Tommy: The Gun That Changed America

Reviewed by: Kristin Taylor - Biddeford High School, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 10, 2015

Review

Karen Blumenthal has again written a book that is fascinating and informative. "Tommy: The Gun That Changed America" is filled with facts, depictions of the times (1920s to present) and how this gun literally changed America's gun/violence atmosphere.

The book is well laid out, within the scope of coverage, easy to follow, well organized with the presence of TOC, index and bibliographies. The historical figures are realistically portrayed and is accurate in the information covered. There are photographs, maps, copies of notices from that time that complement the text quite well.

Anyone interested in history of arms, the Thompson submachine gun and guns laws in the United States would find this book extremely interesting. "Tommy..." would be helpful in research on the Prohibition Era, some of the first and current guns laws in this country, gangsters and the evolution of automatic weapons into society.

Overall Book Score: excellent