BOOTLEG: MURDER, MOONSHINE, AND THE LAWLESS YEARS OF PROHIBITION by Karen Blumenthal

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blumenthal, Karen. 2011. BOOTLEG: MURDER, MOONSHINE, AND THE LAWLESS YEARS OF PROHIBITION. New York: Roaring Book Press. ISBN 9781596434493

PLOT SUMMARY

In this historical attention getter, Blumenthal explains the sequence of events leading up to prohibition, the activity during that time, and our nation’s return to being “wet.”      

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Karen Blumenthal is a journalist whose books have been noticed and awarded over the years.  Credible reviewers from The Horn Book, School Library Journal, and additional publications have added to her popularity with reviews for this book as well as several others.  A bibliography of source notes and source notes by chapter are available at the end of the story as well as an index and a glossary of terms related to the topic. 

The story is written in nine chapters and a contents page is located at the front.  The pages are full of text and geared more towards a young adult reader.  Though heavy with content, the pages of text are spaced and give the reader the freedom to read and comprehend.  The story is written in a way that the reader can be drawn in with topics like “gangsters,” “illegal liquor,” and “massacre of seven men.”  The story, so well researched, is full of higher-level vocabulary and sentence structure.  It's readability may be difficult for the average reader to comprehend.  The photographs are the real thing which adds a sense of novelty.  The photos are amazingly vibrant and each one, with its caption, holds a period of time and a piece of priceless history. 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Starred Kirkus Review - "When Congress passed the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcohol, supporters were convinced it would create a stronger, more moral nation. Instead, it ushered in an era of corruption and lawlessness, here brought to life with a fast-paced, gripping narrative and period photographs."

The Horn Book - "With an ambitious scope that includes anecdotes, quotes, statistics, photographs, and illustrations to complement the larger story, Blumenthal makes the subject matter relevant for modern readers."

Goodreads Review - "Filled with period art and photographs, anecdotes, and portraits of unique characters from the era, this fascinating book looks at the rise and fall of the disastrous social experiment known as Prohibition."

CONNECTIONS

*Students can read the book and take a stance by conducting philosophical chairs.  Students can take turns persuading others to join their side.

*Similarly, students can take a stance on whether alcohol should currently be illegal or remain the way it is.  Students can make a case in the form of an essay, philosophical chairs, speeches, or other projects.

*A local small county has been trying for years to become “wet” again.  The class could compare and contrast the benefits of remaining dry and could even conduct local research on accidents and events that have occurred as the result of alcohol abuse.

*Students could read an article about the banning of candy or cokes on school campuses.  Some articles highlight the establishment of student and even parent bootleggers of candy to schools with the ban.  Students could then compare and contrast the two situations.  For schools where students talk openly about the desire for marijuana to be legalized, this topic could also be brought into discussion… especially for older students.