A Voice Like Mine: A Memoir

In this openhearted debut, former Secretary of the Interior Haaland traces her path from a modest childhood to the upper ranks of American politics. She recalls a 1960s upbringing shaped by games, chores, and the influence of her strict but loving Laguna Pueblo mother and Norwegian American father, a decorated Marine officer. Haaland threads her mother’s and grandmother’s recipes into the narrative to illustrate how food is as important to her biography as activism and public service. She also writes candidly about confronting her alcoholism, depicting recovery—a major theme in her family tree—as incremental and demanding work. That persistence carries through other milestones in her biography, including raising her daughter, launching a small business, and pursuing higher education later in life. After earning a law degree from the University of New Mexico, she entered politics and, eventually, made a successful run for Congress in 2018. Though the book’s political chapters are measured rather than revelatory, they convincingly emphasize the importance of civic engagement for Native communities historically excluded from higher education and government. Throughout, Haaland’s voice remains accessible and encouraging, offering pragmatic messages of resilience that feel both lived-in and universal. This grounded and gently inspiring account will resonate with readers. (July)