This was a really lovely collection and a really nice idea - we need more non-fiction anthologies that will encourage more young people - specifically young women - that their voices are needed in politics and political environments.

Yes She Can is a collection of essays written by young, female staffers in the Obama Administration. As someone in the same age group as many of these young women and studying political science, this book was inspirational. I also loved that it gave insight into what it's like to be a White House staffer. There are so many books about higher-level executive branch employees, so it was refreshing to read about other staffers that work on a variety of policy issues.

I think this book would be perfect for high school and college-aged girls and women who are thinking about a career in politics.

I deeply appreciated the opportunity to read and review this book. I'll be using it's contents in my teaching and will make sure to keep an eye out for more works from this author/publisher.

Quick and cute. Inspiring but I feel like the market for it might be kind of niche,, especially since the "yes she can" saying is still heavily associated with Hillary Clinton.

This was a pretty good set of true short stories to inspire girls and women of any age, whether or not they have any interest in government work. It was fun to see so much behind the scenes of how the White House and other aspects of government run, particularly from the point of view of people "just like us" who most readers can see themselves as. Definitely recommended for anyone needing an inspirational boost.

Anthologies are hit or miss for me and so were the stories inside. Regardless, I think all of these stories are important during our current political climate. These were empowering stories of women working for the highest positions in our government. You can get there and you can do it. It's not going to be easy but it's going to be worth it.

I think this is a must-read for all women, especially if they're doubting if they can make it or if it's all worth it.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Schwartz & Wade through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

Welcome Back,

This weekend has been insane! I finally saw End Game, I have been working a lot, on both house stuff and work stuff and I am hoping to get the May list up this week cause the month is slipping through my fingers (this may end up being the first month I do not get a list up, if so I am terribly sorry). I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of this book via NetGalley and even though this is not something I would usually read I was honestly super excited for this book and could not wait to get to it, so I moved it up my TBR.

SPOILERS AHEAD

This a book of a bunch of short stories of different staffers experience working under President Obama at the White House. Going into this story I knew some stuff about working in the White House (mostly what I had seen on TV shows like Scandals) but I still knew a few things. However, I not only ended up learning so much from each short story I also ended up loving each short story in its own way. I was gripped by the things that were going on and wishing I myself had been one of these staffers, I felt truly inspired. I understood each emotion the staffers were expressing, from happiness, to downright nervous about going in front of your boss, to being utterly exhausted from work but super happy about things at the same time. Each story had its own challenges and own voice. The book as a whole also gave me better perspective about what happens behind the scenes of the White House and politics in general. I gave this book five stars on Goodreads and I am definitely adding a copy to my self to have on hand!

Yes She Can is a fantastic, inspiring book for young readers looking to understand more about the world. This anthology written by women for women is a wonderful addition to the recent releases for young audiences about empowering women. This is a great book for teens and adults!

I really enjoyed the stories in this book. I loved the behind the scenes feel of how these young women inspired others in the Obama administration. The stories were told amazingly and the concepts were described adequately but not in a way that condescends towards the audience. I loved that it showed young women in roles in the White House. Overall a fun, inspiring read.

This e-Advanced Readers Copy was provided by Random House Children's Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ARC will not affect my review nor my rating.

It is refreshing to lift the proverbial curtain and take a peek into the different processes that help maintain structure and enact change within the U.S. government. The Obama Administration lead from my teenage years through my mid-twenties, and as a potential voter in 2008 and voter in 2012, I was affected by the decisions of this administration so I truly appreciate each staffer's breakdown of their respective positions and how they assisted the President's agenda.

Each of these young women not only provided insight into their day-to-day responsibilities but also how their personal experiences, interactions, and worldviews helped shape important policies brought to President Obama's desk. Whether it was to bring about change to a fractured foster system or assisting with drafting a historic immigration bill, their work has changed many lives. Unfortunately, not every story a happy one and not every battle results in a winning victory. It is easy to lose trust in the very machine you work for, or in the political party you believe aligns themselves with your core values. But that is a reason to keep pushing forward and working towards a better future. One that is female.

I enjoyed each story told, appreciated Yara Shahidi's foreword, a sentiment to the trailblazers of the generation prior to hers who has paved the way for women of the next generation to continue in their footsteps to create and maintain and evolve.

I definitely recommend this book, especially as it is a celebration of Women during Women's History Month.

This book was wonderful and I highly recommend it for anyone who is a female or a minority in the United State. If I had known about this book, I may have been more proactive with learning more about politics earlier in my life, especially during college. It was only as an adult that I became aware of the White House internship program, which is how most of these staffers started out. Most of them were interns who worked their unpaid butts off and were rewarded with a staff position in the White House during the Obama administration. These girls ALL had inspiring stories. One of the stories talked about "being the change" you wish to see in the world. If this story can inspire just a few strong, intelligent, females to make their way into politics, then this book will have accomplished something.

I remember exactly where I was on Feb. 10, 2007, as then- Sen. Barack Obama announced his intention to run for president of the United States. On that frigid, blustery day, I stood on the lawn of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, huddled among thousands. Yet despite the cold, that young senator’s moving words and message of hope warmed our hearts and kept us smiling in the single-degree temperatures.

It had been years since I’d thought about that day, but as I read Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope and Change From Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House, that same sense of hope I was filled with more than 12 years ago came flooding back. Whether planning an historic women’s summit, fighting for the oresident’s Immigration bill on Capitol Hill, organizing Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States or putting together the president’s daily briefing book, these smart, inspiring women “got.Stuff.Done” and affected change.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s a quick, uplifting read that I would recommend for adults and kids alike, especially for young women interested in an internship or career in public service. Through their memories of both success and failure, these women help show young people everywhere that through hard work, dreams and determination, you can help change the world.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for advance access to this incredible book, and thank you to the 10 women whose stories prove that, as Beyoncé states, girls run the world.

This is another one of those important books, folks. Inspiring and empowering, this is a great read for men and women, whether your into politics or not. It was so interesting to read never before told stories from the women who were behind the scenes, in the trenches, making it happen. I also enjoyed learning about policies and initiatives I never even knew existed. I can’t recommend this book enough. Pick up a copy when it hits shelves March 5th and give it to a young woman in your life and make a difference.
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I found this book to be interesting yet mostly surface-level. I admire the women in this book who worked tirelessly to achieve their goals and the goals of the Obama Administration. However, many of the chapters sounded really similar and were told in a strange chronological order. I found myself reading one or two chapters each day and then getting bored with the repetitive nature and the bare-basics. I understand that this is directed toward teens, but teens are definitely smart enough politically-savvy enough to understand more specific information, at least the teens this book is directed toward.

Like I said, I admire these women and am proud that women of all backgrounds have had such influence in the White House and government policies. However, too many of the chapters felt like a summary and a brief bio than immersive stories of hope and change. This is an important book with important information, but it just wasn't delivered in a very interesting way.

This book drove me to tears. When it comes out, you have to read it. It will be the most impactful book of your 2019.

“Yes She Can” tells the stories of 10 young, female staffers in the Obama White House, as the cover indicates. Each chapter is written by one of those young women, and it tells of a monumental date during their time serving. They also talk about their upbringing and how they made it to the White House.

Each young woman has their own unique, narrative voice, and each story drove me to tears for different reasons.

There’s Noemie, an immigrant from France who was a part of the office for the Domestic Policy Council, who talks about the work she did with Holocaust victims.

Or Kalisha, who worked with the White House Council on Women and Girls, who tells us about black girl magic and helping to make the White House Summit on the United State of Women happen.

Or Jaimie, an Asian-American who served as one of the policy analysts for Vice President Biden.

Or Nina, who worked with President Obama directly as an Assistant Staff Secretary.

Or Andrea, who worked with the Domestic Policy Council as a policy assistant, who attended Harvard and was notably the first Latinx student body president there.

And those are just some of the stories, and only the tips of the icebergs.

These women are superheroes. They stayed at work late, they fact-checked like nobody’s business, they were passionate. They planned events and tried to make an impact.

They are part of a group of excellent young people who are shaping our nation. This book had the merit of both telling important and impactful stories, but it was also well written. I didn’t like one chapter more than another–I was equally captured and enamored by them all.

If you read one book at all this year, this has got to be the one. These women have good heads on their shoulders, and it shows in their passion for their jobs, the issues that the Obama administration faced, and how they wrote.

The book also includes a handy-dandy guide in the back for how to get into politics, not just on the federal but also the state level, for young people. This book is a good read, but it also has a practical application.

Overall, I 110% recommend “Yes She Can”.

Take ten young women, all women of color and/or from diverse cultural backgrounds, combine this with their determination to make a positive difference in our world and you will have “Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama Whitehouse”. The book showcases the strength and determination of these women to step out of their comfort zones and work their butts off. Each chapter is a story of each young woman’s service in the Whitehouse, and each chapter will encourage women of all ages to believe, “Yes I Can!”

Here are a couple stories that especially spoke to me:

Nita Contreras’ (Assistant Staff Secretary, Age 25-27) job was assembling President Obama’s Daily Briefing Binder. As I read her account of riding on Air Force I with POTUS I could imagine and feel her excitement and anxiety.

The voice in Molly Dillon’s (Policy Assistant for Urban Affairs, age 25) head…

“There’s no way I know enough about this to be the lead.There’s so much more to learn. You’ll never be able to grasp it all. You’re inevitably going to ask a stupid question in a meeting and they’re all gonna figure out you don’t know what you’re talking about. They’ll make you turn in your badge and Secret Service will escort you out the gate.” Turns out that the little unqualified voice telling you you’re a fraud actually has a name: imposter syndrome. It’s an uninvited guest that will try to derail you.” I’m sure all of us can relate to this voice; however, Molly didn’t allow the voice to take root. What an example she provided for us!

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
— Jenna Brayton, age 26, Associate Director of Content and Operations.

Many of these women were interns and not paid for their dedication and hard work. Thank you, strong women for your service!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy (publication date: 3/5/2019) in exchange for my honest review.

As a woman who has always been interested to know more about how public service works in the US and more about how young people who are interested in serving their country and change policies go about achieving their goals, this book was a breath of fresh air. All the young women here are so passionate and love working towards the betterment of their country and I loved reading their stories and I admire them for participating in a field that is so dominated by men. They truly have paved the way for many more future young women and I commend them for their efforts.

I highly recommend this book to teenagers and women because I believe these stories are a great inspiration.

Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope and Change From Young Staffers of the Obama White House
Compiled by Molly Dillon, et al.
due 3-5-2019
Random House Childrenś/ Schwartz and Wade
5.0 / 5.0

This was such a refreshing and invigorating collection. 10 stories written by inspired young women hoping to inspire other young women to take action, support policies you believe in, fight to make the difference you want to see. Each is well written, with passion and enthusiasm, with admiration for Obamaś mature outlook on the inclusion of women´s rights. It was wonderful to return to a time when there was enthusiasm and hope, when everyone women had a voice and every voice mattered. This gave me a sense of renewed spirit and gave me hope. At the end of the book there is a Girls Guide to Getting Into Government.
Fantastic and much needed.

This is a book that I would absolutely buy for young women in my life. The women represented are diverse in terms of background and in terms of the jobs they held in the White House, and each of their stories was interesting and inspiring. It would've been great to see some LGBT representation (if any of the women featured are LGBT, it wasn't mentioned), but that is really my only criticism!

Targeted to young girls this collection of stories is outstanding. Young women stepped into the spotlight and up to the challenge of advancing President Obama’s administration. These stories were strong impactful stories that were easy and enjoyable to read.