They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bartoletti, Susan Cambell. 2010. They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618440337

PLOT SUMMARY

Bartoletti tells the story of how a clandestine terrorist group took root in America.  Bartoletti explores the origins of the K.K.K. and focuses on the stories from victims.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Award winning author Bartoletti is well known for her non-fiction books, especially Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow.  Her latest non-fiction book, They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group will not leave readers disappointed.  Although at this point her name lends credibility to her work, Bartoletti includes an extensive notes section at the end of the book to affirm the accuracy of the content.  Additionally, in the acknowledgements section, she thanks several historians for their help which leads the reader to conclude that her facts have been verified.  Bartoletti also details her research process in a journal-like entry.

This book is organized chronologically.  Bartoletti details the creation and subsequent consequences of the formation of the K.K.K.  Several reference aids are included throughout the book, including a table of contents, time line, quote attributions, bibliography, notes, and index.  Each chapter includes several pictures and visuals from the time period which support the text and provide interest to the content.  The portraits of people give an especially personal feel to the book as the text is more meaningful when there is a face associated with the content.

While reading They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group, a reader might forget that they are reading a work of non-fiction.  Bartoletti writes in a way that is simple without sacrificing the content.  The inclusion of personal accounts makes the content personal and more meaningful.  This book is likely to spark interest among readers and leave readers desiring more information on the topic. 

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group is suggested for ages 12 and up.  Some of the content is gruesome (such as a depiction of two lynching victims on p. 127) and could be inappropriate for younger readers.  This is definitely not to say that this book should be avoided, as the content is excellent, but caution should be exercised when suggesting this book to younger children.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Horn Book Guide:  “Exemplary in scholarship, interpretation, and presentation.”

School Library Journal:  “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.”

Publisher’s Weekly:  “Copious photos, engravings, and illustrations provide a hard-hitting graphic component to this illuminating book.”

CONNECTIONS

Children interested in Bartoletti’s book might also enjoy:

Crowe, Chris. Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case. ISBN 0803728042

Bowers, Rick. Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement. ISBN 1426305958