Overview
From the former prime minister of New Zealand comes a guide for young readers on chasing your dreams and embracing the unexpected qualities that truly make a person strong. When Jacinda Ardern became prime minister of New Zealand, she was one of the youngest people and, at the time, the youngest woman leading a country. Many people thought she would never succeed—herself included. Wouldn’t her insecurity, overthinking, worrying, and kindness stop her from being able to achieve her goals? As she soon learned, though, it was exactly those attributes—as well as caring and wanting to listen to and serve others—that made her into the empathetic, adaptable, and effective leader that she was. While sharing her own experiences and challenges as a young person, and then as prime minister, Jacinda Ardern asks readers to realize that true strength, success, and power come from embracing ourselves just as we are—imposter syndrome and all.
Full Product Details
Author: Jacinda Ardern ,
Ruby Shamir
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
Imprint: Philomel Books,U.S.
Dimensions:
Width: 14.60cm
, Height: 2.60cm
, Length: 21.70cm
Weight: 0.363kg
ISBN: 9780593692219
ISBN 10: 0593692217
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 02 June 2026
Recommended Age: From 10 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Availability: Not yet available
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.
Reviews
Praise for What If You Could: ""In this heartfelt memoir . . . Ardern candidly describes her struggles, missteps, and triumphs to inspire other young women that they, too, can succeed, even when they doubt themselves. Young women will be inspired."" —Booklist ""An engaging read for teens that offers a peek behind the scenes of the life of a remarkable and influential woman."" —Kirkus Reviews
Author Information
The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern was elected the fortieth prime minister of New Zealand at the age of thirty-seven, becoming the country’s youngest prime minister in more than 150 years. Since leaving office, Ardern has established the Field Fellowship on empathetic leadership. She continues to work on climate action and is the patron of the Christchurch Call to Action to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. Ardern also works on a number of projects that support women and girls but considers her greatest roles to be those she will hold for life, including that of mom and proud New Zealander. You can follow Jacinda Ardern on Instagram @JacindaArdern. Ruby Shamir is an author, literary researcher, and book adapter who has worked on numerous New York Times bestselling and award-winning books. She lives in the Bronx, New York, with her husband and three children. You can visit Ruby Shamir online at RubyShamir.com.
