Newly abridged and updated for a young adult readership, this is a revealing portrait of a young Black man asking questions about self-discovery and belonging long before he became one of the most important voices in America. Barack Obama brings readers along as he faces the challenges of high school and college, living in New York, becoming a community organizer in Chicago and travelling to Kenya. On his journey to adulthood from a humble background, he forges his own path by trial and error while staying connected to his roots, determined to lead a life of purpose, service and authenticity.

Obama's powerful and enduring memoir has been skilfully abridged to make it accessible and engaging for young readers, giving them the opportunity to reflect on where they have come from - and where they are capable of going.