SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

March 1, 2018 by Esther Keller

Review: The Bridge

March 1, 2018 by Esther Keller   2 comments

If you’re a New Yorker, the Brooklyn Bridge is a majestic sight that regularly comes into view. It has made its appearance in fiction (for instance, in The Alienist by Caleb Carr, which was recently adapted for TV). For me, as a New Yorker, the bridge carries lots of good memories, like the huge fireworks show to celebrate its centennial, walking across the bridge as a newlywed, and most recently, taking my children last summer to walk across the bridge. But I never stopped to think much about its history.

The Bridge: How the Roeblings Connected Brooklyn to New York
By Peter J. Tomasi. Sara DuVall
Abrams ComicArts. 2018. ISBN 9781419728525 HC, $24.99. 208pp.
Grades 7 and up

the bridgeThere have been many books written about the bridge, but Tomasi’s The Bridge is likely the first graphic novel. He does a magnificent job of depicting the politics, the danger, and the tenacity of the Roebling family and the hundreds of workers who built the bridge.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

In the 1800s, Brooklyn and Manhattan were separate cities. To get to the bustling hub of The City, where there were far more jobs, the only means of transportation was ferry. In the opening scene of the book, which is reminiscent of Elizabeth Mann’s children book The Brooklyn Bridge, father and son Roebling are stuck on the frozen river as the ferry’s captain tries to get through the ice. John Roebling had already proposed the idea of a suspension bridge, but politicians were not yet receptive to the idea.

In the book, we see Washington Roebling attend university and train as an engineer like his father. He serves in the Union army during the Civil War. He meets his beloved, Emily. And eventually, he joins the family business, which manufactures and sells steel cable wires (which would eventually be used for the bridge). As the project is set to begin, John Roebling is struck by a ferry and injures his foot, and the resulting infection eventually kills him. Washington is left to carry out his father’s dream.

The building of the bridge is fraught with danger, and Washington is eventually left stricken by what was known as Caisson disease, as a result of being under water for too long. His wife, Emily, takes over, serving as a liaison between her husband’s sickbed and his team of engineers and builders.

This is a fascinating story of politics, persistence, and ingenuity. Tomasi captures the time, the people, and the back-door dealings. It would have been interesting if a list of reference works had been included in the back of the book to see some of the sources used in Tomasi’s research.

Duvall’s artwork adds much life to the story. She captures the time period, the costumes, the architecture, and most notably, the bridge.

This title might not appeal to every young reader, but it will find its place in many readers hands.

This review is based on a complimentary copy supplied by the publisher. All images copyright © Abrams ComicArts.

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
abramsbrooklyn bridgeduvallhistorynew yorktomasi

About Esther Keller

Esther Keller is the librarian at JHS 278, Marine Park in Brooklyn, NY. There she started the library's first graphic novel collection and strongly advocated for using comics in the classroom. She also curates the Graphic Novel collection for the NYC DOE Citywide Digital Library. She started her career at the Brooklyn Public Library and later jumped ship to the school system so she could have summer vacation and a job that would align with a growing family's schedule. On the side, she is a mother of 4 and regularly reviews for SLJ and School Library Connection (formerly LMC). In her past life, she served on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee where she solidified her love and dedication to comics.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Review: Swim Team

by Esther Keller

March 2023

Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

by Esther Keller

March 2023

Review: Victory! Stand!

by Esther Keller

February 2023

Insomniacs After School, vol. 1 | Review

by Esther Keller

February 2023

Review: A Visit to Moscow

by Esther Keller

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

U.S. Gov: ‘All Books Must Have Round Corners’

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day – Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Swim Team

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Write What You Know. Read What You Don’t, a guest post by Lauren Thoman

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Author Jim Murphy Has Died; Kaepernick, Scholastic Publishing Graphic Memoir; and More | News Bites

9 Adult Graphic Novels for Teens: Sophisticated Takes on History, Humor, Sci-Fi, and More

A Woman’s Place Is in a Graphic Novel: Outstanding Works for Young Readers Center Women in History

15 Returning Faces for Graphic Novels Shelves | Series Update

Nonfiction Graphic Novels Spotlight Microhistories and Overlooked Historical Figures

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Peter J. Tomasi says

    March 6, 2018 at 5:45 pm

    Hi Esther,
    Thanks for your kind words about THE BRIDGE. Actually there is a source page, but it wasn’t included in the preview copy you probably received. Give it a look when the book his the shelves on April 17th!

    • Esther Keller says

      March 6, 2018 at 6:41 pm

      I’m glad that it was included in the final copy! I look forward to seeing the book in full color… The book had me taking another walk along the bridge! I can’t wait to share it with students.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023