Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Starred Review As she did in her Sibert Honor Book Six Days in October (2003) and Bootleg (2011), Blumenthal offers up a fascinating study of America in the 1920s and 1930s. During the Prohibition era, the Thompson submachine gun became as infamous as the gangsters Capone, John Dillinger, and George "Machine Gun" Kelly, to name a few o wielded violence with it. Peppered with action-filled scenes and period photographs, this account traces the history of the early automatic weapon and its continuing impact on American society. Its creator and namesake, Lieutenant Colonel John Thompson, envisioned American soldiers with light, automatic rifles that could be used in trench warfare, but by the time Thompson was able to manufacture and sell the weapon in 1918, WWI was coming to a close. Soon the surplus tommy guns made their way into the hands of criminals. In engaging and original prose, Blumenthal describes how the early twentieth-century crime sprees eventually caught national attention and were glorified in Hollywood movies. The ensuing war on crime not only shaped the career of J. Edgar Hoover but also initiated some of the first gun legislation and triggered debate over Second Amendment rights. The questions the tommy gun raised are still up for discussion. This thoroughly researched, compulsive read is another Blumenthal winner. A bang-up look at American history.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

Gr 6 Up-The history of the Thompson submachine gun is the story of a tumultuous period in American history, marked by Prohibition, the Great Depression, two world wars, and violence. Originally developed by John Thompson as a lightweight, automatic rifle to be used by American soldiers, the Tommy gun was invented in 1918—too late for mass distribution during World War I—and wasn't officially adopted by the U.S. Army until World War II. Very quickly, however, the gun that was "built for the battlefield, turned loose on the American streets" became popular with gangsters, bank robbers, strike busters, and others who appreciated its compact size and ability to spray hundreds of bullets in a matter of seconds. Attempts to limit distribution of such a powerful weapon to law-enforcement and military personnel were stymied and, in some cases, opposed by groups who supported the right to bear arms. A discussion of the development of gun control legislation is woven throughout the book, and an extensive bibliography and source notes are appended. Blumenthal breathes life into this seemingly off-putting subject, relating individual cases in which the Tommy gun made history and delving into the exciting tales of notorious gangsters while still maintaining an unbiased, objective approach. The book's many photographs and illustrations add to its appeal. VERDICT This action-packed title will hold the attention of reluctant readers and history buffs alike.— MaryAnn Karre, West Middle School, Binghamton, NY

Voice of Youth Advocates

The enthralling history of the invention and rise of the Tommy gun is presented in this fascinating title that starts with the use of the Gatling gun during the Civil War. Made for readers interested in warfare history, criminal history, or weaponry, Blumenthal expertly weaves the story of how John Taliaferro Thompson's dream of providing a lightweight submachine gun for America's military led to one of Congress's first gun control debates. The narrative of how Thompson's design was rejected by the military but found popularity among the bootleggers and gangsters of the 1920s and 1930s is told without any gratuitous violence and stays within the necessary, unbiased historical tone.Blumenthal is a master of combining historical debates, without leaning toward one side or the other, with intriguing storytelling, and she tackles the concept of gun control through the story of the rise of one gun. The cover of the book will draw in reluctant readers, especially any that may be wary of nonfiction, and the story will keep readers on the hook. The use of the primary source photographs provides more credence to the historical accuracy while allowing readers to see actual artifacts, too. This is a great choice to support history curriculum and to reach middle and junior readers who may enjoy historical nonfiction that is anything but dry.Blake Norby.Carducci, Bernardo J., and Lisa Kaiser. Shyness: The Ultimate Teen Guide.