Focusing on less sensational times in U.S. history (non-war and pre-Depression) James Sturm's America draws a portrait of the people and their dreams that make up this country. Comprised of three chapters — "The Revival," "Hundreds of Feet Below Daylight," and "The Golem's Mighty Swing" — the stories grow as the country grows: from pioneers searching for a place to call home to ghost towns gutted by greed and racism to the distractions and fantasies of popular entertainment.

"'Three of Sturm's previously released graphic novels are gathered to create a Howard Zinn — like look at lesser-known episodes of America's past. 'The Revival' is a short, sharp piece dramatizing the massive 1801 religious revival meeting in Cane Ridge, Ky. (the country's biggest ever), with the story of a traveling couple who arrive at the meeting with fire in their eyes and a dark secret pushing them on. In 'Hundreds of Feet Below Daylight,' successive waves of greed, racism and blind folly swamp a Western mining town in the late 19th century. Because the allegory for the evils of Western expansion is so blatantly rendered, it's by far the weakest segment. The strongest is the last and longest, 'The Golem's Mighty Swing,' which adds a welcome dose of lyricism. Building on scraps of early baseball history, the Negro Leagues and Jewish mysticism, Sturm weaves a parable on racism and spectacle around a barnstorming, supposedly all-Jewish team in the 1920s called the Stars of David. The more the players parody themselves as mystical Hebrews, the more they earn. Sturm's art changes with the time period, moving from the dark gothic style of 'The Revival' to the last story's clean and airy nostalgia. (June)' Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"These stories will be best appreciated by readers familiar with — or curious about — the American past." School Library Jounral

"Sturm provides excellent facial and physical expressions as well as good architectural and civic detail, making this an easy crossover graphic novel for readers who enjoy American history made into well-told stories." Booklist

"Sturm captures the essence of the country as reflected in the all-American pastime. It doesn't take many words or strokes for Sturm's graphic artistry to leave a lasting impression." Kirkus Reviews

James Sturm was born in New York City and is the founder and director of the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. He won an Eisner Award for his graphic novel Unstable Molecules, a superhero story about the Fantastic Four.