Mrs Leigh is a member of the Admissions and Marketing team at Queenswood. In addition to supporting our prospective families as they embark upon their admissions journey, she enjoys assisting Mr Kelley in editing the school newsletter. Mrs Leigh likes to spend her spare time with her family and taking her dog Brie for long muddy walks.

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama (Adapted for Young Adults)

As a parent, my constant mantra at home is "please read!" This is not only because I know that reading more will help my children progress in every single area of the curriculum, but also because I want them to experience the thrill of escaping reality and for just a while, become immersed in another world, without even leaving their bedroom! I am always looking for books which may tempt them on this voyage of discovery, inspire them or even help with the challenges of growing up.

Dreams from My Father is one such book and a real find for any parent hoping to encourage their young adult to widen their perspectives and embrace a good read. Obama's story, spanning his childhood to his time in office as the 44th President of the United States, enthrals and inspires. From a humble background, the son of a white American mother and a black Kenyan father, Obama spent his formative years growing up in Hawaii and Indonesia. Raised predominantly by his mother and grandparents, Obama explores in the book his lack of relations with his father and how this affected his experiences as a young man.

In this most revealing story we learn how Obama faced the many challenges of adolescence - at times lacking confidence and making mistakes, to become a powerful leader, connected to his roots and committed to a life of service and integrity.

A reflective, erudite and powerful memoir, Obama's account is a fantastic example for young people and this thoughtfully adapted edition makes the book accessible for 12+ readers.