  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 02/15/2017 This early entry into what will no doubt be a long line of Trump biographies shows the complications inherent in writing for young people about the forty-fifth president. Sherman begins with Trump’s ride down the escalator at Trump Tower in June 2015. The book then moves back in time, introducing Trump’s grandfather and father, Trump’s family life, and his school days, including his move to a military school after his temper got him into trouble. Most of the book centers on Trump’s business career. His marriages and children, including their roles in his campaign, are also discussed. But the election season gets short shrift, fewer than five pages, including photographs (which, throughout, are plentiful and interesting). There’s no mention in the book about Mexicans, Muslims (immigration is mentioned), scandals (except for Clinton’s e-mail server), or hacking. Knowing a president’s past is important, and this is an honest account, but it will be interesting to see how far future publications are willing to go when covering this unconventional president. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. School Library Journal - 05/01/2017 Gr 4–7—Born into a family of successful businessmen, Donald Trump built an international business empire, became a reality TV star, and was elected president of the United States. Sherman, who has written on subjects ranging from the Hindenburg disaster to the American identity, takes on the challenging task of summarizing Trump's life for middle grade students. In a sanitized sketch of his lucrative business career, Sherman includes few negative episodes and also describes his marriages, divorces, and children and his rise to celebrity through hosting the TV show The Apprentice. Concluding with Trump's presidential campaign, Sherman writes that he believes "immigrants can bring problems to the United States." There is no mention of incidents of violence during rallies or his call for a ban on Muslims and for jailing his opponent. Sherman glosses over the name-calling and fabrications that characterized Trump's campaign, saying, "He thought it was important to state his views honestly." VERDICT The straightforward format, clean design, and helpful back matter are characteristic of the series, but this title, which ends with Trump's election, was outdated by the time of its publication.—Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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