History Comics

October 1, 2024

Gr 7 Up-History comes alive in this graphic nonfiction story recounting a turbulent American historical period. The book is told in first-person by an anthropomorphic "alcohol" character called John Barleycorn-a name based on the period song about the two grains of which beer and whisky come from. Starting with why alcohol affects the human body and what led to the Prohibition Era, Viola warns readers of the multifaceted problems drinking brought to American society at the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. Women and families suffering from the behavior of alcoholic partners or relatives jump-started the Temperance Movement, resulted in a proliferation of clever ways to produce and distribute hard beverages. John Barleycorn takes the reader on a journey, navigating the rise of bootlegging, mobsters, speakeasies, and social change, but also the fight by those affected by drinking. To every rule and policy, a loophole was found, and this book recounts the long fight to regulate alcohol. Though the story moves well, the many people named in the panels may be confusing for those not reading closely. Overall, this title would be a great addition to history classes discussing this period, as it illustrates well the domino effect of drinking that led to the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. VERDICT A good purchase for libraries looking to expand their nonfiction collections, and especially recommended for history libraries.-Carol Youssif

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