Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers

Michelle recounts a pivotal period in her life marked by personal and professional challenges. As Barack returns to Chicago for the summer, they grow closer, with him integrating into her family and impressing her brother Craig with his strong character and his basketball skills. Despite his prestigious role as the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review, Barack remains committed to his principles, focusing on civil rights law and writing a book about race in America.

Michelle grapples with a sense of dissatisfaction in her career, realizing she feels unfulfilled as a lawyer despite her success. This internal conflict leads her to consider other career paths that align more closely with her passions. Her journaling reflects her struggle to find purpose and balance in her life, especially as she encounters the powerful influence of Barack’s clear sense of direction.

During this time, Michelle's father, Fraser Robinson, falls seriously ill. His health deteriorates rapidly due to complications from multiple sclerosis and a new diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome. The chapter culminates in a deeply emotional moment when Michelle realizes the inevitability of her father's passing. Fraser’s final gestures convey his love and pride for her, leaving a huge impact on Michelle.

Michelle reflects on the grief she feels after her father's death, a loss that permeates every aspect of her daily life. This loss prompts Michelle to reevaluate her life and career. Feeling unfulfilled in her job as a lawyer, she seeks advice and explores new opportunities, leading her to meet Valerie Jarrett at City Hall. Initially, Michelle has little faith in politics, shaped by her upbringing on the South Side and her family’s experiences with systemic racism and political cronyism. Her father, a city employee, had experienced the exploitation and exclusion often faced by Black communities. Despite her reservations about the political environment and the significant pay cut, Michelle considers taking the job, inspired by Valerie’s commitment to public service.

Barack surprises Michelle with a proposal that she accepts. The chapter concludes with Michelle and Barack traveling to Kenya, where Michelle meets Barack’s extended family and experiences the culture firsthand. Although she initially feels a sense of dislocation, his family warmly welcomes her, especially Barack’s grandmother. This journey helps Michelle appreciate the broader scope of her life and the new family connections she is forming.

Michelle recounts her wedding day to Barack, describing the joyous and inclusive celebration at Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side of Chicago. The wedding is a large event, reflecting the deep roots and extensive family and friends from both Michelle’s and Barack’s lives.

The chapter also covers their honeymoon road trip in Northern California, where they relax and take in the scenery, despite minor setbacks like Barack’s cold and unappealing mud baths. Returning from the honeymoon, Barack gets occupied with Project VOTE!, a campaign to register Black voters in Illinois, significantly impacting voter turnout and demonstrating the power of the Black vote.

Michelle’s career also takes a turn as she transitions from corporate law to a role in city government, working under Valerie Jarrett. She finds the work dynamic, fulfilling, and people-oriented, and she learns valuable lessons from women like Valerie and Susan Sher, who balance professional success with motherhood.

After the honeymoon, Barack’s commitment to his book project leads him to Bali, where he completes his manuscript. This period highlights their different approaches to life and work but also reinforces their commitment to each other.

Michelle discusses her new role as the executive director of Public Allies Chicago, a nonprofit organization that focuses on training and placing young people in community service positions. Despite her initial nervousness due to her lack of experience in the field, she feels passionately about the mission. Public Allies aims to build future community leaders by giving young people, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, the opportunity to work in nonprofit or public sectors. Michelle is deeply involved in recruiting, fundraising, and establishing partnerships with community organizations.

On the other hand, Barack is balancing multiple roles as a lawyer, professor, and community organizer. He completes his book, Dreams from My Father, which brings him a sense of wholeness despite modest sales. As Barack considers running for the Illinois State Senate, Michelle initially feels skeptical of politics, fearing it would change him. However, she supports his decision, recognizing his passion for making a difference. Barack wins the election, and although politics proves a challenging environment, he remains optimistic and resilient.

Meanwhile, Michelle’s new job at the University of Chicago allows her to connect the university with the local community, improving relations and creating volunteer opportunities for students. This role provides better pay and hours and aligns with her and Barack's desire to start a family. After a pregnancy loss and a challenging journey with fertility treatments, Michelle and Barack welcome their first daughter, Malia, on July 4, 1998.

After becoming a mother, Michelle attempts to balance work and motherhood by returning part-time to her job at the University of Chicago but quickly realizes it means doing a full-time job for half the pay. Barack thrives in his political career, winning re-election to the Illinois State Senate and contemplating a run for Congress, despite Michelle’s reservations.

Michelle recounts a family trip to Hawaii to visit Barack’s grandmother, Toot, which is interrupted when Barack needs to return to Illinois for a crucial vote on a crime bill. When Malia falls ill, Barack chooses to stay with his family, which negatively impacts his campaign and draws criticism from his opponents.

After welcoming their second daughter, Sasha, Michelle takes up a full-time role at the University of Chicago Medical Center with better pay and hours. She also talks about seeking couples counseling, which helps her and Barack overcome communication issues and makes her realize that she has more control over her happiness. She begins setting boundaries, ensuring stability for their daughters despite Barack's unpredictable schedule.

Michelle describes how she manages to keep everything in order for her daughters, Sasha and Malia, while working at the University of Chicago Medical Center. In her job, she works on initiatives to connect the hospital with the local community, addressing healthcare disparities and encouraging staff to engage with the neighborhood.

Barack, meanwhile, continues to advance in politics, running for a US Senate seat. Michelle recalls their decision to let Barack pursue this path, even though it means more absences and increased demands on their family. They seek advice from friends, including Valerie Jarrett, ultimately deciding that if Barack loses the Senate race, he will leave politics.

However, Barack’s successful keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention marks a turning point in his political career, catapulting him to national fame. Michelle recounts the media frenzy that follows, with people beginning to view Barack as a potential presidential candidate. She initially resists the idea of a presidential run, but after many discussions and consideration of Barack's potential impact, she ultimately supports his decision to run, noting, “I said yes because I loved him and had faith in what he could do” (211).

Michelle details the whirlwind start of Barack’s presidential campaign, highlighting the immense preparations and challenges they faced. Barack quickly builds a campaign team, secures funding, and strategizes his introduction to voters. The campaign is designed to be grassroots-driven, aiming to empower those who feel unheard in the political process.

The campaign quickly encounters obstacles, including criticism from the Black community and negative press involving Reverend Jeremiah Wright. However, the official announcement of his candidacy brings unexpected warmth and enthusiasm, with over $15,000 people in attendance, reinforcing Michelle’s commitment to the campaign.

As the campaign ramps up, Michelle’s role becomes more demanding as she travels frequently to Iowa, balancing campaign events with family responsibilities. She connects with Iowans by sharing her personal story, which leads to increased support and volunteer engagement. Concurrently, Michelle deals with personal concerns, such as Malia’s health, but the hard work pays off when Barack wins the Iowa caucuses, a historic victory that validates their efforts and reinforces Michelle's belief in Barack’s vision.

Michelle reflects on various experiences that shape her understanding of public scrutiny and resilience. She begins by recounting a childhood incident when she was punched by a boy in first grade, using this memory to parallel the unexpected and painful criticisms she faced during Barack’s 2008 presidential campaign.

Additionally, Michelle details the relentless scrutiny Barack faces, with every action and decision analyzed by the media and the public. She describes the intensity of the campaign trail, where Barack and Hillary Clinton compete fiercely.

Michelle notes a misstep when her words in an interview are taken out of context, leading to widespread criticism and highlighting the racial and gender biases she faces. She explains that this incident, among others, makes her realize the importance of public perception and the need for media training.

The chapter also touches on the positive interactions Michelle has with voters and her efforts to connect with military families, which reinforces her desire to support them better if Barack is elected. She concludes with a moment from Malia's birthday celebration, where despite the makeshift nature of the party, Malia’s happiness highlights the family’s resilience and the significance of their shared journey.

Michelle recounts the momentous day of the 2008 presidential election. She starts by describing the early morning vote she casts for Barack at their local polling place, Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School, with their daughters, Sasha and Malia, in tow. Barack remains calm and easygoing, greeting poll workers and shaking hands, knowing the outcome is now beyond his control.

As the day unfolds, Barack plays basketball to ease his nerves, a tradition on Election Day, while Michelle hosts family and friends to pass the time. The results begin trickling in, initially favoring McCain, which causes some anxiety. However, as more states report in favor of Barack, the atmosphere grows tense with anticipation. Michelle highlights the vulnerability and seriousness she sees in Barack as he prepares for either victory or defeat, especially in the wake of his grandmother Toot’s passing.

When the final results declare Barack the 44th President of the United States, the family experiences a surreal and overwhelming moment. They are quickly ushered through a secure, cleared-out Lake Shore Drive to Grant Park, where over 200,000 supporters await. Onstage, surrounded by bulletproof glass and an ocean of people waving American flags, Michelle reflects on the unusual calm and joy of the historic night. Despite the enormity of the moment, what stands out to her is the collective, thoughtful joy of the crowd, signifying a long-awaited milestone for their family and the country.