Why the People is another in First Second’s line of World Citizen comics, civics-focused non-fiction graphic novels that aim to “equip readers to be active citizens and informed voters.” I’m always a bit hesitant when I pick up one of these titles, as part of me hasn’t shaken the idea that educational works, particularly about politics and citizenship, are going to be too good-for-me to be entertaining.

Thankfully, Why the People uses images and metaphors in a clever way to make the material memorable and to justify the comic format.

There’s a lot of material discussed here, including some deep principles. I found myself rereading the book to make sure I was grasping it. Although much of it consists of statements and dialogue, the illustrations make it enjoyable. And the points are very important, including the need for knowledge and participation. Why the People does well what it sets out to do; it belongs in any library that aims to educate.

Government is complicated, probably far more complicated than most of us realize. Complicated enough that when we realize it is not as simple as we were taught in middle school most of us don't bother trying. That's certainly to our detriment and Feathers is certainly trying to correct that void in our understanding. This book systematically breaks down not only the different forms of government but different variations on those forms. We come to realize, through this book, that the "right" form of government can be dependent upon circumstance and culture, how even ideal forms can go horribly wrong if managed by the wrong people. It's dense and complicated information so it's certainly too much to absorb in a short period of time. But it would make an excellent supplement to government curriculum.

WHY THE PEOPLE: THE CASE FOR DEMOCRACY explores the various forms of government throughout history and modern day. Lin and Julie, two fictional characters stuck in an airport, "arrive" and eventually "depart" from different systems of power. Government structures such as monarchy, oligarchy, theocracy, dictatorship, and democracy are grouped in different terminals based on similarities. Historical and modern examples of each type of government are explored. WHY THE PEOPLE use the metaphor of a government "menu" to explain how some governments pick and choose elements of each to create what they thinks works for their population. A great complement to high school civics and history classrooms.

What a great resource! Told in graphic novel style, this is a basic explanation of various forms of government humans have tried, and their pros and cons. This should be accessible for readers in middle school and beyond, but I found it very readable and informative even as an adult. I especially liked the historical case studies (Uganda, Peru, Ecuador, etc.) that showed what happened when nations tried various systems of rule.

The overall point seems to echo the conventional wisdom that representative democracy isn't perfect, but it's the best idea we've got so far. The text stressed that citizens are responsible for the function of their government and it's their duty to be informed, engaged, and active. The tone is hopeful and empowering, while also acknowledging the very real problems that exist in the US.

I would heartily recommend this for use in middle school and high schools. It would be a great classroom resource and an excellent addition to school and community libraries.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

The World Citizen Comics series is incredibly important, and super beneficial, when it comes to making governmental ideas more accessible. The American government is super complicated, and it's changed so much since the founding of the country - so understanding where we started and how far (or not far) we've come is important to all citizens. It can also be... boring - so hey, here it is in comic form!

This isn't something that can easily be read in one sitting. It's heavy, it can feel a bit like a slog.. and frankly, it's just not that exciting. But that doesn't mean this doesn't have a lot of value. I can see this being very helpful for students, immigrants, new Americans, and those that just want to understand about democracy and how different governments work. Breaking it down like this book did make it so much more understandable. And the airport terminals and menu analogies they make, even more so.

While this is not my favorite of the series (that remains to be both Fault Lines of the Constitution and Unrig), it is still a good addiction to library collections. I will be purchasing it for my system.

Why The People is an accessible overview of the different forms of government found in the world today, their histories, and why democracies are important. The metaphor used throughout is simple yet effective and lends itself well to all sections. It strikes a good balance between explaining that democracy is important and that it is fragile, and informing the reader how they can get involved in keeping it alive and making it more equitable.

Thanks to NetGalley for this review copy!
I have enjoyed this entire series but was worried about how this one was going to be handled. I like it! Of course I could think of a lot of things left out, but I thought the way it was set up worked very well. Very well done.

Excellent deep dive into the foundations of government that is especially relevant today. Would make a provocative read for learners eager to explore the good, the bad, and the ugly about various forms of government, as well as the nuances that are necessary to appreciate if we are to think critically about the diversity among governments.

#netgalleyarc I really enjoyed this book. It was full of great metaphors that help to make understanding government types and democracy a bit easier. The illustrations were great and zip really enjoyed how the airport was used as a way to work through the topic at hand. I definitely recommend this title for students, or adults!, who need some help wrapping their heads around what different types of governments are out there. I also really liked how the author tied in real-life situations as well.

This is a great way for kids to look at the preamble of the constitution and what it stands for. It introduces the constitution also. I thought this was very insightful.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

Comic books are ideal if you want ayoung person to get interested in a more difficult subject like democracy. This book explains everything very well. A god example why a comic book an be more than just fun.