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kristi_starr35's review against another edition
5.0
Full of primary sources, photographs, and personal accounts, this book chronicles the crash of the US economy in 1929, the effects of the Great Depression, and the resurgence of the economy with the advent of World War II. Readers will learn more about the effects of the Great Depression on people around the country. Favreau is inclusive of many groups such as children, the elderly, immigrants, African Americans, women, unionists, and Jews. While FDR is clearly viewed as the hero, many other men and women were instrumental in the policies and events of the period, and Favreau introduces the reader to some of them.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
I'm going to start off by saying, I really, really, really wish this book had a free teaching guide to go along with it! It would be an excellent option for teaching the Great Depression, but lack of any free teaching materials that can be adapted for lesson plans necessitated that I not review this as a teaching resource.
What I loved about this non-fiction book were little things, like how in the Prologue it ends with the simple statement of how the Great Depression extended into a decade: "A nation of consumers became a nation of savers. Commerce screeched to a halt." It's a hard concept for students to grasp, how banks grow money by lending, and what happens when the money supply constricts. (For a great classroom simulation that allows students to experience this concept, see the "Money Mania" and "Bank Run" lesson plans in my Great Depression: Economics and Literature teaching post.)
The picture on page 42 is priceless, as are all the photographs (with credits!) by Dorothea Lange and Arthur Rothstein from the Dust Bowl for the Farm Security Administration. They're used in many texts about this time period.
The writing is light, easy to read and comprehend, and the book covers most of the salient points of the time period, including the pressure to kick out Mexicans through "voluntary repatriation" which was often anything other than voluntary. It's sometimes totally overlooked in books about this time period.
A fantastic read, sure to capture reluctant readers with its style and generous incorporation of visual images from the time period.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
What I loved about this non-fiction book were little things, like how in the Prologue it ends with the simple statement of how the Great Depression extended into a decade: "A nation of consumers became a nation of savers. Commerce screeched to a halt." It's a hard concept for students to grasp, how banks grow money by lending, and what happens when the money supply constricts. (For a great classroom simulation that allows students to experience this concept, see the "Money Mania" and "Bank Run" lesson plans in my Great Depression: Economics and Literature teaching post.)
The picture on page 42 is priceless, as are all the photographs (with credits!) by Dorothea Lange and Arthur Rothstein from the Dust Bowl for the Farm Security Administration. They're used in many texts about this time period.
The writing is light, easy to read and comprehend, and the book covers most of the salient points of the time period, including the pressure to kick out Mexicans through "voluntary repatriation" which was often anything other than voluntary. It's sometimes totally overlooked in books about this time period.
A fantastic read, sure to capture reluctant readers with its style and generous incorporation of visual images from the time period.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
While reading this one, I kept wondering when we'd discover the history of the Great Depression from those who weren't white. It comes -- and it's really what makes this look at this era in time so crucial. Favreau doesn't overlook the fact that the Depression came with more than financial loss and a giant Dust Bowl; he dives into the way racial tensions continued to escalate and, even when World War II encouraged people of color to enlist and serve, those tensions did not lessen.
This gave me a great idea for a person in history worth learning more about and potentially writing about, which was a nice bonus.
Great use of photos and primary documents with an exhaustive collection of back matter. My only big criticism was that the ending was absolutely abrupt. This could have used one last chapter or final word looking at this period of time from a lens of reflection. How did the events of the 1930s impact the most recent recession? What about the rise in racially-motivated violence? The fear of and deportation of immigrants? ALL of those pieces are in the history. It could have been more neatly concluded with those sorts of ties thread back together.
I'd pair this with Linda Barrett Osbornes's THIS LAND IS OUR LAND.
This gave me a great idea for a person in history worth learning more about and potentially writing about, which was a nice bonus.
Great use of photos and primary documents with an exhaustive collection of back matter. My only big criticism was that the ending was absolutely abrupt. This could have used one last chapter or final word looking at this period of time from a lens of reflection. How did the events of the 1930s impact the most recent recession? What about the rise in racially-motivated violence? The fear of and deportation of immigrants? ALL of those pieces are in the history. It could have been more neatly concluded with those sorts of ties thread back together.
I'd pair this with Linda Barrett Osbornes's THIS LAND IS OUR LAND.
mrsjhasbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I decided to read this book a result of our current economic situation that stems from the pandemic. I wanted to see if I could identify parallels or potential solicitors, even though the cause of the Great Depression is not at all like our current situation. The photographs and historical documents throughout this book help to portray insights, but the book really centers on FDR and his programs. I feel like there may be more than was provided by this particular historical perspective, hence the 4 star rating, but I did enjoy the opportunity to meet new Americans I had not yet heard of and learn more about the plight of those impacted by the Great Depression.
north_willow's review against another edition
5.0
Really loved this book. Had a lot of good information about the great depression. I learned about it in school so it was nice to be refreshed on the topic and learn new things. I also like how the author also talked about African-Americans during the depression a well. It wasn't something that was really taught to me at school.
Also, the way the author frames and writes out the information, it makes you really understand how bad and hopeless the depression was for many.
Also, the way the author frames and writes out the information, it makes you really understand how bad and hopeless the depression was for many.
zehroni's review against another edition
3.0
I wish this was a little bit more meater in details of the time period. It was very general in certain aspects, but overall was a pretty good read.
amdame1's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
With many black and white primary source photographs and other primary sources, this tells briefly what led up to the great depression. Mainly the focus is the great depression, what it was, what life was like for the regular people, and how the government responded. It also relates how the Dust Bowl affected life after the stock market crash. Then relates how FDR and his programs brought things back to life. Easy to read and understand. Pictures are clear and relatable, poignant. A topic that our kids may hear about but definitely do not understand or relate to. Well-written, well-researched. (but not exciting)
With many black and white primary source photographs and other primary sources, this tells briefly what led up to the great depression. Mainly the focus is the great depression, what it was, what life was like for the regular people, and how the government responded. It also relates how the Dust Bowl affected life after the stock market crash. Then relates how FDR and his programs brought things back to life. Easy to read and understand. Pictures are clear and relatable, poignant. A topic that our kids may hear about but definitely do not understand or relate to. Well-written, well-researched. (but not exciting)
thisgrrlreads's review against another edition
3.0
What happened after the stock market crash? This book will tell you (even though the title makes you want to learn what happened leading up to it). It's easier to read than one might expect, when reading about starving people and union disputes, lynching and war. It does address the issues of African Americans and immigrants during the Great Depression quite clearly. It also weaves in FDR and Eleanor very nicely, with some personal information but not too much. A really great overview of the Great Depression and how we got out of it.
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