The Great Depression

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-A comprehensive, well-written overview of a complicated era. Farrell concentrates on the Depression as part of a broader historical context, beginning with a look at the post-World War I situation. She continues with the events and personalities dominating the `30s, and concludes with the economic upswing brought about by World War II and the legacy of the Depression. Quotes from primary and secondary sources appear both within the text and as sidebars, enhancing the presentation. Thorough footnoting lends credibility and introduces readers to the importance of citing sources. Black-and-white photographs illustrate every page, giving an overall sense of the desperation of the period. Milton Meltzer's Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (Facts on File, 1990) concentrates on the first four years of the Depression and incorporates first-hand accounts and popular culture to personalize the information. Richard Wormser's Growing Up in the Great Depression (Atheneum, 1994) employs numerous interviews and photographs to portray childhood in the 1930s. Farrell's title is an exceptionally good starting point for research.Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS