Author Karen Blumenthal

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Blumenthal, Karen. 2002. SIX DAYS IN OCTOBER: THE STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 1929: A WALL STREET JOURNAL BOOK. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN- 0689842767.  

PLOT SUMMARY
The stock market crash was a major event in history that lead to the Great Depression. Blumenthal, provides an account spanning six days of the events that lead up to the crash and directly after it.   

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This informational book is not intended for younger readers who would not understand most of the vocabulary used in the book. I am not entirely sure that most middle school students would fully grasp the terminology that Blumenthal, uses, “exchange officials bragged that their exchange was a free and fair marketplace..”. Blumenthal, does include explanations for terms and questions associated with the stock market such as the “bulls and bears” and “what is a company worth?” which is helpful for those individuals with no background in the subject matter. In between the recount of the events of the stock market crash the author weaves in some personal accounts from three different individuals who were all affected by the crash. Included in the book were newspaper clips, photographs, telegrams and, cartoons. The items included were useful and enhanced the book by reinforcing the concerns that many people felt about the stock market. A table of content is included which allows readers to locate specific information. The book is organized by days and each chapter explains the events that occurred on each specific date. The author provides a list of sources which were used in writing the book, the author states that a majority of her material came from newspapers and magazines written during the time of the crash.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“A Wall Street Journal bureau chief, Blumenthal, combines a fascinating overview of the infamous stock market crash in 1929 with a rare and useful primer of financial basics…. Throughout, fact boxes define financial vocabulary--stocks, bonds, bulls and bears, margins, the measure of a company's worth, and more--in clear language that is both compelling and instructive….” - Booklist

Honors

Robert F. Sibert Honor Book.

CONNECTIONS

While studying the stock market crash read excerpts from the book for a more detailed definition of terms used in the stock market.

Six Days in October

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