Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers by Michelle Obama

Layla C | Homeschool, Grade 8

Rating: ****

Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers by Michelle Obama is an engaging memoir about Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. Throughout the book, Michelle Obama shares parts of her life—dreams, photos, memories, or conversations—that she considers to be moments that helped her grow into the person she is today. She explained life growing up in a city and having less than others, despite her hard-working and loving family, because of the color of her skin. She learned not to let hard situations get her down, instead using negative experiences to keep working harder. Michelle Obama also talks about what she did to change racial prejudice in her own ways, big and small. The main point of the book wasn’t even about how cool it was to be First Lady of the US. It was about how that experience, and a lot of other things in her life, taught her valuable lessons.

I love this book. The way it was written made me feel like the author was speaking to me personally. Michelle Obama shares with the readers the way certain things made her feel, think, or aspire to do, and I found myself more interested in the story because of that. I feel that this is a great read for teens because she shares her own ups and downs and embarrassing moments in an open and honest way. I recommend this memoir to anyone looking for an entertaining, inspiring book to read.