Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash Of 1929

My journey to being smarter than a fifth grader continues via middle-grade non-fiction. This was an apt choice, which may come in handy if the economy continues to tank. However, once I began, I learned that the stock market crash of October, 1929 did NOT start the Great Depression -- it just

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didn't help matters any.

This was nevertheless a very quick and interesting read, following (go figure) the six days in October 1929 when the stock market loses more than 25% of its value. Fascinating how the stock market worked then, how trades were conducted and recorded (oy, the paperwork! all the poor clerks pulling all-nighters during this crash!), all the collusion, and how the bankers tried (unsuccessfully) to prop up the market by marching in to the exchange and placing large buy orders in a commanding voice for over the asking price (so low tech!).

My own copy lacks the humiliating "Wall Street Journal Book for Children" so prominently placed. So it's cool; I can read it on the train.

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This Robert F. Sibert Honor Book should be required reading. It is an historical account of the six days beginning with Black Thursday, on October 24, 1929. Blumenthal's book is chock full of well-researched historical facts, as well as period photos and newspaper articles. Practical information,

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"What is a Stock Split?," "What are Bonds?," etc. is in highlighted text boxes. This book may be found in the children's section of your library, but there is something in it for everyone. In these troubled financial times, this is certainly a period worth remembering. For ages 12 and up.

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A very readable explanation of the events leading up to the market crash of 1929 and its aftermath written at a middle school/high school level. This book is a good introduction to the subject for anyone interested in the stock market and the early days of the Great Depression.

I actually really enjoyed reading this book. I have a thing for history so I wanted to read to this book. I thought the illustrations were fantastic. They were all in black and white so I think that would be a good thing for students to see what it was like in the past. I also liked how their were

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clippings of newspaper articles in the book. I thought that gave it more of a historical feel. This book also had charts of when the stock market crashed. This would be a great visual for the students. I also enjoyed the language of the book. It was very engaging and made me want to keep reading until the end. Overall, I thought it was an excellent book for students who want to learn about the stock market crash. The main idea of this book is to educate readers about the stock market crash of 1929.

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This book gave a detailed account of the week and events leading up to the great crash. It explained the actions of different individuals which resulted in the roller coaster ride that the market took on its way to disaster.

This was a quick and informative read. Blumenthal captures not only the events that lead up to the 1929 stock market crash, but she includes information boxes that explain everything from what a stock exchange is and how it operates, bull versus bear markets, stock splitting, as well as a good

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explanations of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, bonds and what it means to purchase stocks with a margin account. Filled with pictures, newspaper clippings and cartoons from the era, Blumenthal captures how the meteor-rising stock market in 1928 and the first 9 months of 1929 was a beacon to Americans from all social and financial classes as the path to wealth. The book goes into great detail to explain the key players involved and how activities like special stock deals, syndicate pools and rampant insider trading (all deemed illegal practices in our post-1929 stock market world) played a role in the stock market crash.

Written for the middle school audience, this book was an interesting and informative read for this adult reader.

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