Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned the Political Establishment Upside Down [Paperback]

Kaylene Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 2008

In Sarah, the first biography released of Governor Palin, author Kaylene Johnson draws upon personal interviews with Palin, her family, and other highly placed sources to explore Palin's family life, her upbringing in a devout Christian home, her political rise, and how she went from being a long-shot candidate to—potentially—one of the world's most powerful women and political figures. The book features dozens of family and political photos and contains source notes. An Epicenter Press book, distributed by Tyndale House. Tyndale will also provide a free online discussion guide designed to engage readers on the subject of faith and politics: www.FaithandPoliticsDiscussionGuide.com.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Sarah Palin is a politician of eye-popping integrity." -- Fox News Network<br /><br />"There's an undeniable national buzz surrounding the first-term governor, seen by many Republicans as a fresh, new face to represent the party's future." -- Chicago Tribune<br /><br />"Wildly Popular, she's more than just a pretty face." --Alaska Magazine

"A politician of eye-popping integrity . . . and probably the most popular public official in any state." - Fox News Network --.

"Wildly Popular, she's more than just a pretty face." --. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Review

"Sarah Palin is a politician of eye-popping integrity." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Reprint edition (September 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414330502
• ISBN-13: 978-1414330501
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (145 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #619,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kaylene Johnson is a writer and long-time Alaskan who makes her home on a small farm outside Wasilla. She enjoys hiking, skiing, and horseback riding in the backcountry. She is married with two sons and two grandsons. Her award-winning articles have appeared in "Alaskan Wilderness Discovery Guide," "Alaska" magazine, the "Los Angeles Times," "Spirit" magazine, and other publications. She received a B.A. from Vermont College and holds an M.F.A. in writing from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good, Not Great, September 15, 2008

By 

J. Ader "Down to Earth" (St. Louis) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down (Hardcover)

This book was written and published months before Sarah Palin became the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, so those harping about this being a political stunt for McCain need to go back and brush up on their reading skills: Published April, 2008. I'm sure now there will be other books written, both praising and condemning her.

This is a basic introduction to Mrs. Palin, a place to start for anyone wanting to find out about her early years.

96 of 131 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Character Sketch, September 7, 2008

By 

Michele Cozzens "www.michelecozzens.com" (Cloud 8) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down (Paperback)

This is a review of the book, not of Sarah Palin as a candidate. I felt I needed to get my hands on this in order to learn more about the person who has been thrust into the national spotlight and may soon hold an extremely high position in the U.S. Government. Her selection came as a surprise and I had to try and understand why John McCain chose her, other than because she brings excitement and intrigue to the ticket.

This brief book, a character sketch with many photos, is written in a straightforward style. It holds Sarah Palin in a very positive light. (Initially published before her selection as the GOP running mate, this version has been renamed and scooped up by people like me as an attempt to get to know her.) She is portrayed as an ordinary mom (a hockey mom) who, according to her father, has had an impenetrable stubborn streak since childhood.

The family came to Alaska from Idaho in 1969. She is the daughter of a teacher (and part time hunting/fishing guide) and a school secretary. They lived modestly. Her highlight reel in public life includes a captain's position on the high school JV basketball team, the beauty queen title "Miss Wasilla," and stint on the city council. This was her introduction to the good old boys network, which she has spent the rest of her career pushing aside. She was elected president of the Alaska Council of Mayors, chaired the gas and oil conservation commission and gained a reputation as a reformer. Next step: the Governor's office, which she's held for two years.

Does this brief introduction to this head-turning politician enable the reader to decide whether or not she's qualified to be a heartbeat away from the highest elected office in the land? No. Is it an interesting read? Yes. All party politics aside, she's a fascinating woman. And right now, this slim book provided more information than I could get anywhere else.

Michele Cozzens is the author of It's Not Your Mother's Bridge Club.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sarah Barracuda, October 4, 2008

By 

Skylark Red (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned the Political Establishment Upside Down (Paperback)

This is a personal and affectionate profile of Alaska's popular governor. For those disappointed in this, understand it was released in April 2008, so was not written as a PR piece for the 2008 presidential campaign and doesn't seriously scrutinize her politics. This is a plus, since it is devoid of partisan opinions. It shows her integrity and independent spirit and how she took on the Alaska Republican machine because no one else could or would. On the down side, it glosses over the Bridge to Nowhere controversy, which she switched sides on after becoming governor. And yes, she really did put the governor's jet on eBay. It is an interesting short read, giving insight into why McCain chose her as his running mate. It's time he unleashed Sarah Barracuda.