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

July 31, 2020 by Lori Henderson

Review: ‘Unrig: The Broken Systems of U.S. Democracy and How to Fix Them’

July 31, 2020 by Lori Henderson   Leave a Comment

Review: Unrig: The Broken Systems of U.S. Democracy and How to Fix Them
Written by Daniel G. Newman, Illustrated by George O’Connor
Teen (13+)
First Second Books, July 2020, ISBN: 9781250295309
288 pgs., $28.99USD

In an interview with George O’Connor, he mentioned his next project was not the final Olympians, but this book. Having enjoyed his work on Olympians, I decided to check it out. It wasn’t at all what I expected, but it is something everyone should read.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Most American agree that there is something wrong with our democracy. It works for the powerful and wealthy but not for the rest of us. How did it come to this? Our country is so divided now that just saying “liberal” or “conservative” can send people into tirades. Unrig is a non-partisan look at our broken democracy. It exposes the twisted roots that started our democracy down this path as well as highlighting the people who are working to unrig the system to return power to where it belongs; with the people.

Unrig is narrated by Daniel Newman, a democracy reform leader and the founder of Maplight.org, a non-profit, non-partisan group that tracks political donations and voting patterns. He speaks in a conversational tone, explaining both the historical roots of things like voting rights and redistricting as well as changes that have occurred in the last 30 years that have affected us the most. He covers several topics from campaign funding, lobbyists, voting rights and voter suppression to dark money, the thing that funds and influences all these other issues. Seeing what has happened laid out in a straightforward way can make things seem bleak, as if there is no hope for fixing what’s been done under our noses.

But this book isn’t all doom and gloom. For all the dark areas, there are rays of light as well. For each topic discussed, Newman has stories of ordinary people taking extraordinary steps to counter the rigging that has been going on. These success stories are filled with hope that things don’t have to stay as they are; that we can bring about change. Changing campaign funding, restoring voting rights, and fighting for transparency in money gifts to universities are all things people have stood up for and made meaningful changes in their area.

George O’Connor illustrates the book, emphasising Newman’s conversational tone as well as adding some humor to some of these humorless topics. The art is dominated by shades of blue and white with color used sparingly to punctate points being made, such as money being green, and Newman’s speech balloons being a darker yellow.

Unrig is the first book in a series of graphic novels called World Citizen Comics that are meant to inform and empower readers to make the change they want happen. And this book does that. Reading it made me angry, depressed and finally hopeful that things can change. Just in the people around me, I heard how they don’t want to vote because nothing changes; that things aren’t going to change. Unrig is the book to counter these claims. It shows us that real change is possible when we stand together and make the effort.

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
democracyFirst Second Booksgraphic novelnon-fictionWorld Citizen Comics

About Lori Henderson

Lori Henderson is a mother of two teenage daughters and an avid reader. She blogs about manga at her personal blog Manga Xanadu as well as contributing and editing for Manga Village. She blogs about all things fandom (mainly Doctor Who) at her other personal blog Fangirl Xanadu. She's been at it so for over 5 years now and counting!

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

February 2023

Kiss Number 8 | Review

by Lori Henderson

February 2023

The Archie Encyclopedia | Review

by Lori Henderson

January 2023

Monkey Prince Vol. 1: Enter the Monkey | Review

by Lori Henderson

January 2023

Young Agatha Christie | Review

by Lori Henderson

January 2023

Andy Warner's Oddball Histories: Pests and Pets | Review

by Lori Henderson

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Surprise! Announcing CABOOSE

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Jump Into this Guest Post by Shadra Strickland About Her Latest Book: Jump In!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Kiss Number 8 | Review

by Johanna

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

WRITING FOR YOURSELF FIRST, a guest post by author M. K. Lobb

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Six Manga About People with Disabilities

26 Chapter Books, Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels for Latinx Heritage Month and Beyond

Q&A: Harmony Becker, Creator of "Himawari House"

LibraryPass’s Comics Plus | Reference Database Review

Graphic Novel Stars at the SLJ Summit

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

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