Pass Go and Collect $200: The Real Story of How Monopoly Was Invented by Tanya Lee Stone, Steve Salerno
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 162779168X
Pages: 40
Goodreads

What a crooked and complicated history for a beloved board game!  Pass Go and Collect $200 shares the remarkable and overlooked story of Lizzie Magie, the brainchild behind the mega-successful game.  In the early 1900s, Lizzie created the Landlord’s Game in an attempt to remind humanity of its better nature, that the rich don’t need to get richer off the backs of poor tenants.  She even received a US Patent for her idea, a rarity for a woman, which represented the first patent ever for a board game. Lizzie tried selling her game to Parker Brothers but was unceremoniously turned down.  Years later, the Landlord’s Game continued to grow in popularity. People made their own boards and pieces and one man, Charles Darrow, even started selling his version of the board (similar to the iconic board played on today).  He became so invested in his work that he came to believe that he was a legitimate inventor himself. When he approached Parker Brothers, the time was ripe to acquire the rights. In a double cross that Lizzie never saw coming, she accepted $500 from Parker Brothers who then gave full credit and millions to Charles Darrow.  Pass Go and Collect $200 is a colorfully illustrated book with a fascinating history. For younger children with a knowledge of Monopoly, this would make a fantastic read-aloud while elementary-aged readers will enjoy racing through each page to find out if Lizzie ends up winning the ultimate game. End pages with trivia, Monopoly Math and an Author’s Note are also not to be missed.  Great addition to any nonfiction collection.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook