Yes she can 10 stories of hope & change from young female staffers of the Obama White House

Review by Booklist Review

In autobiographical essays, 10 young women ­all in their twenties when their pieces take place who held White House staff positions during the Obama administration reflect on their experiences. They held work assignments (policy advisor, assistant staff secretary, policy analyst) in high-profile areas (digital strategy, precision medicine, biosecurity). Their stories are told in first person, and while their backgrounds are diverse (the daughter of Haitian immigrants, the first Latina student body president at Harvard, a Moroccan Jewish immigrant from Paris), many shared traits emerge: humility, appreciation, sincerity, and a sense of wonder over what they were allowed to witness and accomplish. Many accounts center around a pivotal event and provide background information on the workings of government agencies and the White House. There are personal anecdotes, too celebrity-spying on Ruth Bader Ginsburg, calling a BFF from Air Force One, even screwing up in front of The Man himself. Most important, these essays all reflect enthusiasm, optimism, and hope and should inspire others to pursue lives dedicated to public service.--Kathleen McBroom Copyright 2019 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 8 Up-Each essay in this collection zooms in on a significant day in the life of a young Obama Administration staffer, lending an exciting "Choose Your Own Adventure" quality to descriptions of working at a level that few will experience. Imagining oneself in the author's shoes is part of the fun, since each speaker communicates both relatable disbelief at her circumstances, and the sort of extreme competence you'd expect from a person in a leadership role at the White House in their (mostly early) 20's. Certain details of life in the administration appear in multiple accounts-Joe Biden going long with a speech; late nights and early arrivals; eating junk food (including "Presidential M&Ms") instead of dinner-as do deeper threads, like feeling the power of mentorship and the weight of helming efforts to fix pressing problems like human trafficking, or the complexity and risks inherent in taking on foster care or immigration reform. Several standout essays capture the power of having a seat at the table, as a child or grandchild of immigrants, and what it feels like to see other Latinx, African American, and Asian women in positions of authority. A foreword by actress Yara Shahidi (star of grown-ish) and a useful final chapter, "A Girl's Guide to Getting Into Government," round out a satisfying and inspirational anthology. VERDICT Readers of all ages who need a shot of hope, and especially young people planning to change the world, will learn from and enjoy this book.-Miriam DesHarnais, Towson University, MD © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Horn Book Review

Foreword by Yara Shahidi. This inspiring and refreshing book features ten young women honestly recounting their experiences working for the Obama White House. From their proudest to their most humbling and intimidated moments, the stories exude authenticity and provide exciting details about working behind the scenes in politics. An appended "Girl's Guide to Getting into Government" suggests programs and resources for politically minded young women. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

Stories from those who worked amid the daily chaos, hope, and ambition of the Obama White House, where "Young women [could] get. Stuff. Done." The 10 women profiled include Molly Dillon, who worked on policy for kids in the foster-care system, and Taylor Lustig, who helped to organize Pope Francis' first visit to the United States. Vivian P. Graubard was in her 20s when she helped craft policy to fight human trafficking through digital technology. The native Spanish speaker traveled to Mexico, where she met with survivors of human trafficking and their families. Regularly working long hours and motivated by a strong sense of purpose and accomplishment, the women give readers windows into the everyday activities of the Obama administrationfrequent staff meetings in D.C. coffee shops, mistakes they inevitably made, and the million little things it takes to pull off a public event at the White House. The ethnic and religious diversity of those profiled enriches the work, so the omission of Arab and Muslim voices is unfortunate, particularly given the administration's focus on Muslim affairs. The book ends with concrete advice for girls interested in getting involved in the government. A foreword by Yara Shahidi (not seen) and photos enhance the appeal of this engaging and readable work.An accessible tribute to the work of inspiring young women and a guide for those who wish to follow in their footsteps. (Nonfiction. 12-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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My mama has always said there's nothing more interesting than an interested human. And she's so right! It is this curiosity that human progress feeds on; but for too long, girls were not encouraged to follow their curiosity. With educational disparities and discrimination in the classroom and workplaces, the world that we occupy as women comes with the tough reality: we must persevere. Spaces only get more complicated to maneuver in when we include our various intersecting identities: ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, citizenship status, abilities, etc. But what the women who have charted maps of ingenuity, intention, and success have proved is that when women feed their potential, they in turn feed human potential. We are in the midst of a cultural revolution, and women of all walks of life are leading the charge in the fight for equity! Watching this moment in history inspires me and so many of my peers to push past perceived boundaries and create new possibilities. The brilliant humans in this book represent women who became  the change they wanted to see, feel, and experience; and in doing the work, these fierce young women have created space for others to follow suit. I was fortunate enough to visit the Obama White House four times. In fact, President Obama once joked that I should get my own office in the White House. (I quickly closed my eyes to manifest this!) While any opportunity to be in the same room as the Obamas was a gift to me, one of the moments emblazoned on my spirit happened when I cohosted the White House Science Fair, alongside entrepreneur and educational philanthropist Karlie Kloss, under the guidance of scientist Dr. Knatokie Ford. We interviewed brilliant young scientists from around the United States about the scientific innovations and breakthroughs they were creating. Kids of all ages were turning their passions and skills into making education more accessible, creating diagnostic tests for the Ebola virus, inventing alternative power sources, and so much more! The biggest impact, however, was being surrounded by women of different generations--watching the young female scientists exhibiting their findings and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and Dr. Jo Handlesman excitedly participating. The unwavering support from President Obama alongside the brilliant women of the White House, celebrating what is traditionally a male-dominated field, reinforced in me and so many others the deep and continued need for female voices in all places. The inspiring female staffers in this book did not just "happen" to land a job in the Obama White House. They worked for it, knowing that other young women were watching and preparing to step into the spaces they created for us through their experiences--good and bad. Yes She Can is a gift; it's filled with ten women's inspiring stories about entering public service under the Obama Administration and how they didn't just survive but thrived in these spaces! These intelligent humans know the importance of their voices and values and became the representation that we are so lacking. Each had her own path to the White House and, once there, made her mark on the world--all while clearing a path and expanding the vision of a more inclusive America. These women, in part, inspired me to create Eighteen x 18, an initiative to increase youth voter education and turnout. They demonstrated for me and my peers that politics can no longer happen without us--we must share a common love for our global community. Their stories serve as a reminder to young people that we are not alone in this fight, that there are women who have taken it upon themselves to trudge through the sometimes treacherous terrain of politics and public service in order to open the doors and let us all in. Their presence has undoubtedly carved the way for us Gen Zers, and I am so grateful that they have decided to share their experiences. May our voices continue to carry the power of generations of women from the past, present, and future!    Excerpted from Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope and Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House by Molly Dillon All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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