The idea is a good one and meets the challenge well but I believe your lighting is not well controlled. For one thing, the dollar bills are dark from shadows from lighting that is not well positioned. Also, the lighting is creating back lighting on the pages on the left side showing through the back side of the pages. I may not have used a book with illustrations or pictures as this detracts from the impact of your subject, which is already weakened by poor lighting. Finally, cropping at the top seems constrained.
needs better lighting. the subjec,t the money, is too dark compared to the lower part of the image, the pages. my eye is drawn away from what you want me to see.