True Gretch: Young Adult Edition by Gretchen Whitmer

with Lisa Dickey. Subtitled Lessons for Anyone Who Wants to Make a Difference.

Despite being fairly politically informed, I wasn’t super familiar with Governor Gretchen Whitmer until the news of her attempted kidnapping and murder made national headlines. Even then, her policies didn’t (and still don’t, as most if not all of my Midwestern friends are from every state but Michigan) affect my daily life, so I didn’t pay much attention beyond acknowledging that she’s thankfully on the right side of history in her continued dedication to progressive causes.

And then this book landed on my desk, and y’all! I have a crush!

Because Big Gretch, as she’s fondly known on social media, is delightful! Granted, this is an autobiography, where the charm is of necessity turned up to 11. But in addition to the usual flattering chapters about herself and her life and career to date, she takes on a surprising number of honest but unfashionable stances that she simply doesn’t have to. Whether it’s about admitting mistakes or being able to say “I’m sorry”, her honesty, decency and commitment to public service shine through in a way that feels both genuine and unfortunately rare in this current political climate.

Here’s the thing: it’s very unusual for me to read a politician’s autobiography and think, “Wow, this is a much better person than I am!” But Governor Whitmer’s dedication to empathy and compassion is truly astonishing. She doesn’t do it because she’s a pushover: she does it because she knows it’s the best and most efficient way to get everyone moving forward together. God, it bugs me so much that this used to be a very centrist stance, the idea of improving as a society, before right-wingers made that seem like crazy leftist ideals. Fortunately, Governor Whitmer is less concerned with the way her positions make her look than with doing the right thing by the people of Michigan.

And that is, foundationally, one of the really great things about Governor Whitmer. She’s less invested in her image and pride than she is in actually making life better for all Michiganders. Compare that to the ego-driven morons in this current Presidential administration. Governor Whitmer is a real leader working hard to improve and safeguard the lives of her constituents. You’d think that that would be the bare minimum for a politician, but here we are in the hellscape of 2025, watching our rights and federal protections circle the drain, all in the name of promoting the financial interests of the criminals in power.

It shouldn’t be a surprise then that my admiration for Governor Whitmer’s commitment to cooperation was actually a bit of a sore spot for me reading this book, as she insists on the importance of reaching across the political aisle and working with her ideological opponents. Given that this was written pre-Inauguration, I get it. One still had hopes of Republicans being reasonable before 45 was sworn in for a second term; more pertinently to her efforts, state politicians are often more practical and tractable than their federal counterparts. But the constant urge to cooperate grated on my nerves… until she pointed out that toxic relationships of all kinds are bad and should be left behind. We have and should continue to have the power to say no and to leave bad situations. Cooperation is an ideal not a blanket panacea. I’m glad that she acknowledges that, especially given the tough times this country has ahead.

Anyway, I’m a big fan now, both of her ethics and of her hilarious sense of humor, and will be watching her career with greater interest from here on in. But even if you care less about “politics” than about public service and basic human decency — spoiler alert: public service and basic human decency are fundamentally what liberal government and politics are all about! — then this is a terrific book for anyone who needs to believe that there are still people and politicians out there who understand and care about doing what’s right for their people. It’s certainly a refreshing counterpoint to the absolute ludicrousness going on elsewhere in this country, and a great way to impart the basics of good governance in an easy-to-digest manner for the reader in your life, young or otherwise.

True Gretch: Young Adult Edition by Gretchen Whitmer was published January 28 2024 by Atheneum Books For Young Readers and is available from all good booksellers, including