Jenna Bush

I probably never would have read this book, but I've recently been on a books-about-First-Ladies kick. After reading First Lady Barbara Bush's biography and learning how complex and sometimes different she was from her husband (she was pro-choice), I decided to embark on a similar journey with the younger Bush clan.

I had a rather negative view of George W. Bush before reading this book. To put it bluntly, I thought he was a fratty partier, puppeteered by Dick Cheney. But the Bush sisters show more helped me humanize their dad. The president who I thought was a frat star has actually been sober since his daughters were two or three. The president who sent our nation (and my own dad) to Iraq was deeply hurt and emotional upon making and sustaining this decision. The president whose own father exacerbated the HIV/AIDS crisis in the U.S. created the first-ever policies to address AIDS domestically and abroad.

The women in George W. Bush's life are redeeming factors for me. His wife, Laura Bush, a librarian and teacher, is passionate about lifting up women around the globe and environmental conservation. I admire her greatly. His daughter, the younger Barbara Pierce Bush, founded the Global Health Corps to eradicate HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases around the globe. She's also a fierce advocate for women. And neither of George W. Bush's daughters are registered Republicans. It shows me that although they hail from America's Republican family dynasty, they are brave enough to lean into their own beliefs as individuals and work toward a better country as they see fit. show less

Breezy, pleasant read. There aren't as many White House details as I'd hoped, but Hager and Bush didn't actually live in the White House that long. A very loving tribute to their parents and grandparents, especially their Bush grandparents. The summers at Walkers Point in Maine sound wonderful. Don't read this looking for a clear-eyed view of George W, Laura, George HW, or Barbara Bush. Even some things that could be seen as negative, such as the late Barbara Bush's sharp tongue, or George show more W's alcoholism, are painted in a positive light. The authors seem like nice people, with a sense of noblesse oblige. They don't really dig into their privilege. Barbara Pierce Bush makes a very good case for attending boarding school in Rome for a year, and her parents can't find any objections, so she gets to go. No real discussion of how she was aware of such a school (she visited Rome with her grandmother), or that for thousands of teenagers, a safe, adequately funded high school in their district is an unimaginable dream. I enjoyed reading it, but I'm glad I didn't buy it. I don't want to feed into any mistique around the Bushes. show less

2016 marks the centennial year of the The National Park Service here in the United States, and in honor of that anniversary, and to draw attention to the many wonderful parks across the country, former First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna Bush Hager have collaborated with illustrator Jacqueline Rogers to produce this entertaining tale of a young girl who embarks (reluctantly!) on a 'Great American Road Trip' with her family. Initially disappointed that she won't be able to spend the show more summer online, Jane is eventually won over by the natural beauties the she encounters in various national parks. Her family visit the Florida Everglades, Big Bend, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. By the end of the trip, Jane has a better appreciation of the natural world around her, and an awareness that she doesn't have to be in front of a screen to have fun.

As someone who has a long list of US sites, both natural and historical, that I would like to see some day, I really appreciated the theme of Our Great Big Backyard. I know a number of people who have taken extended cross-country trips, precisely to see more of our vast country, and have often thought I'd like to do the same. There are so many amazing parks out there, waiting to be explored, and this engaging book gets that message across in a fun way. As someone raised without a television until I was an older child, I also appreciated the fact that the story here emphasizes the pleasures of being outdoors, away from computers, tablets and TVs. Of course, not everyone has a backyard, but we all have parks we could visit - which reminds me that I've been meaning to start going up to Fort Tryon Park on my days off, to spend some time reading while enjoying the views of the Hudson below. I know some people who might be put off reading this, because of the identity of the authors, but this really is a book with wide appeal, for people of all political persuasions, so I hope that people will judge it on its own merits. Although not an outstanding title, it is a solidly engaging one, which presents some important ideas. Recommended to young nature and geography lovers, who should be sure to check out the map on the end-papers! show less

I really enjoyed hearing about Jenna and Barbara's lives. I am close to their age so I can relate to some of the same things (flip phones, etc.). I love how the Bush family writes so many personal letters and they are shared in the book. Hearing the girls read their story was wonderful. This book touched upon political topics (like the Gulf War, elections) but it was because it was part of their lives and not in a preachy way. I loved hearing about the bond they share and how they have show more chosen very different paths in life but remain close. 5/5 Stars show less