Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers by Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama’s Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers is a winsome, engaging look at how one young woman went from Chicago’s South Side to the White House.

Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers by Michelle Obama. Delacorte Press, 2021. 432 pages.

Reading Level: Teens, Ages 12-15

Recommended For: Ages 14 and up.

Summary of Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers

What must it feel like to grow up in relative anonymity only to end up as First Lady? And not just any First Lady, but the first Black First Lady? Michelle’s story is a true American story: only in this country can a young minority girl growing up in a modest home on Chicago’s South Side with no political roots—or even aspirations—grow up to become the First Lady and live in the White House!

Michelle tells her story with disarming honesty and vulnerability. She’s frank about her struggles to please other people and meet unrealistic expectations. She worked hard in school and saw the value of education early on. When Michelle graduated from Harvard Law and began working, she was aiming high: her career was important to her. But once she fell in love with Barack and they started talking marriage and family, her career’s importance started wavering. Michelle grappled with the conflict between her ideals about serving the less fortunate, her burgeoning career, and her desire to start a family. Ultimately family wins out, even though she was less than enthused about Barack’s political hopes in the beginning.

Michelle’s Voice Is Refreshing

Even in the White House, Michelle struggled with balancing family and the public spotlight. She pulls back the curtain for her readers on what it’s like to run a campaign (exhausting!), to live in the White House with secret service assigned to you constantly (exhausting!), to keep up the pace demanded of the U. S. President and family (exhausting!). I grew up with a stay-at-home mother like Michelle did, and I, too, am highly educated but have made choices that put my family ahead of my career options. Michelle’s choices are welcome examples in today’s culture.

I appreciated Michelle’s upbeat, optimistic tone, even when she lamented the continuing struggles related to race, lack of educational opportunities for many, and rising political tension. She never spirals into the bitterness that is so rampant today, nor does she use her book to issue strident calls for activism. Her focus is on the reader “finding her voice” and “becoming” right alongside Michelle. I don’t agree with her on many issues, but I respect her and greatly enjoyed her story.

Whether you agree with the Obamas’ politics or not, this is an inspiring and interesting read about one of the most famous families in America. Learning to see our public leaders as real individuals helps us be more charitable and remember that tempestuous political seasons, headlines, and decisions still involve real people made in God’s image. May books like this motivate us to pray more for our leaders and their families!

Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers… Or Is It?

Michelle Obama’s autobiography Becoming has been at the top of bestseller charts ever since its publication in 2018. Naturally, publishers produced a version for young readers because that’s what they do these days. As I read the young readers version, I kept marveling at how well-written it was, how smoothly it flowed—in short, how unlike a typical “young readers” version it was. I enjoy many young readers versions, but often I can tell where they’ve been adapted. I don’t think Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers has been very “adapted.” A few passages speak to young adult readers, but the majority of the book appears to be the same as the adult version (even the page counts are remarkably similar). That’s a blessing in that it means this book is a great read for teens: it’s well-written and respects its readers. But don’t see “young readers” and assume this is a book for 11 year olds. This is a book for teens and up, those who are near enough age-wise to those same issues of family and career to resonate with Michelle’s struggles and insights. Particularly if you are on the opposite side of the political spectrum from the Obamas, save this book for your teens (not middle schoolers) and use it as a chance to discuss how we can respect someone and learn from her even if we disagree with her.

Considerations:

• Sexuality: Casual acknowledgement of the season in which Michelle and Barack lived together before they were married. Celebration of the gay marriage Supreme Court decision.
• Worldview: Michelle talks about “earning her grace” and similar concepts. Thankfully, we don’t have to earn real grace! She’s primarily referring to grace from other people, but the very definition of grace should preclude the earning part.

Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 3.75 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Read more about our ratings here.

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• A Review: Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie S. Bober tells the story of another strong First Lady. Highly recommended.
• A Review: Carved in Ebony by Jasmine Holmes: a book about 10 Black women who were pioneers of a different sort in America’s history.
• A Resource: Inspiring Black Women: A Book List

We are participants in the Amazon LLC affiliate program; purchases you make through affiliate links like the one below may earn us a commission. Read more here.