Awards
2003 Robert F. Sibert Award Honor Book
Synopses & Reviews
Over six terrifying, desperate days in October 1929, the fabulous fortune that Americans had built in stocks plunged with a fervor never seen before. At first, the drop seemed like a mistake, a mere glitch in the system. But as the decline gathered steam, so did the destruction. Over twenty-five billion dollars in individual wealth was lost, vanished gone. People watched their dreams fade before their very eyes. Investing in the stock market would never be the same. andlt;BRandgt; Here, andlt;Iandgt;Wall Street Journalandlt;/Iandgt; bureau chief Karen Blumenthal chronicles the six-day period that brought the country to its knees, from fascinating tales of key stock-market players, like Michael J. Meehan, an immigrant who started his career hustling cigars outside theaters and helped convince thousands to gamble their hard-earned money as never before, to riveting accounts of the power struggles between Wall Street and Washington, to poignant stories from those who lost their savings -- and more -- to the allure of stocks and the power of greed. andlt;BRandgt; For young readers living in an era of stock-market fascination, this engrossing account explains stock-market fundamentals while bringing to life the darkest days of the mammoth crash of 1929.
Review
"[A] solid exploration of an event whose importance is undisputed but which is rarely so lucidly explained for anyone, let alone young readers." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Blumenthal combines a fascinating overview of the infamous stock market crash in 1929 with a rare and useful primer of financial basics....Rapid, simply constructed sentences increase the drama and suspense while making difficult concepts easily understood....[A] riveting history..." Gillian Engberg, Booklist
Review
"In this thoroughly researched work, Blumenthal focuses on the days leading up to and including the crash....Overall, this is a solid account of an important chapter in American history..." School Library Journal
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
About the Author
Karen Blumenthal is the Dallas bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal and has been covering the ups and downs of business and finance for nearly twenty years. Ms. Blumenthal earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. She is a volunteer tutor in Dallas, Texas, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and their dog.
Table of Contents
Introduction
OCTOBER 24:
Black Thursday
OCTOBER 24:
Sell!
OCTOBER 24:
White Knights to the Rescue
OCTOBER 25:
President Hoover Responds
OCTOBER 26:
Sold Out
OCTOBER 27:
The King of the Bulls
OCTOBER 28:
A Bloody Monday
OCTOBER 29:
Black Tuesday
OCTOBER 30:
Aftermath
Epilogue
Sources, Picture Credits, and Acknowledgments
Index