Publishers Weekly Review
| In this pictorial stunner, debut creator Aberg-Riger demonstrates the U.S.'s continually expanding history via nonlinear chronology that covers ground between the late 18th century and the 21st century. In a beginning preface, the author writes that "this book is... an attempt at a new way of seeing history." Seeking to personify this assertion, Aberg-Riger uses vibrant, mixed-media graphic collages combining maps, vintage magazine ads, and old photographs to present a kaleidoscopic visual accounting. An early section--"A Nation of Immigrants"--discusses the celebrity power of actor Lillian Russell, and how she used her status to rally against immigrants, resulting in the 1921 Emergency Quota Act, which instated an annual restriction on the number of immigrants admitted into the U.S. A later chapter, "Down on the Farm," details stories about California workers fighting for the rights of Filipino laborers. By focusing on time as "a continual, ever-evolving relationship" rather than an immutable linear progression, Aberg-Riger examines how each individual story tackles issues surrounding identity in politics, allowing readers to make connections and interrogate how seemingly isolated societal struggles intersect with one another. This work enthralls from start to finish, culminating in a triumphant victory that tackles censorship and revisionist history. Ages 14--up. Agent: Jenny Stephens, Sterling Lord Literistic. (May)■ |
School Library Journal Review
| Gr 8 Up--Aberg-Riger makes American history come alive in this powerful and innovative book. With vivid illustrations and unconventional text formatting, the book covers a wide variety of topics in 21 chapters. Some subjects will be familiar, such as the Japanese-American incarceration camps and racism in early Major League Baseball. Many are lesser known topics, such as the travels of Mustafa Al-Azemmouri, an enslaved man forced to explore the Southwest for the Spanish in the early 1500s. Another chapter chronicles how American businessmen conspired to overthrow the kingdom of Hawaii and annex their lands. Aberg-Riger frequently and skillfully demonstrates how these events have long-lasting consequences that we are still dealing with today. The chapter about the outlawing of boarding houses and SROs in the mid-20th century and its correlation to the current housing crisis and homelessness is particularly enlightening. Whether a new topic to readers or well-known, each chapter is informative and compelling. What really makes this work outstanding is the imaginative use of colorful images on every page, incorporating bold, handwritten text into the pictures. This dramatic and captivating format keeps the pages turning quickly and will engage the most reluctant readers. Perhaps equally important as the history brought to life is that Aberg-Riger includes several stories of social activism against the injustice, bringing a sense of empowerment to the narrative. An excellent resource for kicking off classroom discussions. The work is well documented with extensive source notes leading the curious to additional resources. VERDICT Truly remarkable! A must for every library.--Karen T. Bilton |
Booklist Review
| In this interactive, visually stunning compilation, Aberg-Riger assembles some of the stories U.S. history textbooks typically leave out. Iconic American catchphrases and myths give titles to 21 thematic chapters. "Traditional Family Values," for example, begins with the Kansas Free Fair of 1920, which showcased livestock, washing machines, and Ferris wheels--in addition to holding best-families contests in the eugenics building. A candid overview of the American eugenics movement follows, highlighting how it targeted women of color and in poverty, especially through illegal sterilizations. Chunked into short, poignant sections, the text reverberates with such staggering facts as an estimated one quarter to one half of all Native women were sterilized in the 1970s. Whether the author is focusing on the displacement of communities to build the country's highways, government seizures of land, or the history of women's right to vote, she centers her discussions on the events' effects on marginalized people and makes connections between familiar stories and often-untold truths. The zine-like format adds to the impact, delivering each history lesson in collages filled with cleverly selected archival photos and images. While the themes encompass difficult topics, Aberg-Riger concludes many chapters with ways activists have changed and continue to change the course of these ongoing issues in America. An essential resource to promote richer perspectives and dialogue around American identity. |
Kirkus Review
| "It's not just the image that matters, but how it takes up space. It's not just the event that matters, but how we shape the stories around it": This illustrated journey through lesser-known and frequently erased parts of United States history vividly demonstrates these points. Each of 21 chapters in this debut by visual storyteller Aberg-Riger provides information typically missing from standard retellings of the nation's past. The opening chapter discusses the post--Civil War rise of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, White women who promoted their version of history through distorted content in textbooks used by millions of children through the 1970s. A chapter on the annexation of Hawai'i connects present-day poverty and Native Hawaiian activism to the impacts of missionaries, the military, White plantation owners, and culturally exploitative tourism. Other chapters cover involuntary sterilization, urban renewal, toxic-waste dumping, HIV/AIDS, extractive mining on Native lands, and more. This stellar offering combines startling facts, gripping prose, and appealing, vibrant collage illustrations that use photographs, maps, and other ephemera. The typeface, designed by the author, looks handwritten, bringing a feeling of immediacy. The contributions of women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people are featured prominently. Thought-provoking connections are made to today's burning issues, e.g., gun control, lack of affordable housing, and mass incarceration. The short chapters in this accessible work will pique readers' interest in diving deeper to learn more about these challenging topics. Beautifully illustrated, riveting, enraging, and empowering: a must-read. (image sources, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 13-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
