Hillary Clinton: American Woman of the World

Gr 5–7—Lawyer, first lady, senator, secretary of state, and presidential candidate; Hillary Rodham Clinton has had many titles. Adults may be familiar with the Clinton Era, but today's young people may not be aware of her background. Prolific author Harness has constructed a readable biography, taking Clinton from her early years in Park Ridge to the 2015 Iowa Caucus. Kids will briefly engage with the larger scope of the baby boomer generation and come to understand how the times in which Clinton grew up and lived shaped her personality and politics. Harness discusses scandals such as Whitewater, Bill Clinton's impeachment, and Benghazi. Specific mention of Monica Lewinsky is not included. This work does contain some biased and speculative language regarding conservatives, Republicans, and the 2008 Democrat bid for election (specifically the line "But just as Obama downplayed his race…" without proper context). Harness's occasional, opinionated interjections could be misleading for the intended audience, who are just learning about the role of perspective in history. This is not a totally just-the-facts work; the author is presenting a slightly slanted portrait of an important but complex public figure.