Helfand brings a propulsive optimism to this graphic account of the Industrial Revolution.Meet Johann Gutenberg, thinking, thinking, thinking big. "What if instead of copying text one word at a time… / …there was a way to reproduce entire pages?" Scribes took five years to copy the Bible. Helfand doesn't mention the beauty of their work, but Gutenberg's invention was revolutionary: more people received more news and knowledge. Readers follow Kumar's clean panels as James Watt makes his entrance, then Eli Whitney, John Kay, Robert Fulton, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford. Helfand is mostly interested in the mechanical wizardry and tenacity of these inventers, which is slippery to capture: "About four times as much steel could be produced with Bessemer's technique." Helfand digs the book's grave by half-heartedly tackling the social consequences. Readers learn that "countless skilled weavers suddenly found themselves out of work," which is shrugged off: "But the inventions that cost the weavers their jobs were few and far between." Except "as large landowners snatched up more and more farmland, small farmers found themselves out of work and eager for factory jobs." Except: "Men and women were operating like clockwork; as efficiently as the machines that dominated the industrial age. The only problem was… / Ford's employees hated it." The genesis of world-rocking inventions is often mysterious; their fate upon people not so much, here given a tantalizing if garbled peek, then left unexplored. (Graphic nonfiction. 9-12)

Gr 7-10Beginning in the year 1350 with a description of how Johannes Gutenberg's ideas led to the invention of the printing press, Helfand explores the ways in which individuals from different fields contributed to the Industrial Revolution. The title ends with a look at industrial revolutions in present-day China, Bangladesh, and India. The storytelling is seamless as Helfand considers how inventors ranging from Gutenberg to Eli Whitney observed their environments and developed solutions to problems, often by building upon and improving the efforts of others. The author emphasizes that advances in technology were not always positive. As work became more efficient, fewer skilled laborers were needed, which led to layoffs and families emigrating in search of better opportunities. Realistic, muted comic bookstyle art supports the text, with full-color panels and large spreads changing swiftly from scenes of dialogue and action to moments of introspection. Period-specific details help readers orient themselves in history as the author moves back and forth across the ocean, highlighting the accomplishments of many different individuals. Back matter includes information about the current industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, and discusses how innovations such as artificial intelligence, robots, and drones will affect the future. VERDICT A compelling read; highly recommended for both middle school and public library collections seeking materials on the subject.Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH