Deb Haaland: First Native American Cabinet Secretary (Gateway Biographies)

$23.15
by Jill Doerfler

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In 2021, Deb Haaland made history as the first Native American cabinet secretary in US history. As Secretary of the Interior, Haaland championed environmental protections and helped restore several national monuments to their former size. She also created the Missing and Murdered Unit and Federal Boarding School Initiative to investigate crimes against Indigenous peoples. Raised in a military family with Pueblo roots, Haaland absorbed the values of hard work and persistence. She studied English at the University of New Mexico and opened her own business to support her daughter before earning a law degree and volunteering in politics. She ran for Congress and won, becoming one of the first Native American women representatives alongside Sharice Davids. There, Haaland fought hard for the rights of women and served on the National Resources committee. Learn how she honors her heritage as a cabinet secretary. Gr 4-8-An eclectic mix of four living celebrities is represented in these biographies. In Volodymyr Zelensky, readers learn about Zelensky's time as an entertainer who then became president of the troubled eastern European country Ukraine, and includes facts about the current war with Russia. Dolly Parton chronicles the singer's life from her childhood poverty through her outstanding career including her hit records and movie ventures. Deb Haaland introduces readers to the newest Secretary of the Interior and relates her Native American background and political career. Simone Biles explores Biles's gymnastics career including her Olympic competitions and mental health issues. All of these titles portray their subjects in a positive light as the focus is on their achievements and motivation. The books on Zelensky and Haaland are timely given the recency of their fame and current events. There are several similar biographies already on Parton and Biles, however these are more current. None of the narratives provide much information on personal lives; Biles's fiancé and pending nuptials are completely omitted. Given that these people are living and still active in their fields, and the subjects appear in many other juvenile biographies (excepting the one on Haaland), these titles may not be considered necessary. VERDICT Even though the information provided is good, all these subjects except Haaland, are featured in other biographies and these would at best be supplemental purchases. The title on Haaland should be considered as there is little on her and her position makes her a unique figure.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. "All of these titles portray their subjects in a positive light as the focus is on their achievements and motivation."― School Library Journal Jill Doerfler is a professor and department head of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her primary area of scholarly interest is American Indian identity with a focus on Anishinaabe citizenship. Matthew J. Martinez received his Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota (2008). He previously served as First Lieutenant Governor at Ohkay Owingeh and has researched and published in the areas of Pueblo Indian Studies and New Mexico History.

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