THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE K.K.K: THE BIRTH OF AN AMERICAN TERRORIST GROUP

 

 

Bibliographic Information:  Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. They Called Themselves The K.K.K : the Birth of an American Terrorist Group. 2010. New York, NY : Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-618-44033-7.

 

 

Summary:

The book details the beginnings of the Ku Klux Klan in Pulaski, TN during the Reconstruction Era (1865-1877) of US history.  After the slaves were emancipated, groups of whites in the American south secretly banded together and terrorized them and their white supporters.  KKK activities spread across the south and persisted through much of the 20^th century, slowing over the last few decades as the civil rights movement flourished. 

 

 

Critical Analysis:

Bartoletti is a Sibert Medel winning, Newbery Honor author with sixteen books to her credit.  She has exhaustively researched the subject of the birth and history of the Ku Klux Klan and provides a steady, factual, non-emotional narrative that provides the facts and lets readers judge for themselves.  Resources accompanying the narrative include a six page Civil Rights Time Line, five pages of information on all the quotes provided throughout the book, seven pages of bibliographic and source notes and a three page index. 

Though the book doesn’t read as much like a fiction story as many informational books for youth do these days, it is still very inviting especially due to the number and variety of the illustrations accompanying the narrative.  Hardly a page goes by that a detailed illustration doesn’t help readers really “see” the story coming to life before them.  It’s an interesting story that encourages readers to ruminate on the Klan’s history as well as its current state and future and to perhaps be curious and intrigued enough to continue reading about the subject.  By calling the Klan an “American terrorist group,” readers are perhaps challenged to re-evaluate what their own definitions of being a “terrorist” really are.

 

 

Book Review Excerpts:

“This richly documented, historically contextualized account traces the origin and evolution of the Ku Klux Klan from a small mischievous social club into a powerful, destructive organization…Bartoletti effectively targets teens with her engaging and informative account that presents a well-structured inside look at the KKK, societal forces that spawn hate/terrorist groups, and the research process.”  - Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC (Reviewed August 1, 2010 in School Library Journal (vol 56, issue 8, p117).

“Bartoletti expertly weaves together original sources, testimony, newspaper accounts, with plenty of photographs and illustrations. to paint a portrait of terrorism. It’s a nice mix of primary sources to tell a story…” Elizabeth Burns in School Library Journal, Jan. 4, 2011 (from http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2011/01/04/review-kkk/)

 

 

Awards:

ALA Notable Children's Books - Older Readers Category: 2011

Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth - Older Readers Category: 2010

School Library Journal Best Books: 2010

Nominated for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.

 

 

Connections/Further Activities:

Incorporating excerpts from age-appropriate documentaries about the K.K.K – its formation and history – would help to vividly portray the group’s terrorist activities and its dark place in history.

Initiate a discussion of what students think makes a “terrorist” and why or why not the Klan fits this definition.

 

 

Title Read-A-Likes:

Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan : the True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate - Rick Bowers

1963 Birmingham Church Bombing : the Ku Klux Klan's History of Terror - Lisa Klobuchar

The Return of Gabriel – John Armistead

The Legend of Buddy Bush – Sheila P. Moses

Witness – Karen Hesse

When I Crossed No-Bob – Margaret McMullan