The Boy With the U.S. Census

Set in the bustling year of 1911, the story follows a determined young man who volunteers to become a census enumerator. Eager to prove himself, he journeys from the smoky alleys of New York’s immigrant districts to the rugged hills of Kentucky, where he meets colorful locals and witnesses the daily struggles of families, moonshiners, and laborers. Along the way, his notebook becomes a passport to the nation’s hidden stories, and each question he asks peels back a layer of America’s ever‑shifting identity.

Through vivid illustrations and lively dialogue, the narrative captures the tension between curiosity and privacy, revealing how a simple government survey can spark both hope and resistance. The boy’s earnest optimism collides with the harsh realities of poverty, prejudice, and frontier feuds, offering listeners a portrait of a country on the brink of modernity while staying rooted in the personal adventures of its newest “hero.