I have a teenager who reads these ARCs for me, and she was obsessed with this book from moment one.

Thorough lessons delivered in a format that appeal to kids and helps them learn something without them fighting you? Yes please.

Will be suggesting our store pick up any and all of these books.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This book was generally well done and covered a huge amount of information that spanned the Temperance movement’s connections to abolition and women’s suffrage to the rise of political machines and organized crime. It explained the neuroscience of alcohol and the brain as well as withdrawal and discussed cultural implications of alcohol use. It was a nice blend of history and science and generally explained what happened realistically and methodically. Some of the discussion is likely to go over the heads of some readers - particularly lower middle grade, but overall, it’s an interesting and pragmatic read. There is a bit of blood and murder depicted (mobsters, gangsters, etc.), but it’s not graphic. I found it to be an entertaining overview of a complex era.