E ARC Provided by Netgalley

Alex and Kassie are modern day siblings who are tired of being stuck inside as wild fires rage outside their home. Their mother is working from home and needs both of them off the internet so she can attend a virtual meeting, so the two reluctantly play a board game about the Great Depression. They are magically sucked into the game, and cards appear in their pockets prompting them to do things. Alex tries to sell his stock, but ends up buying some instead and losing money. Kassie is unable to withdraw money from the bank. Soon, the siblings are separated, with Alex riding the rails out to California and Kassie trying to keep herself afloat by working in a factory. Along the way, they each learn more and more about why the Great Depression happened, and how it impacted Americans. At one point, Kassie even meets Eleanor Roosevelt, and helps smuggle President Roosevelt onto a train. She gets on a boat and ends up in Hawaii right as Pearl Harbor is being bombed, but manages to reconnect with Alex and eventually get back home. The two have a renewed appreciation for their life!

I love the History Comics for engaging young readers, so while I wasn fond of the gamifying of The Great Depression, it might lure students into reading about it. There's not quite as much information as there was in the World War II Homefront or Prohibition, but since we are looking at nearly one hundred years ago (96 today, in fact!) I'd love for my students to read anything they can about the historic era. There are some notes at the end about some aspects that didn't get much coverage, like the CCC (Read Pearson's excellent Fighting for the Forest for information about this) and the WPA's Sewing Rooms Program, which I had not heard about. Now I need information about THAT!

As a topic that can seem daunting to teach to younger readers, this book did a great job covering a lot of history in a short time frame. Using the game was an effective tool in bouncing from topic to topic, and it was educational while still being an engaging read. There was a lot of suspense, even as someone who knows what happens and who knows that the brother/sister pair will be okay. There were a lot of side characters, and it could have been interesting to see more growth (like the family of farmers) from the other characters, as well (the child working in the sweat shop could have been a good display of child labor laws ending later). Overall, very effective, and very informative! I would absolutely recommend this to teachers to show their students.

Combining a game, pictures, a little sibling rivalry.... in graphic novel format....they've got to learn something, right?
Students love graphic novels and this one, even with the dark colors (appropriate for this terrible time in history) is bound to keep their interest.. School libraries are wonderful places when students can find books that will hold their attention during the terrible assigned reading portion of their days! I can definitely recommend this book to students!

I read this book to see if it was something my students would enjoy reading. They love graphic novels, and I thought that this would be a perfect way for them to be able to learn about a historical event in that format. I really enjoyed how it starts off in present day, but through a Jumanji style of events, the two kids found their way into the Great Depression time period. I am sure my students will love this book, and it will be a great way for them to be able to learn about a historical time period.

This was a very well created graphic novels. Having such concise information hidden in a game is like hiding veggies in children’s food. The illustrations, dialogue and character development were all done extremely well. Historical graphic novels are extremely popular, especially with my reluctant readers.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Overall, the book was a quick read with lots of historical tidbits and explanations of complex concepts. I think it would be good for readers who are interested in history, have some prior knowledge of the time period, and who want a short read. It’s very basic but does skim over the main highlights of the 10 year period. I did feel like the book started and ended pretty abruptly, which was jarring, but the gamified storyline was interesting. I think there’s an audience for this book, but it might be a bit narrow due to the broad content and the game storyline. But, I did think it was fairly informative for someone with a basic understanding of the Great Depression. Could it have been done in a better way? Yes, but it wasn’t bad.

History Comics is always a hit and this one about the Great Depression is no different! I love how these books get kids so interested in history and make them want to learn more. Always a W in my book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love this series. Each of them does such a great job of showing and telling how major events in our history happened and the lasting impacts we see as a result. The Great Depression is coming out at just the right time. It's a great reminder that history has so many lessons to inform our future.

I adore the History Comics because they are one of the BEST ways to get students to learn about history. Not only does this one start with siblings playing a game, but as they go, there is a TON of background knowledge shared, such as buying and selling stocks, how banks can run out of money, and more!

This is an engaging and quick read for an adult, but could shape many lessons and help upper elementary, middle school, and maybe even open-minded high schoolers learn history in an engaging way! The progression through time and seeing the kids grow throughout opens up the potential age ranges while still keeping it appropriate for the tweens.

I am planning to add this to my library. I think it is a great fit for school libraries and public libraries. It could also work in personal collections, especially in families where the kids have an interest in history.

Thank you to Net Galley and First Second Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own!

I would like this better if there wasn't the "Kids get launched back in time through a board game" intro. This would read more easily (and go over better with many readers) if it was just about kids from current era. I think kids are smart enough to see all the differences without narrators to commentate on them.

However, some kids will be interested because of the gamification of it. The illustrations and information are good.

I will purchase for my library and expect it to circulate well.

Initially I didn't care for the delivery of this graphic novel. I'm not much of a gamer, regardless of the form the game takes. It grew on me, though. I expect that kids who are gamers are going to stongly relate. In the end I'd have to say it was a great way to learn about the Depression and WWII. I even learned one fact that I hadn't known before.

The History Comics series is a favorite in my elementary school library, and they always do an admirable job of condensing a lot of information into one short graphic novel. The series tends to shine in the more narrow topics, such as the Great Chicago Fire. Each of the books in the series employs some sort of narrative framework to enable information delivery to the reader. It is in this framing device that History Comics: The Great Depression does its best work.

Two siblings, stuck inside decide to play a game. They are given tool, quiz, and history cards before being transported back in time. Their stories soon veer as each experiences Great Depression era highlights (lowlights?). These include: the stock market crash, the dust bowl, hobo signs, Hoovervilles, breadlines, New Deal projects, and child labor. Throughout, the game cards provide additional insight to the reader.
One 200 page graphic novel is not nearly enough to cover the entire Great Depression. (Perhaps the Dust Bowl could have gotten its own entry in the series.) But it does the survey work well. I can't speak for every state, but it does cover all elements of my state's Great Depression standards.

This is a fast-paced story, well-written, and well-drawn. This, like all of the others in the History Comics series, is a must-buy for my library. I may also purchase additional copies for our 5th grade teachers to use in book clubs.

“History Comics: The Great Depression” by Tim Stout is an engaging and educational graphic novel that brings a critical moment in history to life in an accessible way. The full-color illustrations are vibrant and detailed. This is important with graphic novels as I find many of my students are not interested in the black and white panels. Stout effectively blends historical facts with relatable storytelling, covering the economic collapse, the Dust Bowl, and the impact on families, while also emphasizing the resilience of the American people during difficult times. This book is an outstanding addition to any school library. It is an excellent resource for classrooms or independent readers interested in American history. Highly recommended for both history buffs and students who might be more visual learners.
Thanks to NetGallery and First Second Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.