YES SHE CAN

Stories from those who worked amid the daily chaos, hope, and ambition of the Obama White House, where “Young women [could] get. Stuff. Done.”

The 10 women profiled include Molly Dillon, who worked on policy for kids in the foster-care system, and Taylor Lustig, who helped to organize Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States. Vivian P. Graubard was in her 20s when she helped craft policy to fight human trafficking through digital technology. The native Spanish speaker traveled to Mexico, where she met with survivors of human trafficking and their families. Regularly working long hours and motivated by a strong sense of purpose and accomplishment, the women give readers windows into the everyday activities of the Obama administration—frequent staff meetings in D.C. coffee shops, mistakes they inevitably made, and the million little things it takes to pull off a public event at the White House. The ethnic and religious diversity of those profiled enriches the work, so the omission of Arab and Muslim voices is unfortunate, particularly given the administration’s focus on Muslim affairs. The book ends with concrete advice for girls interested in getting involved in the government. A foreword by Yara Shahidi (not seen) and photos enhance the appeal of this engaging and readable work.

An accessible tribute to the work of inspiring young women and a guide for those who wish to follow in their footsteps.