Yes We Can: A Biography of Barack Obama [Paperback]

Garen Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

In third grade, Barack Obama wrote an essay titled, “I Want to Become President”—and he is, to this day, determined to show the world that, yes, he can.

Born in the U.S.A., the son of an African father and an American mother, a boy who spent his childhood in Indonesia and Hawaii, Barack Obama is truly a citizen of the world. His campaign for the presidency is powered by a fierce optimism, an exuberant sense of purpose and determination, and, above all, a belief that change can happen.

Garen Thomas takes us through the life of Barack Obama, from his struggle to fit in with his classmates and concern about not knowing his biological father, through his term as Illinois senator, to his historic and momentum-building run for president of the United States.

Barack Obama is a man who uses his words to inspire us. We can have a better future. We can be whatever we want to be. Yes. We. Can.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–9—Thomas describes Obama as a "new leader who seems to be granting Americans a renewed license to dream," and maintains an admiring tone throughout. She opens with a look at his Kenyan father and American mother and covers Obama's childhood, education, and early influences. The author also relates his efforts as an adult to learn about his father and his African heritage and to find his place in America. The last chapters chronicle Obama's rapid political ascent and his early victories in the Democratic primary, briefly mentioning some campaign controversies, such as his relationship with outspoken minister Jeremiah Wright. Each section of the book opens with a quote from Obama, and the text is supplemented with black-and-white photos of the senator and his family and friends. Although Thomas does not document her sources, an author's note explains that she draws both from Obama's own memoirs and other published and interview sources. While there is little here that has not been widely reported in the media or adult titles, Thomas's clear prose will help students learn more about the first African American to gain a major party nomination for the presidency.—Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO
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From Booklist

This adulatory profile of the presidential candidate’s meteoric rise carries his career up to his March 2008 “More Perfect Union” speech. Interspersed with large-type inspirational sound bites and black-and-white photos of Obama as a child or posing with constituents and family members, Thomas’ narrative characterizes Obama’s father as a legendary figure “like John Henry,” cites Obama’s statements in first and third grade that he wanted to grow up to be president, and finds the closest thing to a character flaw in his ambition—an unwillingness to “wait his turn” in running for political office. This does not quite measure up to William Michael Davis’ Barack Obama: The Politics of Hope (2007), though anything on Obama gets quickly out-of-date. Grades 6-9. --John Peters

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends; First Edition edition (June 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312537093
• ISBN-13: 978-0312537098
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #971,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars buy this one, October 5, 2008

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This review is from: Yes We Can: A Biography of Barack Obama (Paperback)

As a specialist in children's therapy, I see this as a valuable book for educating children. I have a book collection of biographical series for children -- artists, musicians, politicians, etc. This has become a valuable part of my collection. I highly recommend this one.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging biography, September 24, 2008

By 

Tbird - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yes We Can: A Biography of Barack Obama (Paperback)

This book gave me a great overview of Barack Obama.
It is a page-turner because Obama has led a life rich with experience.
Garen Thomas' writing style informs and entertains.
The photographs of Obama and his family, travels, and career add to the book's appeal.
I highly recommend it to adults as well as young adults and children.

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved reading this book with my 10-year-old son, July 7, 2008

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Child Therapist (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yes We Can: A Biography of Barack Obama (Paperback)

I bought this book for one of my child therapy clients at work and we read it together. We couldn't put it down. I am speaking for the both of us when I say that the book "Yes We Can" was enlightening and inspiring. Not only did it do a great job of explaining the American political system to young readers, but it also detailed Barack Obama's life in a way that offers youth the inspiration to achieve great things in life.