Unpresidented: A Biography of Donald Trump

Gr 7 Up—Reality star–turned–controversial president Donald Trump was born into privilege and mentored in business by his father. This evenly paced, meticulously researched biography from the author of the acclaimed Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary uses primary and secondary sources and contains dialogue, pull quotes, and photos. The book is mostly chronological, covering Trump's grandfather's immigration to the United States, his father's rise to wealth, and Trump's youth and young adulthood and concludes with a heated Twitter exchange from July 2018. Trump supporters may call this book biased, as scandal is never far from Trump's business dealings or political career, but the author carefully cites sources to ensure accuracy, and the reporting is straightforward, without subjective asides. The author handles sensitive issues (Trump's misogynistic language and sexual assault accusations, for example) in a manner that's appropriate for teens yet still respectful of their intelligence. Brockenbrough's thorough research and comprehensive work laying down Trump's backstory make this a strong resource, even as current events carry on in real time. The back matter is similarly extensive, with 90 pages dedicated to "Donald J. Trump's Milestones," short biographies of campaign advisors and legal team members, and a list of Russia connections in addition to end notes, a bibliography, and an index.