This YA biography of the former First Lady considers her journey from Chicago to the White House in the larger context of African American history. Michelle Obama grew up on Chicago's South Side, and while the world outside her door was chaotic and ever-changing, her family provided a stable environment in which she could grow and flourish. This biography of the former First Lady shows how a girl from a working class background could rise to become one of the most influential women of her day. More than a chronology of life events, this book looks at Michelle Obama's story within the larger context of African American history: slavery, freedom, the Reconstruction era, the Civil Rights movement, and finally, her own era. History both shaped and challenged Michelle. And ultimately, she not only overcame the obstacles put before her, she went on to carve out her own place in history.