Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition

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Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 342 ratings · 122 reviews

It began with the best of intentions. Worried about the effects of alcohol on American families, mothers and civic leaders started a movement to outlaw drinking in public places. Over time, their protests, petitions, and activism paid off—when a Constitional Amendment banning the sale and consumption of alcohol was ratified, it was hailed as the end of public drunkenness

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Hardcover, 154 pages

Published May 24th 2011 by Flash Point

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Aug 07, 2012 Krista the Krazy Kataloguer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-ya, 2012-ya-book-club-a-z-challenge

This book was fascinating! Blumenthal describes the historical background behind Prohibition--how it came about--as well as what went on during those thirteen years. What I found most interesting was her description of it as a "social experiment." I'd never thought of it that way before. It was during those years that both my parents were born, and it gave me insight into why they held some of the ideas and attitudes they did. It was during Prohibition that disrespect for the law really started,...more

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Apr 25, 2013 ALD Teens rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Catherine's Response:
I really enjoyed this book. Blumenthal has crafted an engaging, highly readable narrative about a turbulent time in American history, great for a fairly strong young reader. The historical artwork and photographs dispersed liberally throughout help bring the story to life. I felt the book had a good balance of text to illustrations. So many history books are unbearably dull, but Blumenthal skillfully drew me in and held my attention. Just when I would find myself drifting i...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Sarah Wright rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012yalsa-best-of-the-best

Sometimes I geek out over a book and wonder how I could have ever repressed my social science background. Reading this book has occasioned one of those epiphanies. I've referenced details from Bootleg at least three times since I started reading it a few days ago and had to pull myself away from Al "Scarface" Capone's Wikipedia page (Yes, I use Wikipedia if I am simply satisfying my own guilty pleasures).

Of course, with the long discussion of the temperance movement before you get to any real d...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Alicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, politics, nonfiction

A very easy read with a great many topics covered (as the subtitle implies). The black and white photos are fun to look at, especially with the propaganda photographs as legislation began to prohibit the sale of alcohol. There were many characters involved from the president to the women who began movements to protect their homes from the evils of alcohol that had consumed their husbands as well as a few chapters about Al Capone and his contributions.

While the story isn't overly humorous, serio...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Chris Murray rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: lis722, non-fiction

Bootleg begins with the grisly St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929, and then works its way back to the history of drinking in the United States and Americans’ attitudes toward it, from the colonial era through the Civil War, to the early twentieth century. Nine chapters highlight the major players and events leading up to the passing and eventual repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Important figures of the day, such as Morris Sheppard, Carrie Nation, and Andrew Volstead...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: excellence-in-young-adult-nonfictio

Readers who pay attention to the continuing war on drugs taking place in today's cities may be struck by the similarities by current law enforcement efforts and the climate that led to the passage and the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. Starting with the 1929 gangland shooting known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, this excellent nonfiction book provides the background and describes the individuals most responsible for the Prohibition movement and then describes the consequences of Prohi...more Readers who pay attention to the continuing war on drugs taking place in today's cities may be struck by the similarities by current law enforcement efforts and the climate that led to the passage and the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. Starting with the 1929 gangland shooting known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, this excellent nonfiction book provides the background and describes the individuals most responsible for the Prohibition movement and then describes the consequences of Prohibition. The author describes the growing up years of Morris Sheppard, later known as the Father of National Prohibition, and Carrie Nation, the Kansas saloon smasher, as well as Chicago gangser Al Capone who rose to fame and wealth by bringing alcohol into places once it had been deemed illegal. She also describes some of the creative ways individuals tried to make their own booze, but many of these methods ended up poisoning or killing those who drank it. Although the intentions behind Prohibition may have been quite good, the results were not at all what they might have intended. The author writes, "The drys were gleeful. Crime would soon disappear, jails would close, and hospitals would lose patients. Families would flourish and American woudl prosper as never before" (p. 57). Wishful thinking, that, since Prohibition essentially created a purpose for the production and sale of liquor to go underground. Filled with archival photos that are downright fascinating--for instance, there is a photograph of New York children using containers to scoop up wine dumped into the streets by law enforcement officials--this title covers a lot of ground in its nine chapters, but does so in an appealing way. Back matter includes a glossary, a bibliography and source notes, and an index. While some readers might want the connections between Prohibition and illegal drug sales to be clearer in the text, I prefer the author's reliance on her readers to draw their own conclusions. This was a satisfying, informative read. (less)

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Feb 03, 2012 Marjorie Ingall rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade-to-ya, kids-9-12, young-adult, grownups

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...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Jenn Estepp rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: info-nonfic, kidlit

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 super appre...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Hilary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: informational, young-adult, tri-review

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 pol...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Richie Partington rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 better for America's families.
"Nine years later, the...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Mrs. ReaderPants rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars, texas-authors, read-in-2012

Read more reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.

REVIEW: I must admit: I am NOT a nonfiction reader and rarely read nonfiction for anything more than to gain information that I need for a specific and personal purpose. The only reason I picked up Bootleg at all was to preview it for our upcoming Spirit of Texas Middle School committee meeting in a few weeks. Bootleg has been nominated for this year's list, and I need to be able to debate whether it should be included on the list.

I had planned to read only...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Thomas Maluck rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: yalsa-best-of-the-best-2012

+A strong-willed woman starts a small-town movement that soon gains national attention.
+Religious leaders encourage Americans to "do the right thing" even when the "wrong thing" is a multibillion-dollar business that demands nothing from its users.
+Criminal activity swells in large cities that could be prevented if only the law didn't make the crime so profitable.
+The upper class wields enough money and privacy to do whatever it wants, no matter the rules imposed on the public at large.
+Governme...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-books

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...more 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 index.

Since I give quite a few book talks throughout the school year, and probably many more now that I will be a school librarian, I always try to include a wide range of books in my book talk collection. When I choose non-fiction books, I try to pick ones that either cover a somewhat controversial topic, such as when I read They Called Themselves the K.K.K. or have appealing titles that will grab the reader’s attention, such as this one. Once I complete the book, I base my decision on whether or not to include the book in a book talk based on how the book reads. As with They Called Themselves the K.K.K. and Spies of Mississippi, Bootleg reads more like a fiction book than a non-fiction book. This is the preferred type of non-fiction book I book talk.

Okay, aside from all that, I enjoyed Bootleg. It wasn’t that this book was full of excitement, suspense, and drama like some other non-fiction books I have enjoyed reading, but Bootleg taught me a lot, surprised me, and even made me laugh out loud at times. For example, I didn’t realize how women played such a key role in getting the amendment for prohibition to pass. A kind of humorous action that happened during the years prior to prohibition was by a woman named Carrie Nation. Mrs. Nation would literally go into bars with bricks, stones, and hatchets to break bottles and ruin the bars. This woman looked like a sweet little old lady, but her actions showed that she didn’t really fit this image.

Another interesting, kind of surprising fact I didn’t realize happened was that even though many politicians believed and signed the amendment approving the prohibition, they still were illegally drinking and partaking in the actions that they were telling others not to do. Furthermore, Alice Roosevelt Longworth’s husband, U.S. Representative Nicholas Longworth, outright told his wife that he “did not have the slightest intention of complying with the Eighteenth Amendment” (Blumenthal 75). Corrupt???

Although many may believe prohibition was just a joke and didn't work, there were some strong reasons why it began, such as the negative effects of alcohol on one’s health, and some positive outcomes during the years of prohibition. Yet, prohibition and the Eighteenth Amendment’s positives did not outweigh its negatives. As author Blumenthal states, “For the first—and only—time in American history, a part of the U.S. Constitution had been erased” (121). This book taught me many tidbits and facts while still being an entertaining, enjoyable read. I think the book’s title and subject, along with Al Capone being involved, will be the seller for getting teens interested in reading Bootleg. (less)

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Dec 27, 2011 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, kids-nonfiction, ya-non-fiction

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 public drunkenness, alc...more 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 public drunkenness, alcoholism, and a host of other social ills related to booze, it began a decade of lawlessness. Children smuggled and drank illegal alcohol, upright citizens casually broke the law, and a host of notorious gangsters emerged. This fascinating book looks at the rise and fall of the disastrous social experiment known as Prohibition.

Beginning with mention of the St Valentine's Massacre, Blumenthal looks at Morris Sheppard, Benjamin Rush, Dio Lewis, Mary H. Hunt, Carrie Nation, Wayne B. Wheeler, Andrew Volstead, the Womens Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League, which all had roles to play in the push for Prohibition.

As Prohibition became law, rum-runners like William McCoy became rich, working out of St. Pierre and Miquelon. Speakeasies, Blind Pigs and Blind Tigers sprang up, sometimes operating through bribes to police. Federal agents hunted for illegal booze. There was alcohol in the White House. Young people hid flasks in their clothes. Families tried to distill their own liquor. Industrial alcohol poisoned and killed many.

Moonshine was made and smaggled in fast cars, with one of the runners, Ray Park, later founding NASCAR. Gangsters, such as Al Capone, operated their territories with extreme violence, and Capone became a federal target. Such violence, and the work of the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment, helped spur the repeal of Prohibition by the passage of the 21st Amendment in 1933.

The book is greatly enhanced by drawings, advertisements, photos and images that complement the text. The glossary, bibliography, and source notes are valuable additions, illustrating the author’s in-depth research. I would have preferred to had a bit more color in the book, either by highlights or headings. The initial chapters may be slow reading for younger readers. Rating 4.5.

Interesting facts will draw in history buffs and encourage further research. The strong involvement of women in the Prohibition effort, the effects on children, and the rise of gangs are all highlighted. This is highly recommended for school and public library collections.

For ages 12 and up, Prohibition, crime, alcohol, history, politics, social-economics, and fans of Karen Blumenthal.(less)

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Mar 13, 2012 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recap:
Bootleg travels all the way back to the Pilgrims coming over on the Mayflower with their casks of beer and hard liquor. Then it works its way through the events leading to the 18th Amendment - aka Prohibition - and finally winds up with the 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th.

All along the way, Bootleg is spiked with liquor-related trivia, and insight into the minds of those who fought so hard to free America from the grip of alcohol.

Review:
Oh BoB, I just never know what kind of book y...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Shannonmde rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

book review for TBP Blog --

I picked up Karen Blumenthal’s book Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition, DB 74427 for several reasons. 1) Why would you write a YA non-fiction about alcohol? 2) I grew up in St. Louis, MO, home to the Anheuser Busch brewery and knew that during Prohibition they made drink called Bevo at the brewery and that the Clydesdales delivered beer to the White House when Prohibition was repealed. 3) I wrote my senior thesis in college on the women’s...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Kay Mcgriff rated it 5 of 5 stars

Karen Blumenthal writes nonfiction the way it should be written. I just wish my history textbooks in school had been written half as well as Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition (Roaring Book Press 2011). I would have learned a lot more and enjoyed it, too.

Blumenthal opens the book with one of the most chilling scenes from the Prohibition years: the Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago. Then she backs up decades to trace just how we as a country ended up in such a plac...more Karen Blumenthal writes nonfiction the way it should be written. I just wish my history textbooks in school had been written half as well as Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition (Roaring Book Press 2011). I would have learned a lot more and enjoyed it, too.

Blumenthal opens the book with one of the most chilling scenes from the Prohibition years: the Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago. Then she backs up decades to trace just how we as a country ended up in such a place. How did a Constitutional amendment presented with good intentions lead to such violence and lawlessness? She introduces the fascinating people who led the Prohibition movement such as Morris Shepherd (the Father of National Prohibition) and Carrie Nation (axe-wielding bar smasher). She doesn't neglect those who profited from Prohibition, including Al "Scarface" Capone, the notorious gangster blamed (possibly wrongly) for the Valentine's Day Massacre.

She also gives a gripping narrative of the political maneuvering that led Prohibition's successful passage and eventual repeal. The Women's Christian Temperance Union and Anti-Saloon League used propaganda spread through the media and schools to spread their message and change minds. They certainly knew the value of and used publicity stunts, including the use of children. They also were savvy in approaching first local and state governments before taking to the national stage. Blumenthal weaves together many of the strands of history--women's suffrage, World War I, governmental roles--that influenced Prohibition.

Once Prohibition came into effect with the Eighteenth Amendment and Volstead Act, the nation began to learn the effect of unintended consequences. Those chapters were some of the most fascinating. I can see my students being fascinated not only with the bigger than life Capone, but also with the beginnings of NASCAR from the good old boys who earned their money smuggling illegal booze from one place to another. For those who want to learn more, lists many possibilities (organized by topic) in the Bibliography and Source Notes.

I can't wait to share this title in my classroom once school starts again. It is sure to be a hit.

Published on my blog at http://kaymcgriff.edublogs.org/?p=4226 (less)

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Jul 06, 2011 Anastasia Tuckness rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: c2011, nonfiction, ya, best-books

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 senator who was one of the major...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Mr. Powell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: recommended-for-my-students

Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition
by Joshua C. Cohen

Gives a balanced view of one of the most interesting eras of 20th century American history

May lack action for those drawn in by the "murder" of the title

What do young adult readers look for in a non-fiction book? Often, teen non-fiction concerns itself with the darker, sordid side of human history such as award-winning books such as Hitler Youth and American Plague. Karen Blumenthal adds to this tradition w...more

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Sep 02, 2011 Margo Tanenbaum rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1920-s, non-fiction

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, gangster...more 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, gangsters, and even murder.

Blumenthal goes back to the earliest days of the Pilgrims to trace the history of liquor in America, noting that rum was almost a form of currency in the earliest days of the country. In the 19th century, taverns multiplied, as did concerns about excessive drinking, leading to the formation of the temperance movement, who at first worked toward drinking in moderation. Soon, however, the movement changed its platform to total abstinence. The author profiles some of the most important personalities from the temperance movement, such as Morris Sheppard, the "boy orator of Texas" who was the first to introduce a constitutional amendment against "an evil that will prove to be the source of the nation's death," and Carrie Nation, the infamous "bar smasher" who believed she was on a mission from God to destroy saloons. The temperance movement was the first to put women in leadership positions, and forever changed women's influence in politics.

The political machinations of the "dries" to get the 18th amendment passed could spur many interesting discussions about parallel political movements today, and the whole saga of the rise and fall of the temperance movement is made all-too-contemporary in Blumenthal's lively narrative, which is full of personal anecdotes as well as sweeping analysis of the failures and limited successes of the prohibition movement.

The book includes a glossary of some of the colorful prohibition and temperance vocabulary (i.e. "real McCoy, hooch, moonshine, flapper, etc.) as well as a detailed bibliography (both books and websites) source notes, and an index. The book is handsomely illustrated with many period photographs as well as cartoons and newspaper clippings.

Several new YA series have come out about this era recently: Bright Young Things, by Anna Godbersen, and the Flappers series by Jillian Larkin. Bootleg would be a perfect read-along for both these series.(less)

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Apr 26, 2012 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen, j-non-fiction

Another history for the 21st century learner; _Bootleg_ makes a fair examination of the issues surrounding prohibition. Blumenthal documents the key players and motivations related to the 18th Amendment, ultimately framing the narrative within the biographies of the determined Morris Sheppard and the infamous Al Capone.

Readers may be surprised to learn of the number of young people deeply involved in the Prohibition Era, and on both sides of the issue: while some children stood in support of Pro...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Nicola rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lis566, kidsyoungadult, nonfiction

This book was a good combination of key facts and figures about prohibition - statistics, dates, important names and laws - and anecdotes about key people on both side of the wet and dry debate. There were certainly some larger-than-life characters, which appealed to me and I thought would appeal to teens too.

What I liked most about the book was it was just a really good starting point to any event in American history around the turn of the century. So many events and people were introduced, an...more

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Jan 11, 2012 LibraryAvenger rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 coined by the newsp...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Lara Vickers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: yalsa

This is a thoroughly researched and thoughtfully laid out historical depiction of the time before, during and after prohibition. I learned a lot and was entertained at the same time while reading about some of the colorful characters and rich vocabulary that come from this era. For example, Al Capone and his connection to prohibition are included as well as phrases like teetotalers, speakeasies and the real McCoy.

The photos and propaganda ads of the time included in the book added to my underst...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Mark Flowers rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 behavior . . . today, each of...more

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Mar 25, 2012 bjneary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: history, nonfiction, psla-2012, ya

This book will definitely interest the student researcher with the engrossing, easy to read history of Prohibition, the Eighteenth Amendment and famous Temperance leaders. Carrie Nation and Al Capone and other lively characters grace this period in time where there was so much going on with alcohol (fighting, hiding, or profiting from it). The pros and cons are explored and Blumenthal uses the final chapter to review the current state of alcohol with the creation of MADD and Red Ribbon Week. Sel...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Penny Johnson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-yalsa-best-of-the-best

Well, wow, this was a fascinating read. I'm remembering just how much I love reading nonfiction! Even as a teenager I gravitated towards informational books rather than novels. I'm grateful YALSA has introduced an Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction award, because that shines the spotlight on great books like this one, which is the 2012 award winner.

Everyone has heard of Prohibition and Al Capone and speakeasies and machine guns in violin cases, but do you know the story behind it all? This boo...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Amanda added it

Shelves: children-s-literature

Audience: This book will be for upper grades, most likely 6th up to high school age. It's perfect for students interested in history. It would also be a great read for students who don't usually like non-fiction, it reads more like a story. The book is a really accurate look at the time, and does contain a lot of information for more mature students about alcohol and violence.

Appeal: The book is broken up into different chapters about prohibition, including the story of Al Capone, who's a famous...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Mary Fran Torpey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-school, ya

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...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mock-printz-2012, tween-lit, non-fiction, read-in-2011, ya-lit

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...more

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10200161-bootleg?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317064369l/10200161.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10200161-bootleg?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthal[/url]

Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition

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