They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti Published by Houghton Mifflin, 2010. Age Range: 12+ (7th grade and up) Lexile Score: 1180L Booklist Starred Review, YALSA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Finalist This books tells the fascinating history of the Ku Klux Klan, the white supremacist group that terrorized the South in the years following the Civil War. This book initially interested me, because I am from Tennessee, which is where the Klan originated. I have heard about it in history classes and just from growing up in the South, but I wanted to learn more about the actual history surrounding its inception. This account of the Klan focuses on the original group, from the years following the Civil War through Reconstruction. I did not realize that the Klan had died out or gone into hiding for several years, only being reborn following the premiere of the very divisive movie in 1915, The Birth of a Nation. The author recounts the history of the hate group in chronological order, peppering political cartoons, illustrations, photographs, and newspaper clippings throughout her text. These artifacts make the topic seem real. It is such an awful part of our history that it is easy to feel removed from it, but seeing these artifacts and first-hand accounts, forces the reader to face the truth about the atrocities that the group committed. The book is broken into ten chapters and an Epilogue, each focusing on a different aspect of the group's history. The author relied heavily on interviews with former slaves from 1937 and accounts from Klan members' diaries and testimonies. These primary sources lend legitimacy to her writing, and grasp the reader's interest. The book is very text-heavy, even with the multitude of illustrations and photographs. It took me a while to get into the book, and I would often get bogged down in the details. This book would not be one that students would necessarily need to read straight through. The exhaustive index would be very useful for students who are conducting research on a certain aspect of the group or Reconstruction. I would recommend this book for middle or high school libraries. The author puts a disclaimer in the front of the book, warning about the foul language that is present in quotes from Klan members or newspaper clippings. She did not alter these in any way, and librarians and teachers would need to take their students' needs and dispositions into consideration when selecting this book for the collection. The author is objective when reporting on the activities of the Klan, however, it is evident that she finds the group's actions abhorrent; the subtitle alone points to that fact when she calls the Klan a terrorist group. I think this topic is an important one to expose students to, especially in today's world, when racial tensions are still high in some places. This book serves as a chilling reminder of what can happen when an entire race is seen as "less than". Although not painting Klan members in a favorable light, the book does seek to explain their actions in some way: "During times of crisis or uncertainty, people often resort to rumors, or stories circulated without facts to confirm the truth, to help them cope with anxieties and fears" (p. 24). The author also includes a quote from an African-American civil rights activist, W.E.B. Du Bois: "These human beings at heart are desperately afraid of something” (p. 58). Below is an example of a page from the book. You can see an illustration depicting black children on the bottom rung of Southern society. This book would intrigue students who are interested in history, specifically the Civil War and Reconstruction. It would also interest students who want to know more about the history of African-Americans leading up to the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's. If students like this book, they might also be interested to read some of Bartoletti's other non-fiction books:
This book could be paired with historical fiction about the Reconstruction era:
Here are some digital collections and websites about Reconstruction:
This book would be a great extension to a history textbook, and an informational nonfiction text to include in a unit about Reconstruction. It could lead to discussion over why the Klan formed, its motives, and how our country can learn from the past. It can also be a resource for a lesson over the Constitution and the 14th and 15th Amendments. Students can discuss how amendments are ratified and how they are enforced.
4 Comments
11/1/2016 05:56:43 pm
Hi Kayla, This book has been on my list--I'm sure it's a very fascinating read. I think the inclusion of primary sources and first-hand accounts really adds to a book's legitimacy and it makes me want to pay more attention to what the author is saying. I think the books you chose to pair with it sound perfect. Overall, it sounds like this is a really frank accounting of the KKK and that it would be a valuable resource for anyone doing research on them or the time period or anyone who just wanted to learn more about the Klan.
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Chaise Carter
11/2/2016 09:33:31 pm
Hi Kayla,
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Paige Yoder
11/29/2016 02:52:29 pm
This book definitely sounds interesting. I like that it uses primary sources. I love when books used direct quotes from people. It makes it feel that much more real and allows for more empathy.
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AuthorMy name is Kayla Taylor. I am currently taking LIS-S672 Seminar in Youth Literature - Nonfiction. These are the books I have read this semester and my reviews. ArchivesCategories |