Book details

Tommy

The Gun That Changed America

Author: Karen Blumenthal

Tommy

Tommy

$11.99

About This Book

John Taliaferro Thompson had a mission: to develop a lightweight, fast-firing weapon that would help Americans win on the battlefield. His Thompson submachine gun could deliver a hundred bullets...

Page Count
240
On Sale
06/30/2015
Age Range
12-18

Book Details

John Taliaferro Thompson had a mission: to develop a lightweight, fast-firing weapon that would help Americans win on the battlefield. His Thompson submachine gun could deliver a hundred bullets in a matter of seconds—but didn't find a market in the U.S. military. Instead, the Tommy gun became the weapon of choice for a generation of bootleggers and bank-robbing outlaws, and became a deadly American icon. Following a bloody decade—and eighty years before the mass shootings of our own time—Congress moved to take this weapon off the streets, igniting a national debate about gun control. Critically-acclaimed author Karen Blumenthal tells the fascinating story of this famous and deadly weapon—of the lives it changed, the debate it sparked, and the unprecedented response it inspired.

Imprint Publisher

Roaring Brook Press

ISBN

9781626720855

Reading Guide

In The News

“Lively prose, well-selected photographs, and thorough source notes round out this fine work. A gripping look at guns, gangsters, and finding the 'right balance between individual freedoms and community safety'.”—Kirkus Reviews

“[An] accessible social history, which encompasses military weaponry, gangster warfare, and gun-control legislation.”—Publishers Weekly

“Peppered with action-filled scenes and period photographs...This thoroughly researched, compulsive read is another Blumenthal winner. A bang-up look at American history.”—Booklist

“Blumenthal breathes life into this seemingly off-putting subject. . . this action-packed title will hold the attention of reluctant readers and history buffs alike.”—School Library Journal

About the Creators

Tommy

Tommy

$11.99