McDaniel, Melisa. The Great Depression.

-->

McDaniel, Melisa.  The Great Depression.  Scholastic/Grolier         64p         $30.00  978-0-531-23056-5  2013              elm/ms                  E-BNS      series: Cornerstones of Freedom     Nonfiction

This succinct book accurately describes the causes, events, and results of the Great Depression.  Written on a low-reading level, this narrative will enlighten young people on this major event in American history.  Melissa McDaniel has taken a complex issue and created a text that will be easily understood by young readers.  The mature content is presented in a manner that is appropriate and truthful, yet sensitively depicts and describes the Great Depression without bias.

The writing is crisp and flows well as the reader journeys through this informative book.  Chapters are divided into subsections, which makes the text more accessible to young readers. It is also visually appealing as black and white photographs represent the time period and enhance the text.  Text boxes and captions deliver additional tidbits of information.  Bold-face words are included in the glossary, providing further understanding.

This short but informative book is a great resource for young readers learning about the Great Depression.  It includes a labeled map, a list of influential individuals, and a timeline.  Newspaper clippings and headlines denote important historical events during the depression.  A glossary, a listing of resources, and an index are also included.
The Great Depression                                                                                                           --Virginia McGarvey