Sarah Palin Biography Highlights Hidden Pregnancy

After being thrust into the spotlight and making the transition from governor of one of the most sparsely-populated states in the Union to vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin’s life is clearly one of intrigue to those who both love her and hate her - and there seem to be very few that hold the middle ground. A new biography of Palin is touted as "intimate," and touches on subjects that are more fodder for entertainment reporting than politics – though there’s some of that mixed in too.

One of the main subjects that comes up in the new book is Palin hiding her last pregnancy from her daughters. Apparently, one of her daughters learned that she was pregnant with Trig when she found a prenatal ultrasound scan. According to the biography, penned by Lorenzo Benet, "Sarah made one slip-up – but dampened suspicion by explaining it away." Benet goes on to write, "Not discussing the pregnancy with her daughters, she felt, would shorten the process and spare them from unwanted attention." Palin also admitted to Benet during an interview for a People Magazine story that she wasn’t certain that she was ready to deal with the unique challenges of raising a special needs child (Trig was diagnosed with Down syndrome in utero).

Trailblazer, which was not authorized by Palin, also touches on other elements of Palin’s life that focus more on the gossip side, with a treatment of her daughter Bristol’s relationship with Levi Johnston, the father of Palin’s grandson Trip. Benet reports that during her pregnancy, Bristol lived with an aunt and uncle, worked two jobs while simultaneously going to high school, and that Levi was 40 miles away in Wasilla. According to the book, however, "Levi used to drive to Anchorage to take Bristol out. There was certainly no ban on them dating."