About the Book

"This young adult edition was originally published in hardcover by Delacorte Press ... in 2021"--T.p. verso.

Book Synopsis

Now in paperback, this young adult adaptation of the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir offers an intimate look at Barack Obama's youth and self-discovery, which led him to a life of purpose and service. This compelling journey traces the 44th president's odyssey through family, race, and identity.

A revealing portrait of a young Black man asking questions about himself and where he belongs--long before he became one of the most important voices in America. This unique edition includes an introduction from the author, a full-color photo insert, and a family tree.

In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a Black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a Black American. When Barack Obama learns that his father--a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man--has been killed in a car accident, the sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey. The journey begins in a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother's family to Hawaii, and then moves to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father's life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.

Review Quotes

DREAMS FROM MY FATHER (Adapted for Young Adults)

"This title will be enjoyed by all readers for generations to come." --School Library Journal

DREAMS FROM MY FATHER (Crown)

ONE OF ESSENCE'S 50 MOST IMPACTFUL BLACK BOOKS OF THE PAST 50 YEARS

"Guides us straight to the intersection of the most serious questions of identity, class, and race." --The Washington Post

"Provocative. . . . Persuasively describes the phenomenon of belonging to two different worlds, and thus belonging to neither." --The New York Times Book Review

"Obama's writing is incisive yet forgiving. This is a book worth savoring." --Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here

"One of the most powerful books of self-discovery I've ever read, all the more so for its illuminating insights into the problems not only of race, class, and color, but of culture and ethnicity. It is also beautifully written, skillfully layered, and paced like a good novel." --Charlayne Hunter-Gault, author of In My Place

"An exquisite, sensitive study of this wonderful young author's journey into adulthood, his search for community and his place in it, his quest for an understanding of his roots, and his discovery of the poetry of human life. Perceptive and wise, this book will tell you something about yourself whether you are black or white." --Marian Wright Edelman

About the Author

Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States, elected in November 2008 and holding office for two terms. He is the author of four New York Times bestselling books: A Promised Land, Dreams from My Father, The Audacity of Hope, and Renegades, written with Bruce Springsteen. Barack Obama is the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Michelle. They have two daughters, Malia and Sasha.