Drawing the Vote - by Tommy Jenkins Hardcover

About the Book

"Coinciding with the 2020 US presidential election, Drawing the Vote, an original graphic novel, looks at the history of voting rights in the United States, and how it has affected the way we vote today. Author Tommy Jenkins traces this history from the earliest steps toward democracy during the American Revolution, to the upheaval caused by the Civil War, the fight for women's suffrage, the Civil Rights movement, the election of an African American president, and the control by a Republican majority. Along the way, Jenkins identifies events and trends that led to the unprecedented results of the 2016 presidential election that left Americans wondering, "how did this happen?" To balance these complex ideas and statistics, Kati Lacker's clean artistic style makes the book both beautiful and accessible. At a time when many citizens are experiencing apathy about voting and skepticism concerning our bitterly divided political parties, Drawing the Vote seeks to offer some explanation for how we got here and how every American can take action to make their vote count"--

Book Synopsis

Drawing the Vote, an original graphic novel, looks at the history of voting rights in the United States and how it affects the way we vote today.

Author Tommy Jenkins identifies events and trends that led to the unprecedented results of the 2016 presidential election that left American political parties more estranged than ever. To balance these complex ideas and statistics, Kati Lacker's original artistic style makes the book accessible for readers of all ages.

At a time when many citizens are experiencing challenges and apathy about voting and skepticism concerning our bitterly divided government, Drawing the Vote seeks to offer some explanation for how we got here and how every American can take action to make their vote count.

"Jenkins's rousing work will inspire students to educate themselves on the issues--and, when the time comes, to vote early and often." --School Library Journal

"A panoptic history of the vote that breaks down everything from gerrymandering to Americans for Prosperity's dark influence, Drawing the Vote is a great pick for both adults and young Americans who want to understand what it means to be a voter." --Shelf Awareness

Review Quotes

"A panoptic history of the vote that breaks down everything from gerrymandering to Americans for Prosperity's dark influence, Drawing the Vote is a great pick for both adults and young Americans who want to understand what it means to be a voter."--Shelf Awareness

"Jenkins's rousing work will inspire students to educate themselves on the issues--and, when the time comes, to vote early and often."--School Library Journal - STARRED review

"The exposition and Lacker's simple but energetic illustrations combine to pack valuable information on each page, while making even complex issues (such as the racism of white suffragists who fought for the 19th Amendment) easy to follow. Suited best to younger readers new to the topic, Jenkins's work lays out the high-stakes history clearly and succinctly."--Publishers Weekly

"This is a great year to brush up voting rights, especially the laws surrounding distance voting, and this book is a great start."--GeekMom

"Written with a progressive tone, this work's clear factual nature makes it a worthy read for anyone across the political spectrum..."--Library Journal

About the Author

Tommy Jenkins is the humanities division chair at Louisburg College in Louisburg, North Carolina, and an associate professor of English. He resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Kati Lacker is an illustrator, designer, and screen printer currently living in Brooklyn. Drawing the Vote is her first graphic novel.