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The 1930s in America will always be remembered for twin disasters-the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Michael L. Cooper takes readers through this tumultuous period, beginning with the 1929 stock market crash that ushered in the Great Depression and continuing with the severe drought in the Midwest, known as the Dust Bowl. He chronicles the everyday struggle for survival by those who lost everything, as well as the mass exodus westward to California on fabled Route 66. The crisis also served as a turning point in American domestic policy, prompting the establishment of programs, such as welfare and Social Security, that revolutionized the role of the federal government. Vivid personal anecdotes from figures such as John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie, and an extensive selection of photographs by Dorothea Lange and others, illuminate the individuals who faced poverty, illness, and despair as they coped with this extraordinary challenge. Endnotes, bibliography, Internet resources, index.
Michael L. Cooper has written books on various aspects of American history for young adults, including a companion book, Fighting for Honor: Japanese Americans and World War II, which was named a 2002 Best Book for Young Adults.
"lots of stunning black-and-white archival photos and clear, spacious text that draws on eloquent eyewitness reports...excellent historical account." BOOKLIST Booklist, ALA
"particularly adept...opening windows to a variety of experiences...well-chosen photograph[s] ...should pique adolescents' curiosity about this bleak period." BCCB Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"the text's strength is the very human face it puts on the overwhelming tragedy of the Dust Bowl" SLJ, starred School Library Journal, Starred
"attractive...artistic...the sepia cover sets a historic tone...does a good job of raising the issue of discrimination" VOYA VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) —
