Library Journal Review

It was July 13, 1977. New York City was in the midst of a heatwave and a manhunt for a serial killer named Son of Sam. That evening, lightning struck a power line outside of the city, increasing demand on surrounding lines, and despite Con Edison's efforts, the city went dark. It wasn't for the first time, but New York was already reeling from high unemployment, police and firefighter layoffs, cutbacks on municipal services, and President Gerald Ford's declaration to the city to "drop dead." Without illumination, class divides were stark: some celebrated with candlelight bar-runs and impromptu parties, while the simmering anger of others spurred them to loot and burn their own neighborhoods. VERDICT An important addition to libraries in New York City and surrounding areas with a local history interest and memories of this dark time (literally!).-Ellen Druda, Half Hollow Hills Community Lib., Dix Hills, NY © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.