 12 3/4 Isn’t Hard Enough, My Mother is Running for President is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, or Amazon.