Crash: The Fall and Rise of America in the 1930s

Favreau, in his first book for children, explains Black Tuesday, the 1929 stock market crash, the Great Depression, and the steps the United States government took to try to help its citizens get back on their feet. This detailed yet uncomplicated overview is written in clear, concise language, and Favreau doesn’t shy from some of the more difficult subjects (“After the Crash, white southerners tried to push black people down even further”). He begins by recounting stories of how the stock market crash and subsequent economic depression affected real people—across different socioeconomic levels, ethnicities, genders, and geographical locations—giving readers an understanding of personal hardships and a glimpse into how economics works. He then details the rise of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the part his wife, Eleanor, played in creating jobs, as well as the role of WWII in the U.S. recovery. Making use of photographs, primary-source documents, and firsthand accounts, Favreau brings an important period of history to life. Ages 10–up. Agent: Tanya McKinnon, McKinnon McIntyre. (Apr.)