History Comics: The Great Depression: From Hard Times to the New Deal

by Tim Stout, Joe Flood (illustrator)

Turn back the clock with History Comics! In this volume we explore the Great Depression, an era of economic turmoil, resilience, and innovation.

In October 1929, a stock market crash in the United States caused millions of people to suddenly lose their savings, their jobs, and everything they owned. Many had to survive by waiting in long breadlines for free food, building their own homes from trash, and making clothes from scraps. Some rode railroad cars in a desperate search for work, only to end up on farms battling huge dust storms. This was the Great Depression, a time of tragedy but also one where people showed immense grit.

Genres: Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This was an amazing graphic novel; I actually think it was one of my favorites in this genre ❤️ I have always loved books and tv shows that help kids learn history through time travel. There are several that I can think of but can't remember the name. It will eventually come to me (please comment any if you think of some).

I read this book in just one sitting. It was so good that I couldn't put it down. Definitely would recommend!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC Provided by Netgalley

Alex and Kassie are modern day siblings who are tired of being stuck inside as wild fires rage outside their home. Their mother is working from home and needs both of them off the internet so she can attend a virtual meeting, so the two reluctantly play a board game about the Great Depression. They are magically sucked into the game, and cards appear in their pockets prompting them to do things. Alex tries to sell his stock, but ends up buying some instead and losing money. Kassie is unable to withdraw money from the bank. Soon, the siblings are separated, with Alex riding the rails out to California and Kassie trying to keep herself afloat by working in a factory. Along the way, they each learn more and more about why the Great Depression happened, and how it impacted Americans. At one point, Kassie even meets Eleanor Roosevelt, and helps smuggle President Roosevelt onto a train. She gets on a boat and ends up in Hawaii right as Pearl Harbor is being bombed, but manages to reconnect with Alex and eventually get back home. The two have a renewed appreciation for their life!

I love the History Comics for engaging young readers, so while I wasn fond of the gamifying of The Great Depression, it might lure students into reading about it. There's not quite as much information as there was in the World War II Homefront or Prohibition, but since we are looking at nearly one hundred years ago (96 today, in fact!) I'd love for my students to read anything they can about the historic era. There are some notes at the end about some aspects that didn't get much coverage, like the CCC (Read Pearson's excellent Fighting for the Forest for information about this) and the WPA's Sewing Rooms Program, which I had not heard about. Now I need information about THAT!

[Deb Kiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book for middle grade students to begin to understand the complex world of the 1930s. The Great Depression era was so much more than just the result of the stock market crash and this book presents the material in a way for students to understand. The author created a game for the two sibling characters to take the reader through the 1930s from the Stock Market Crash to the Dust Bowl to riding the rails to Pearl Harbor. There are comic blocks and pages with historical references and details throughout the book to give students more context about what is going on in the story. The author gives more details about a few historical events that he couldn't fit in the story at the end of the book. As a retired teacher, I think this book would be great for students who love history. The comics are presented in way that is accessible and coherent for middle grade students to grasp this decade. There are opportunities to discuss each section of the book as it presents each part of the era. I would have liked more about FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt's contributions to this decade but understand there is only so much that can be included in one book. I think students will like the time travel element where the two siblings travel and grow through the decade. Also, I think the students would like to see more of the symbols the rail riders used as they usually like codes and ciphers. The difficult topics and events were presented realistically but thoughtfully. Look for it October 21, 2025.
#HistoryComicsTheGreatDepression
Thank you First Second Books and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well done history of the Great Depression in graphic novel form. I might even say this is the best I have seen depicted for this middle grade age group.

The story is played out as a game, where each character was in the middle of the actual events, such as the stock market crash, as well as the banks failing. If they figured out how to deal with the problem, they got a bonus card, such as a soup kitchen would appear, or a chicken that laid eggs. If they didn’t figure out how to solve whatever issue they were presented with, they got nothing.

What I really liked about this story was how many things were explained, such as why the Dust Bowl happened, and how people built Hoovervilles. The author even said they wanted to fit more in, such as the information about the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), and the Okies, the people from Oklahoma who moved to California to pick fruit when all their farms failed.

Hghly recommend this to kids, and possibly adults as well, as quick reminder about how the Depression started, and what finally ended it.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published on the 21st of October 2025.

[Anne Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the heart of the book is a clever framing device: a brother and sister play a history‑themed game. This imaginative setup transforms what could be a dry timeline into an immersive, two‑way conversation with the past. As they “play,” the children witness breadlines, Hoovervilles, migrant riders, and the dust storms that ravaged the Plains.

Through the eyes of protagonists, one could feel both the fear of uncertainty and the strength that emerges when communities—and women—rise together. Far from a passive recounting, the book is a game of discovery, empathy, and triumph of the human spirit. It not only framed New Deal policies from multiple angles, but also detailed the lives of everyday people, and honored collective action over single‑leader narratives, emphasizing the contributions of ordinary people—women, communities, marginalized groups—in steering recovery.

Joe Flood’s illustrations carry the narrative with restraint and precision. They neither romanticize nor sanitize. Like the prose, they trust the reader’s intelligence.

In sum, this book managed to avoid both the traps of oversimplification and the pitfalls of preachiness. Instead, it asks one essential question: What would you do if you were there?

[Shannan Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic non-fiction is a part of a series that introduces historical topics to children through characters in a story. In this title, we are introduced to a brother and sister who are addicted to the internet. Their mom has to cut off their internet access so that her business meeting will not be disrupted. The two siblings are bored and decide to dig through their board game collections. They come across a game called The Great Depression, and that is when the adventure begins.
This is a nice introduction to the main events during the Great Depression. The comic is a good supplemental book for middle-grade readers. The colorful illustrations bring the era to life, and the storyline is fast-paced and action-packed. Kids will enjoy it because it isn't your typical dry textbook. Overall, it will be an excellent edition for a young history fan's library or a homeschool library. Thank you, Netgalley and First Second Books, for this free book in exchange for an honest review.

[Miranda Beystehner · Rating 4 out of 5]

History Comics: The Great Depression by Tim Stout is the newest addition to the History Comics series, and it’s such a fun way to learn about history. Told in a comic book style, the story follows two siblings who get pulled into a game that transports them back to the time of the Great Depression. In order to win they must complete different tasks, and along the way they learn what life was really like during that era.

This format is an excellent tool for making history accessible to readers of all ages. My homeschooled son especially enjoys learning this way, and I know many other kids would, too. The storytelling style makes the information feel more relatable, interesting, and immersive than a traditional textbook.

I’m giving this book 4 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for a creative way to introduce historical events to their children. Many thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Overall, the book was a quick read with lots of historical tidbits and explanations of complex concepts. I think it would be good for readers who are interested in history, have some prior knowledge of the time period, and who want a short read. It’s very basic but does skim over the main highlights of the 10 year period. I did feel like the book started and ended pretty abruptly, which was jarring, but the gamified storyline was interesting. I think there’s an audience for this book, but it might be a bit narrow due to the broad content and the game storyline. But, I did think it was fairly informative for someone with a basic understanding of the Great Depression. Could it have been done in a better way? Yes, but it wasn’t bad.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jumani inspired graphic novel about the Great Depression. Two modern kids play a board game that magically transports them to the time of the Great Depression, where they each experience a range of fairly representative events, starting on Black Friday and ending at Pearl Harbor. I didn't mind the board game framing device, because the structure allowed the book to both cover a lot of time and space while keeping consistent protagonists. What is shown here feels like it gives a fairly broad, unromanticized view of the Depression, with tips that might get readers interested in learning more.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this middle grade graphic novel, and I was sucked right in - just like the board game sucks in the brother and sister during the story. Even as an adult, I learned new things about the Great Depression, but everything was extremely attainable, understandable, and easy to follow. The illustrations were fabulous, and the back matter was both needed and concise enough to not overwhelm young readers.

Absolutely fabulous!

[Amanda Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially I didn't care for the delivery of this graphic novel. I'm not much of a gamer, regardless of the form the game takes. It grew on me, though. I expect that kids who are gamers are going to stongly relate. In the end I'd have to say it was a great way to learn about the Depression and WWII. I even learned one fact that I hadn't known before.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley.

This was a very well created graphic novels. Having such concise information hidden in a game is like hiding veggies in children’s food. The illustrations, dialogue and character development were all done extremely well. Historical graphic novels are extremely popular, especially with my reluctant readers.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first History Comics and received through NetGalley. I didn't know what to expect but I learned a lot and was impressed by the wide amount of the time covered. Parts felt a little off and I really hate the tech addiction being shown. I don't know why shaming kids is seen as a good way to get them to engage in other media and history.

[Cathlina Bergman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skimmed. Kind of cute: a pair of siblings are pulled into a Great Depression game and must (Jumanji-style) learn to survive a very different world. Graphic novel.

[Abbra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. The story and art are well done, and I learned a lot about the great depression