acacia1rose's review
challenging
informative
fast-paced
4.5
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Chicago Gangster! by Rupert Mattews, illustrated by Mark Bergin, published 2010 by Franklin Watts
Age appropriate: 7+
Summary/Review: This book invites the reader to imagine a world back in the 1920's, when Prohibition started and jobs were hard to come by. The reader and his imaginary brother, Tony, decide that they want to work with the police and take down some gangsters in Chicago. In order to do this, the reader slowly works his way into the gang and learns about gang life, gambling, and how gangsters get their money, all while making sure that Tony knows what's going on so that the police can take down the gang. This informative text is inviting and fun to read, especially for children who are unfamiliar with gangs and their history.
In a classroom: This would be an incredibly fun read aloud to a classroom of boys (perhaps some girls, too, I'm assuming here). Include in personal classroom library, use when discussing the 1920s, or when talking about how gangs started and how they exist now.
**To a student who is familiar with gang life, this book kind of makes the gang life seem glamorous - it's all very tame. However, this could also lead to an unhealthy vision or desire for the gang life.
Age appropriate: 7+
Summary/Review: This book invites the reader to imagine a world back in the 1920's, when Prohibition started and jobs were hard to come by. The reader and his imaginary brother, Tony, decide that they want to work with the police and take down some gangsters in Chicago. In order to do this, the reader slowly works his way into the gang and learns about gang life, gambling, and how gangsters get their money, all while making sure that Tony knows what's going on so that the police can take down the gang. This informative text is inviting and fun to read, especially for children who are unfamiliar with gangs and their history.
In a classroom: This would be an incredibly fun read aloud to a classroom of boys (perhaps some girls, too, I'm assuming here). Include in personal classroom library, use when discussing the 1920s, or when talking about how gangs started and how they exist now.
**To a student who is familiar with gang life, this book kind of makes the gang life seem glamorous - it's all very tame. However, this could also lead to an unhealthy vision or desire for the gang life.
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