The Truths We Hold: An American Journey (Young Readers Edition)

By Kamala Harris

Now adapted for young readers, Vice President Kamala Harris's empowering memoir about the values and inspirations that guided her life.

With her election to the vice presidency, her election to the U.S. Senate, and her position as attorney general of California, Kamala Harris has blazed trails throughout her entire political career. But how did she achieve her goals? What values and influences guided and inspired her along the way?
 
In this young readers edition of Kamala Harris’s memoir, we learn about the impact that her family and community had on her life, and see what led her to discover her own sense of self and purpose. The Truths We Hold traces her journey as she explored the values she holds most dear—those of community, equality, and justice. An inspiring and empowering memoir, this book challenges us to become leaders in our own lives and shows us that with determination and perseverance all dreams are possible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: May 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9780593113165

Kamala Harris

Kamala D. Harris was a prosecutor in Oakland, California, before being elected as San Francisco's District Attorney in 2003 and reelected in 2007. In 2011, she became Attorney General of California—winning reelection in 2014—before going on to become a U.S. Senator from California in 2016.

Reviews for The Truths We Hold

[zoes_human · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I would love to see Kamal Harris as our first female president. She, like all humans, has made mistakes along the way. Likewise, she has made decisions I don't necessarily like. However, ultimately, I think she and I are on the same side of the fight, and her record for working within the system to bring about change is impressive. It's going to be a tough choice at the Democratic primary this year. I, for one, am glad to see it. It's a refreshing change of pace for me to be struggling to decide between multiple candidates that I genuinely like* instead of easily selecting the person who I despise the least.*Insofar as I like any politician. Bias though it may be, I am my father's daughter and he raised to me believe that you don't trust authority figures, especially not religious and political ones.

[patsymurray · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first two-thirds of the book were compelling. She comes across as having a great deal of intelligence, an amazing work ethic, and a high degree of integrity. You get a good understanding of how her life has influenced her opinions. Toward the end, though, it started to sound like she was just ticking the boxes on certain issues -- a paragraph on automation was soon followed by a paragraph on housing affordability and so on, and the issues are not discussed at any length, nor does she provide any solutions. She says she believes in the scientific method of problem solving and lists two experiments that are trying out solutions, but the experiments sound too insignificant to really matter. In the end, I was disappointed. She has some excellent qualities as a person and as a politician, but I suspect this book was rushed and in the end it doesn't give me the big boost of faith I was hoping for in her as a candidate.

[over.the.edge · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Truths We Hold:An American Journeyby Kamala Harris2019Penguin4.5 / 5.0Inspiring and motivating, this book shares Kamalas commitment to community, justice and being honest and upfront.Kamalas rise from internship in Oakland to being District Attorney of San Francisco is truly amazing. She shares her formation of Back On Track, a program for nonviolent offenders in prison, adopted by Obama. Her call to reform the bail system and racial bias in police departments, Elementary School Truancy, mortgage/ foreclosure fraud and immigration reform are important issues, for her and for.us, as a community of people.Health care and mental health care need reform, our wage/ salary limits need to be revised and our cybersecurity should be the biggest issues today. She is not afraid of the truth, or being transparent.Harris dedication and support of her family, esp when her mother was diagnosed with cancer, is touching. I love her vision of a more equal, inclusive and honest world for all of us. I feel I understand her and her platform, her beliefs and vision much more after reading. There are many reasons to support her- it will be refreshing to see someone of substance running for President. We've needed one for several years now!

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is obvious that Senator Kamala Harris has written this book as part of her campaign for higher office. She is someone who plans her moves in advance and does much to prepare for that move. However, that fact does not detract from the content of this book. Harris comes across as a candidate who is well prepared to advance in her career who holds positions and values that reflect her upbringing, which just happen to be positions many of us can embrace as so many of us share them as well. I will watch her candidacy for president move forward with much interest as she is definitely a candidate I could support. She tells an interesting tale of her life that inspires much confidence in her abilities.

[brianinbuffalo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I knew very little about Kamala Harris prior to picking up "The Truths We Hold" shortly after she launched her 2020 bid to become president. The book provides insights to Harris' career as a prosecutor and her stands on a wide array of issues ranging from criminal justice reforms and inequality to national security. At the end, I had a clear sense of her life journey and how it shaped her views. I do believe she may have spent just a bit too much time on her early years. Readers are one-eighth into the book and Harris is just completing law school. Still, her childhood and upbringing undoubtedly played a defining role in defining her life goals. As with most books penned by current or retired elected leaders, it gets a bit "preachy" and partisan in spots. But that's to be expected. "The Truths We Hold" was enlightening and interesting.

[nyiper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Who knows what will happen two years from now but Kamala's book is a great introduction to her. Does everyone have to write a book but then again, who will be the readers? She writes very clearly and although I'm sure she puts a completely positive emphasis on her work---that's fair. I am impressed with what she has managed to accomplish. I was pleased to see that even the governor of California endorsed her just yesterday -- early! Like the other reviewer, I, too, really like Warren and have read her book(s). Time, will tell.

[rivkat_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Harris’s case for her presidency is her vision of a progressive prosecutor, one who attacks crime as the result of larger social problems and who wants to fight the bias of the existing system while retaining a system of rewards and penalties for good/bad behavior. Her foreign policy pitch is basically that she wants to protect us from bad actors like Russia, like a good law enforcer. I am not yet completely swayed (love you always, Sen. Warren) but if you want someone who has the requisite self-confidence without being Dunning-Kruger about it, she clearly qualifies and I'd be enthusiastic about her as the nominee.

[natalieriley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I REALLY enjoyed learning about Kamala Harris in this book. She openly shared about her family background and upbringing. Her career in the District Attorney’s office was admirable as she worked hard to improve the criminal justice system. Interesting stories about the opportunities she had to get involved in politics. Harris is an amazing, professional woman I look up to. It’s evident she really cares about people and has this country’s best interest at heart.

[toobusyreading · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What I knew of Kamala Harris I liked, but I admit that my knowledge is limited. This woman will, I sincerely hope, become the next Vice President of the country, and I wanted to know more about her. This book gave me good insight into her – her beliefs, her morality. It's also an entertaining story for anyone who likes to read memoirs. I'm confident we'll be in good hands when she and Joe Biden are elected.

[mjspear_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So, in fairness, I meant to pick up the 'heavy duty' version of Kamala Harris' book and got this one instead. I don't know if it's the diluted nature of the YA edition, but it did not engage me at all. I am a huge fan/support of Harris and wanted to like her. I don't feel like I know her any better than I did before I started the book. Disappointed.

[amcheri-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Everything I'd seen of Kamala Harris left me impressed and happy that she's an elected official but I didn't know much about her background or what her stances on issues were. After listening to her memoir (which could double as a huge campaign speech) - I'm sold.

It felt great to listen to her talk about her family, her career, and her beliefs which mirror many of my own. How nice to hear from a patriotic public servant who believes in helping make our country better for everyone.

My only complaint about the audio book is that she's not always the best narrator... But I don't think it would have been as effective for me if anyone else read it.

[drfuriosa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book discusses policy and vision through the lens of personal experience, which made it engaging and approachable. Senator Harris is smart, insightful, and pragmatic about addressing systemic issues that disproportionately affect people of color in the United States. I highly recommend this book. Senator Harris makes an excellent case for why she should earn our 2020 presidential vote.

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

audiobook nonfiction (9 hours, read by the author), memoir and critical social/political reform (written pre-Jan.6 insurrection and pre-COVID).fascinating look at the major challenges the US must deal with, including national security threats posed by cybercrime, criminal justice reform, healthcare reform, the opioid crisis and a ton of other things. A level-headed analysis of issues we all should be very concerned about.

[sheila1957 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wish I had read this before the 2020 primaries. This gives a good idea of what her platform was. She describes the problems facing us today and gives solutions to those problems. Utilizing stories from her own life and others who have crossed her path, she gives faces to those problems and solutions. Ms. Harris comes across as someone who listens and tries to help where she can and she'll go where she needs to to lend that helping hand. She has a lot of empathy and compassion. I am glad I read this. I think she will help lead this country back into the light.

[carolee888 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked the young reader's edition because the print size of the adult version was in such tiny print and so long that I knew it would be difficult to read with my glaucoma challenged eyes.I was a little disappointed in the amount of personal shared. Maybe I should have tried for an audio version instead.I did like what shared about her mother. The odd thing when it came to Kamala Harris views on abortion rights, gay rights, early childhood education, young offenders, help for lowering drug prices and helping the disadvantaged. I agree with her 100%. In fact, I could have written the same thing that she wrote, except that my examples would have been different. I hope that she gets projects in the Biden administration that will make more people aware of her drive and compassion for other people.Her outstanding virtue is abundant empathy. We need to hear from her more.

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Harris shares her personal experience being raised by an Indian mother and Jamaican father who fought for social justice even when she was a baby. Her personal story as she rose at the DA's office in San Francisco, eventually becoming the state's attorney general, is fascinating and inspiring. She also digs deep into the changes she believes our country desperately needs, from healthcare reform, legalization of marijuana, changes to the prison system, tax reform, and more. She is incredibly open about where she stands on every issue, which I respect. I loved learning more about her background and what she has done in her career. “When it comes to the things that matter most we have so much more in common than what separates us.”

[micareads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to get to know a little more about the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee. What I learned is that Kamala (pronounced Commala) Harris is a woman who learned from her single mother how important it was to be your best and think of those who need your help.

As Kamala explains her life story, she integrates how the lessons learned affected her time in public service. She takes us on her journey through Howard Univerity to law school to her time as Attorney General to the United States Senate. Harris explains how she has helped her California constituents by ensuring certain laws were signed that would benefit them.

Kamala Harris told an amazing story that allowed you to learn how her past shaped who she has become as a woman and a politician. This was the story of a woman who learned the best lessons and then took them a step further.