Horn Book Review
Barack's rock" is given an evenhanded treatment in this accessible biography of the First Lady. The text highlights Michelle's close-knit, working-class family; her staunch work ethic; and her unwavering dedication to her husband and daughters. Readers will come away with an appreciation of the woman herself above and beyond her official role. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
A great choice for reluctant readers, this title introduces the First Lady with accessible language and anecdotes from Obama's friends and family. From descriptions of her childhood bedroom to her Princeton dorm room decor, the small details contribute to a larger sense of the First Lady in various stages of her life. It's the direct quotes, though, including many from Obama herself, that will draw readers most. Many of these quotes have been repeated in other youth biographies about Obama, and in fact, one quote is repeated within the pages of this volume. Still, for readers encountering them for the first time, the quotes add immediacy and personality to what could otherwise have been a somewhat dry presentation in a title that lacks photos. Many young people will enjoy his-and-her remarks about the Obamas' first impressions of each other, and Brophy is frank about the strains that political life places on a family, particularly when one parent hits the campaign trail. Contrast this with David Colbert's Michelle Obama: An American Story (2009) for a fuller portrait of the First Lady's family of origin and her remarkable road to the White House.--Engberg, Gillian Copyright 2009 Booklist