Parents' Guide to

Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Powerful account of national tragedy.

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Journalistic graphic novels aren't common, but this powerful chronicle of a national tragedy uses the comics medium to full advantage. In Kent State, author-illustrator Derf Backderf builds his account of the Kent State massacre from interview transcripts and news reports, and he unearths details that remain haunting after five decades. The four students are treated with sympathy, their stories heartbreaking and infuriating. The National Guard is portrayed as a mix of gung-ho bigots and scared amateurs under incredible stress. Readers who can stand the intensity will find much food for thought.

Book Details

  • Author: Derf Backderf
  • Illustrator: Derf Backderf
  • Genre: Graphic Novel
  • Topics: Activism, History
  • Book type: Non-Fiction
  • Publisher: Abrams
  • Publication date: September 9, 2020
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 15 - 18
  • Number of pages: 288
  • Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
  • Last updated: March 12, 2021

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