Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Book banning has become the norm in Texas, the state where I grew up and came back to live in after 21 years away in my 30s and 40s.  One such ban occurred in Llano County in the picturesque Hill Country, where a number of books were removed from the public library shelves by right-wing nut jobs because of "porn" (read:  against their political and religious beliefs).

One of the books was They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group, written in 2010 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti.  This book received lots of recognition, including being named a National Council of Teachers of English Orbis Pictus Recommended Title, American Library Assocition's Young Adult Library Services Association Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist, and National Council for the Social Studies/Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People.  I'd bought it for the curriculum collection (used by future teachers) at my university library, but had not had a chance to read the book until now.

Bartoletti, a former 8th-grade English teacher, has written a number of award-winning nonfiction books for children and young adults.  Through primary and secondary source documents, period drawings and articles, and photographs and interviews with former slaves in the 1930s, Bartoletti traces the history of the Ku Klux Klan, from its inception in Pulaski, Tennessee, after the Civil War as an almost-fraternity-like organization (complete with initiation rites and secret rituals), through the Reconstruction era, and touching on its continuance into the 21st century.  She adeptly demonstrates how post-Civil War and Reconstruction conditions in the South led to the proliferation of this terrorist group.

The book ends with a civil rights time line that extends from 1863 (Emancipation Proclamation) to 2008 (election of President Obama).  Bartoletti provides attributions for all the quotations she uses, as well as an extensive bibliography and source notes, and a thorough index.  The 172-page book is quite readable, written in a narrative nonfiction style with at least one illustration or long quote on every double-page spread.

This book BELONGS in every public library.  With a Lexile measure of 1180 and an Accelerated Reader level of grade 9.2, it is also appropriate for ALL middle school and high school libraries.  It is most certainly NOT "porn."  It is uncomfortable history - especially for racists.

Some Llano County residents filed suit against the Llano County commissioners and library board concerning the bans.  In late March 2023, a judge ruled in their favor, and ordered the banned books back on the shelves.  The commissioners considered closing the libraries rather than putting the books back, but after public outcry, left the libraries open.

One copy of the book is owned for the entire three-branch system, and it was checked out when I last looked (although whether or not it is overdue - sometimes an indicator someone is trying to keep the book off the shelves - is not clear).  Although it is classified as a young adult book, it is shelved in the adult section at this library - as it is at the library in my right-wing nut job county too.… (more)

Listened to it on my daily commute. It was a fast listen and the narrator did a great job. the book was written for young readers and skipped all the scientific and long winded explanation.

Even for times back then, Mary Mallon was not given due process. I feel she was being made into an example and portrayed as an irrational irish woman. I think if it was explained to her what happened and someone made her understand instead of treating her like a felon and talking down to her, she would have followed what was recommended.
Mary was a very proud and strong person. The treatment toward her would be unthinkable these days.… (more)