
A parent might reach for this book when their curious teen is studying American history or shows an interest in how language evolves. It is not a story, but a glossary of slang from the early 20th century, perfect for the budding linguist or historian. The book provides a fascinating, and at times jarring, look into the past through its words. It sparks curiosity about history and social norms but also requires conversations about justice and empathy, as many terms are offensive by today's standards. Due to the inclusion of ethnic slurs, criminal terminology, and mature themes, this book is best for older teens and requires significant parental guidance to provide necessary historical context.
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Sign in to write a reviewRequires significant historical context to understand the slang and its social implications.
Slang terms reference criminal activity, violence, and firearms.
The book's approach is direct and academic. It presents potentially offensive language, including ethnic and racial slurs, misogynistic terms, and references to substance use and crime, as historical artifacts. The treatment is secular and serves as a linguistic record, not a story with a resolution. It requires the reader and a guiding adult to provide the framework for understanding why this language is harmful.
A teen aged 14-18 who has a specific interest in linguistics, American history, or social studies. This is for a mature, self-directed learner who can approach sensitive historical material with an analytical mindset, likely for a school project or a deep personal interest in the Jazz Age.
This book absolutely requires parental preparation. A parent must preview the content, particularly the introduction and sections containing offensive slurs. It cannot be read cold. A conversation is necessary to frame the book as a historical document, explaining that the words reflect the societal norms and prejudices of the time and are not for modern use. A parent notices their teen is fascinated by the 1920s after watching a period film or reading historical fiction. The teen might ask what a specific old-fashioned word means or wonder why language from the past sounds so different.
A younger teen (12-14) might focus on the more whimsical slang and be unprepared for the offensive content without guidance. An older, more mature teen (15-18) is better equipped to analyze the language as a reflection of historical power dynamics, sexism, and racism, and to understand its cultural significance.
Unlike a historical novel that immerses the reader in a story, this book offers a direct, unfiltered look at the language of the period. Its power lies in its format as a glossary, presenting the words as raw data. This allows for a unique, evidence-based discussion about how culture, values, and prejudice are embedded in the way people speak.
This book is a non-narrative, alphabetical glossary of American slang from the early twentieth century (1900s-1930s). It provides definitions for colloquial expressions related to Prohibition-era topics like bootlegging, filmmaking, crime, and social life. The book's description explicitly states it contains terms that are now considered offensive, including ethnic slurs and derogatory language about women.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.