It began with the best of intentions. Worried about the effects of alcohol on American families, mothers and civic leaders started a movement to ou...
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reviews
Feb 03, 2012
Marjorie
rated it: 
All the thinky-thoughts Jews are currently talking about Jews and Booze, a book for grownups about, uh, Jews and booze. The NYTBR evaluation was dead-on: the title was the best thing about it. The writing was leaden and repetitive and un-zingy. Karen Blumenthal's book, on the other hand, which is for KIDS and about prohibition in general-- not just about the Jews, though it talks a lot (obviously) about religion's role in the struggle and also about some of the nutty Jews involved in both the bo
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Nov 16, 2011
Jenn
rated it: 
Pretty decent, although I was slightly underwhelmed. I think, however, that's because I actually know a lot about prohibition and that time period already (it's one of my favorites). It's a little difficult for this not to seem a bit simplistic, going in with that sort of knowledge. But, I suspect that if I were more target audience, I might find it more fascinating. Another minor quibble is that it occasionally felt a little judgmental, but I might be reading into things.
What I did More...
What I did More...
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Nov 14, 2011
Hilary
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TThis is a well-rounded look at the colorful Prohibition era. It takes into account both negative and positive aspects of the law that resulted in unintended consequences (Prohibition was initiated to decrease lawlessness and drunkenness, but instead increased both). Karen Blumenthal, a longtime writer for the “Wall Street Journal,” creates a highly readable nonfiction text that instantly engages the reader by opening with the 1929 Valentines Day massacre in Chicago and then highlighting the p
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Nov 05, 2011
Richie
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11 January 2011 BOOTLEG: MURDER, MOONSHINE, AND THE LAWLESS YEARS OF PROHIBITION by Karen Blumental, Roaring Brook, May 2011, ISBN: 978-1-59643-449-3
"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall
Ninety-nine bottles of beer"
--very long song we sang on the school bus while traveling to my first NY Yankees game in 1964
"Prohibition, as it was called, was a grand social revolution that was supposed to forever end drunkenness, reduce crime, and make life More...
"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall
Ninety-nine bottles of beer"
--very long song we sang on the school bus while traveling to my first NY Yankees game in 1964
"Prohibition, as it was called, was a grand social revolution that was supposed to forever end drunkenness, reduce crime, and make life More...
Jul 13, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
Summary: As the book’s title states, Bootleg is a non-fiction book that discusses the rise, the fall, and everything in between in regards to the prohibition. Included are the events and reasons behind why the prohibition began, the positive and negative effects of prohibition, and how prohibition came to a halt. Besides just text, there are black-and-white photographs, comedic drawings, and advertisements. In addition, the end of the book includes a glossary, bibliography, source notes, and an
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Dec 27, 2011
David
rated it:
Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthal is a well researched, fascinating read about the causes and consequences of Prohibition in the U.S.
Worried about the effects of alcohol on American families, mothers and civic leaders started a movement to outlaw drinking in public places.
Protests, petitions, and activism paid off when a Constitional Amendment banning the sale and consumption of alcohol was ratified. Hailed as the end of publ More...
Worried about the effects of alcohol on American families, mothers and civic leaders started a movement to outlaw drinking in public places.
Protests, petitions, and activism paid off when a Constitional Amendment banning the sale and consumption of alcohol was ratified. Hailed as the end of publ More...
Jul 06, 2011
Anastasia
rated it:
This book is narrative nonfiction at its best. Packed with photos, true stories of both famous people and bit players, layered with more facts than seems possible for its size, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
I would recommend it to upper grade schoolers, middle schoolers, and high schoolers who enjoy learning about history. I think the content is fine for the JNF audience.
Things I learned (these may be spoilers?):
--Morris Sheppard was a rather unassuming se More...
I would recommend it to upper grade schoolers, middle schoolers, and high schoolers who enjoy learning about history. I think the content is fine for the JNF audience.
Things I learned (these may be spoilers?):
--Morris Sheppard was a rather unassuming se More...
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Sep 02, 2011
Margo
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This fascinating new narrative nonfiction book delves into the story of Prohibition, a unique and colorful decade in our country's history. Author Karen Blumenthal , a long-time journalist with the Wall Street Journal, puts her considerable writing skills to good use in explaining how the great social revolution known as Prohibition, which was supposed to forever end drunkenness, reduce crime, and improve the lives of America's families, led instead to a culture of lawlessness, bribery, gangste
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Jan 11, 2012
LibraryAvenger
rated it:
From children drinking alcohol to them smuggling homebrewed bathtub gin to Mother's Against Drunk Driving, Bootleg tells the story of the wet and dry times in an informative, yet slightly humorous, way, which is easy for kids, teens and adults to understand and enjoy. A glossary contains terms used during prohibition, such as "hooch Slang for alcohol. Other slang words in the 1920s included 'apple-jack,' 'giggle water,' white lightening,' and 'whoopee'" and "ombibulous A term coin
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Dec 16, 2011
Mark
rated it:
I'll have a review up on The Hub early in January, but I won't be making this point, because I'll probably be crucified for it over there:
Practically every point Blumenthal makes about prohibition could be made about the War on Drugs (TM). Good intentions, completely pointless and painful execution. Gangs, violence, overcrowded prisons. It goes on and on.
She literally says: "The experience also drove hom the challenge of passing laws that affect an entire country's More...
Practically every point Blumenthal makes about prohibition could be made about the War on Drugs (TM). Good intentions, completely pointless and painful execution. Gangs, violence, overcrowded prisons. It goes on and on.
She literally says: "The experience also drove hom the challenge of passing laws that affect an entire country's More...
Jan 26, 2012
Mary Fran
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Blumenthal takes a heavily illustrated look at the Eighteenth Amendment, including a varied cast of characters from Carrie Nation to Al Capone. The book describes how the temperance movement took root and spread in the eighteenth century, as well as how the Prohibition period from 1920 to 1933 gave rise to more crime than it eliminated. The reasons for the movement against prohibition, and the adoption of the Twenty-First Amendment (repealing the Eighteenth Amendment) are also thoroughly covered
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Oct 07, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
This book made me wish that I was a middle school student with a report to write. It conveyed enough facts to make a good paper, but was entertaining enough that I wanted to keep reading it. Blumenthal kicks off the book with the Valentine's Day Massacre, then takes readers step-by-step through the social climate of the temperance movement, the politics of prohibition, the rise of crime that contributed to end of prohibition, and the lasting effects of prohibition on our country's attitudes towa
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Sep 21, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
A fascinating glimpse into an interesting part of America's history.
Blumenthal has a way of writing non-fiction that makes you never want to put the book down. I'm not a big non-fiction reader, but I loved her linear timeline and the high readability of the book.
It's a well-rounded look at Prohibition and it also takes into account both the positives and negatives of the law.
The photos, scans and images she uses are always appropriate companions to the text a More...
Blumenthal has a way of writing non-fiction that makes you never want to put the book down. I'm not a big non-fiction reader, but I loved her linear timeline and the high readability of the book.
It's a well-rounded look at Prohibition and it also takes into account both the positives and negatives of the law.
The photos, scans and images she uses are always appropriate companions to the text a More...
Dec 08, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
A book that should be enjoyed with either a pint of beer or a nice glass of red wine and followed by a viewing of multiple episodes of Boardwalk Empire:) I loved reading about the origin of "teetotalers" and "the Real McCoy." And who could have known that NASCAR racing had its roots in moonshine runs? But my favorite quote had to be "Librarians in Springfield, Massachusetts, and New Haven, Connecticut, decided to pull off the shelves any books describing how to make al
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Nov 19, 2011
Jamie
rated it:
A great non-fiction for a middle school audience. It stars off with the St. Valentine's day massacre, sure to grab kids attention. Then, in lively language, the book continues to explain how Prohibition came to be and how it came to go away, with fascinating asides about Al Capone and various "revenuers."
There's a massive amount of discussion possibilities in the statement "Today, each of us is accountable for our own behavior, and adult drinkig is a matter of choice and More...
There's a massive amount of discussion possibilities in the statement "Today, each of us is accountable for our own behavior, and adult drinkig is a matter of choice and More...
Feb 13, 2012
Josh
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I thought this was a great historical nonfiction book aimed at a younger audience. The book explored the events from both sides that led up to prohibition and eventually the demise of the 18th Amendment. Really fast read without any lag I think that teens and tweens could move through the material quickly. I do however think that it would need to be supplemented by other materials for serious reports with older students. But for any young adult that loves that period in history or is a histo
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Oct 20, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
One of the best books for I've read about the Prohibition era, although the first part was pretty dry (no pun intended...okay, laugh if you must). Does an excellent job of covering both the circumstances and political climate that led to the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment and then the lawlessness that followed and the speedy efforts to repeal. Good for report-writers and anyone else interested in Prohibition or the 1920s in general.
Jun 21, 2011
Chelsea
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A fascinating look at a period of our history that we kind of forget about - how on earth did we get to the point of banning alcohol nationwide?! Blumenthal traces the road up to the 18th amendment in accessible and engaging writing, and clearly demonstrates the chain of events that eventually brought about its repeal. Another one of those books that makes me interrupt the bf constantly with "did you knows?"
Oct 12, 2011
Penny
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A great, relatively easy to read account of Prohibition, for tweens and teens. Lots of great b&w photos, this may be popular with those who recently viewed the PBS series by Ken Burns on the topic, or older tweens and teens who watch the TV series "Boardwalk Empire." The parts on how it passed, and how it was repealed, could have more detail but it is still and excellent, exciting book.
Jul 28, 2011
Beaverton City Library Teens
rated it:
It starts with the 1929 Valentines Day massacre in Chicago and then goes backward to explain the political and social turmoil that led up to it, finishing up back at February 14, 1929. Blumenthal does a great job of weaving in biographies of key players from temperance crusader Morris Sheppard to legendary gangster Al Capone. This book would go well with "Al Capone Does My Shirts."
Dec 11, 2011
AnnieM
rated it:
Not bad. It won't go down as my favorite juvenile nonfiction of the year. It was factual and accurate. It's an interesting topic, but at times it read a bit more like a text book and may not be as engaging to a young reader.
I enjoyed the illustrations and information it was just really dull. Perils of reading too many books in a row. It can't hold a candle to the book from the day before.
I enjoyed the illustrations and information it was just really dull. Perils of reading too many books in a row. It can't hold a candle to the book from the day before.
Sep 30, 2011
Jan
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The overview of prohibition has just enough information to inform but not sensationalize. The tie ins with WW I, grain shortages, the women's movement and the role of women in politics was informative. And the process and rationale for the final repeal ofthe ammendment was equally fascinating.
Dec 21, 2011
Dolores
rated it:
Very engaging and readable nonfiction. There are tons of pictures and back matter here about the bad old days of prohibition. Really gives the reader a feel for the climate of the era, and the conditions in the country that let to the rise of Prohibition. I loved all the personal stories in the book. Great nonfiction.
Sep 08, 2011
Brenda
rated it:
This nonfiction title gives a very broad picture of the political, historical, and social elements that led to Prohibition and those that followed the end of this era. It includes an excellent collection of primary documents and photographs. It also has a lengthy bibliography and glossary.
Nov 04, 2011
Kory
rated it:
the book bootleg is about.
the guvermentey is abootey notteey letteying people
drginching orey makeing booshey
The book Bootleg (murder, moonshine and the lawless years of prohibition) is an interesting book. I enjoyed reading about the different ways that people tried to make alcohol. The pictures from that old days ( 1920's) are cool. Prohibition was the law that said that people couldn't drink alcohol, but the book is about all the ways that they found to get it.
the guvermentey is abootey notteey letteying people
drginching orey makeing booshey
The book Bootleg (murder, moonshine and the lawless years of prohibition) is an interesting book. I enjoyed reading about the different ways that people tried to make alcohol. The pictures from that old days ( 1920's) are cool. Prohibition was the law that said that people couldn't drink alcohol, but the book is about all the ways that they found to get it.
Jan 29, 2012
Bill
rated it:
This was a good book talking about the birth of the 18th amendment, where & how bootlegging started, and the upstart of the crime syndicates -- especially Al Capone.
It's worth reading if you're at all interested in the 1920s and 1930s history of the US.
It's worth reading if you're at all interested in the 1920s and 1930s history of the US.
Aug 03, 2011
Jess
rated it:
Narrative fiction at its best. I love non-fiction that reads like a novel with all of the information conveyed in an interesting manner. Plus the photos are a big help as well. There is a glossary, source notes, and bibliography in the back for further research on the top of prohibition.
Jan 30, 2012
Jacqueline
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A quick read that highlights a lawless time in American history. I enjoyed the black and white photos on every page and the witnesses who told their stories about how they broke the law and got away with it in some cases.
Dec 09, 2011
Carrie
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Bootleg is highly readable nonfiction about an engaging topic with tons of fun facts thrown in. This compelling factual story is recommended, even for those who think they already know all about prohibition.
Dec 27, 2011
Wendy
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This finally picked up when it actually got to Prohibition (on page 59 out of 127 of actual book--it takes five of nine chapters to get there); the parts about the temperance movement are pretty dull, although they provide occasional interesting factoids. I suspect many teen readers would be turned off by these initial chapters, after the interesting prologue about the Valentine's Day Massacre.
This is one of the better nonfiction titles I've read this year, but the more I read, the m More...
This is one of the better nonfiction titles I've read this year, but the more I read, the m More...
