Unpresidented

December 15, 2018
A painstaking account of the personal and business practices that somehow failed to prevent the Trumps from becoming America's first family.This tale of both moral and literal bankruptcy begins with the immigration of the president's grandfather from Bavaria and proceeds in a long tally of cheats, tweets, and deceit to an all-caps bit of saber rattling against Iran in July 2018. With hundreds of endnotes to attest to the depth of her research, Brockenbrough (Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary, 2017, etc.) sets out to build a character portrait of her subject by documenting patterns of behavior, and in that she succeeds convincingly. Printed in blue ink that does neither the text nor the photographs any favors, it's nevertheless an invaluable resource for student research; as a cover-to-cover read, interest may flag under the weight of details of suits and settlements, hirings and firings, boasts vs. outright lies, alleged and indicted malfeasance by a large cast of slimy associates, and like intrigues. Also, though perhaps justifiably focused on the Donald, the author so rarely spares a glance at the women in his family and circle that the overall picture lacks a possibly significant dimension. Extensive backmatter includes capsule bios of the members of Trump's campaign and legal teams, biographical and presidential timelines, and evidence (to mid-2018) of his Russian connections.A thorough, timely guide to a wretched hive of scum and villainy. (family tree, timeline, biographies, endnotes, bibliography, index) (Biography. 12-adult)

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December 1, 2018
Grades 9-12 Brockenbrough offers the first heavily researched biography of Donald Trump for teens, though containing as much detail as it does, this could easily be a crossover biography for adults. In her preface, she informs readers that one of her goals is to see patterns in her subject's life, and this she does very well. Trump was in elementary school when he wrote he loved to hear crowds cheering him. Some other lifelong patterns, as amply demonstrated throughout, include his tendency to exaggeration, lack of empathy, and self-aggrandizement. The book gets in the weeds about several topics, especially the fiscal machinations surrounding building his real-estate empire, offering more than some, especially younger readers, may care about. Brockenbrough ends about the time of the Helsinki visit with Vladimir Putin, but notes that most days in Trump's presidency are about the same, with trafficking "in conspiracy theories, partisan sniping, threats and lies." Though there's no doubt where her sympathies lie, Brockenbrough documents her book in copious notes, and her bibliography shows diverse sources. Surveying Trump and his presidency will be an interesting challenge for writers. This is a strong first shot. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: For better or for worse, Trump is a subject of public fascination, and this measured resource will provide readers?and citizens?with the tools they need to stay informed despite murky waters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
Brockenbrough's critical biography opens with a sampling of events leading up to the 2016 presidential election. Her cohesive narrative then takes readers through Trump's family history and career, including the first year and a half of his presidency, which provides context for his present-day behavior. It's not a flattering portrait, but it is factually accurate, scrupulously documented, and well-reasoned, with photographs and primary-source documents throughout. Timeline. Bib, ind.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

March 1, 2019
Brockenbrough opens her critical biography of Donald Trump with a sampling of events leading up to the surprising (to most) results of the 2016 presidential election. She then takes readers back to the beginning, providing an overview of Trump's grandfather's emigration from Germany; his father's shady real estate empire in Queens, New York; and formative events in his childhood, his own career in real estate, his personal and family life, and his rise as a television personality. But more than half of the book is dedicated to his presidential campaign and the first year and a half of his presidency, culminating with his July 2018 Twitter tirade to Iran: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES? Brockenbrough provides enough context from Trump's earlier life to help set the scene for his present-day behavior; and while the book's details may not be new to many readers, there is a striking difference between assimilating them day-by-day via the news and having them all strung together in a cohesive narrative. It is not a flattering portrait of the forty-fifth president, but it is a factually accurate one, scrupulously documented and well-reasoned, with photographs and primary-source documents included throughout. The back matter is extensive; timelines, a cast of characters, source notes, a bibliography, and an index are appended. The odd design choice of blue type throughout can make the text difficult to read. jonathan hunt

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from December 21, 2018

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. VERDICT Painstaking research, straightforward delivery, and succinct explanations make this a smart addition to nonfiction collections.-Lindsay Jensen, Nashville Public Library