Sarah Palin biography for young readers due out this fall

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A political biography of Sarah Palin for young readers will soon join similar books for children about Barack Obama and John McCain on bookshelves, according to a report in the Christian Science Monitor:

Speaking Up: The Sarah Palin Story, expected in bookstores this fall, is part of the ZonderKidz biography series. Other books in the series tend to be inspirational rather than political, featuring figures like Tim Howard (a professional soccer player who has struggle with Tourette's syndrome) and Ben Carson (a pediatric surgeon once taunted as a "class dummy"). Speaking Up, by Kim Washburn, is also cast as the story of a strong figure who struggles against the odds to reach success. The tagline on the book's jacket reads, "The story of a girl from Alaska who grew up to run for the White House."

"Speaking Up" also draws heavily on Palin's religious background, occasionally quoting from the Bible and focusing on Palin as a strongly committed Christian who refused to compromise her beliefs to suit either fellow politicians or the American public. Her insistence on speaking out about her belief in creationism, for instance, shows her standing up to Republican Party "handlers" who worried that she would alienate some voters.

The book covers Gov. Palin's clashes with some members John McCain campaign and also deals with the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate's battles with the media.

- JP