Bonnie and Clyde: The making of a legend
Bibliography
Blumenthal, K. (2018). Bonnie and Clyde: The making of a legend. Viking Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 0147513839
Summary
Author Karen Blumenthal spent months tracing the trail of Bonnie and Clyde, unearthing new information and debunking many persistent myths. This book is a researched non-fiction tale of love, car chases, kidnappings, and murder during the Great Depression.
Bonnie and Clyde may be the most notorious--and celebrated--outlaw couple America has ever known. This is the true story of how they got that way.
Bonnie and Clyde: we've been on a first-name basis with them for almost a hundred years. Immortalized in movies, songs, and pop culture references, they are remembered mostly for their storied romance and tragic deaths. But what was life really like for Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker in the early 1930s? How did two dirt-poor teens from West Texas morph from vicious outlaws to a legendary couple? And why?
Critical Analysis
Bonnie and Clyde were young adults when their crime story began. Clyde was 20, and Bonnie was 19, and this narrative frames how youthful decisions can escalate and shape a life's trajectory. The author made several points that would resonate with young adults and make this book a YA book. Bonnie and Clyde were searching for an identity, and some took on several identities as they went from town to town. They both struggled with poverty due to the Great Depression, which added more hardship. They were both impulsive and, in the end, met their consequences. A lot of these issues are things that teens face in their lives, which makes them both relatable and, hopefully, teens can learn that there are consequences to their actions.
I love how Blumenthal’s story is written as an investigation. As I was reading, I felt like I was watching an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. She did not romanticize it as a lot of songs and movies have done. She shows the reader how the pair's public image was manipulated by media narratives and shaped by the stresses of the 1930s. Blumenthal does an amazing job of showing readers how media literacy can exaggerate or misreport events to sell stories.
The images and copies of reports, pictures, and notes made it feel like I was a part of the investigation. I never thought about the ending of Bonnie and Clyde, and what I knew of them was all like the author stated was romanticized. This was a fantastic read, and it makes me look at songs and stories differently now that I know more about the truth.
Blumenthal made me think a lot more about other criminals like Jesse James and Billy the Kid, and if there was more to their story. I would love for her to write a book for more criminals.
Review Excerpts
Blumenthal has written more than a crime narrative or a biography of the famous outlaws Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. The book presents a social and cultural snapshot of the duo’s times"
--School Library Journal
"Through her use of narrative nonfiction, Blumenthal builds a gripping story for readers of all ages. . .Blumenthal weaves her detailed account of history into a suspenseful tale that reads very much like a novel." --Voya
Awards and Recognitions
Booklist Editors' Choice
Booklist Top 10 Romance Fiction for Youth List
New York Public Library Best Books for Teens
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