Votes of Confidence

March 1, 2020

Gr 8 Up-Primary elections, popular votes, the electoral college, political parties, and other commonly misunderstood civics topics are concisely explained in the second edition of this 2016 title. Written in a conversational tone, the text reads like course notes from a beloved teacher. Fleischer presents a potentially didactic subject matter in a digestible and organized manner. A historical overview of the formation of our government contextualizes the current social and political climate. Provided resources will help readers navigate the information landscape in an era of social media and misinformation. Those interested in learning more about an aspect of the election cycle, voting rights issues, or ways of getting involved will find this book to be a satisfactory tool for their information needs. This title is a history lesson, civics compendium, and call to action combined in one engaging volume. VERDICT Recommended for middle to high school students, educators, and others interested in becoming civically informed and engaged.-Tamela Chambers, Chicago Public Library, IL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2020
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* The first edition of this book was published in the midst of the 2016 election. In the introduction of this second edition, Fleischer states that it was in the aftermath of that election, amid the current climate of fake news and other misinformation, that he felt it was vital to update the book so that young people are more informed about how the government works. The census bureau predicts that the post-1980s generation will be 36.5 percent of eligible voters by 2020. Fleischer clearly and understandably explains how the American government came to be and how it's supposed to work. He describes the three branches, how a bill becomes a law, arguments for and against the Electoral College, primaries, and national, state, and local general elections. Political parties, campaigns, debates, financing, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and ballot initiatives are covered. The text emphasizes what young people need to know to vote, where to get accurate political information, and how to become more involved in politics. Back matter includes source notes, additional resources, an index, sidebars, charts, illustrations, and photographs. Fleischer avoids making the topic dry or boring by using conversational language (stinks, BS) and includes surprising facts that make this a very readable, engaging, and entertaining history of American elections and politics for young people. Highly recommended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2020
Updated edition of a frank, left-leaning 2016 guide. The past four years have brought significant changes to electoral practices and procedures--on local as well as national levels--and there is an acerbic tone to the fresh examples and observations that Fleischer incorporates into his wide-angled overview of how elections work...or are meant to. Building around chapters on registering to vote, casting ballots, and getting involved in the political process as a volunteer or candidate, he offers broad looks at how the U.S. government has been organized and reorganized as well as relevant topics from the development of political parties to how primaries, the Electoral College, the legislative process, and campaign finances have been gamed (mostly by conservatives) through the years. His brave effort to encompass the widely divergent rules of down-ballot elections as well as state and national ones does here and there force him into generalities, but he has plenty of illuminating stories to tell. Moreover, along with frequent sidebar glances at third-party races, the long history of voter suppression, fake news and ways to counter it, and more, he appends refreshed, annotated lists of helpful information sites, both nonpartisan and otherwise. If, as he argues, just showing up is the key to making the electoral process more democratic, this searching study makes an effective spur. Not exactly evenhanded but still a solid and timely foundation. (source notes, additional resources, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

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June 6, 2016
This timely handbook offers a thorough, accessible overview of American elections and voting in six chapters that explore the history and workings of the government, the voting process, political parties, becoming informed about relevant political issues, how elections works, and political engagement. Fleischer avoids hot-button topics, instead looking at the traditional definitions of the Republican and Democratic parties and the practical side of how elections unfold, including discussions of the electoral college, the contested 2000 election, presidential debates, and the role of public opinion polls (“When evaluating poll data, it’s always important to look at how the question was worded”). Fleischer’s well-contextualized, nonpartisan approach results in a valuable resource for readers looking to understand and become involved in a complicated system while avoiding spin. Ages 14–up.