School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up Synthesizing his usual solid, exhaustive research, personal experiences, and consummate skill as a prose wordsmith, Archer presents a sweeping but readable and objective overview of the decade that contained ``the stormy years that changed America.'' Regarding the book's viewpoint, Archer does admit that his own experiences as a teenager in the ``stormy thirties'' led him ``to empathize with idealistic youth of the sixties who protested and demonstrated against government policies and social credos that they perceived as unjust.'' Archer concisely, but with sufficient detail, covers some 17 topics (e.g., Kent State, the Kennedy era, civil rights, the counterculture, rock 'n' roll, etc.) in which the actions, rebellions, and experimentations of peopleyoung and oldchallenged, and sometimes altered, the prevailing mores, attitudes, political structures, and laws of the nation. The final chapter is devoted to a cogent discussion of the consequences of the decade. The book is illustrated with an outstanding selection of black-and-white news photos that are quite evocative of the era; furthermore, it is printed with a readable typeface and has a format that is slightly larger than the usual juvenile book. A book to supplement and complement such primarily pictorial works as Sann's The Angry Decade: the Sixties (Crown, 1978; o.p.). David A. Lindsey, Lakewood Junior/Senior High School Library, Wash. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Today's adolescents want to know about their parents' teen years. Archer tells how the legacy of those events still shapes our lives. A liberal journalist who met many of the public figures discussed, Archer begins with Kent State, the 1970 tragedy symbolizing the tumultuous decade that preceded it. Crucial events and movements described include the Kennedy era, civil rights, Viet Nam and war resistance, feminism, counterculture, the sexual revolution, scientific advances, artistic expression, and political reactions both right and left. Archer involves readers by assessing the important role young people played in events and satisfying thirst for the history surrounding their parents' nostalgia. Individual movements are not tied to each other as much as they are to the questions ""What made it happen?"" and ""How did this affect the 70's and 80's?"" Fact-filled, comprehensive and well told. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Reseña de Booklist
A colorful chronicle for young adults gives a dynamic and detailed overview of the decade's contributions, trends, and enduring influence. (My 15 86)