A review by oceanwriter
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

The fact Frances Perkins isn't a more widely discussed historical figure is shocking to me. I’m guilty of having spent years only knowing her by name and the fact she was the first woman to be a part of a presidential cabinet. I knew nothing of her story or her works.

The book follows Frances Perkins’ life and career in politics. This largely includes her marriage to Paul Wilson, her friendship with Mary Rumsey, and her partnership with Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Emotional, heartfelt, and above all inspiring, we get to follow her footsteps from New England to Washington D.C.

Though this is a work of fiction, there is a lot to be learned and, for me, has prompted further research. I particularly enjoyed reading the part of the story about Frances’ marriage to Paul and his mental health struggles. I appreciate how much care went into writing these real-life characters. It steered away from some of the more controversial topics that a lot of authors would have jumped to explore.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing a free e-ARC of the book!
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