Titles:
- Black potatoes : the story of the great Irish famine, 1845-1850 (c. 2001)
- The boy who dared (c. 2008)
- Growing up in coal country (c. 1996)
- Kids on strike! (c. 1999)
- Hitler Youth : growing up in Hitler's shadow (c. 2006)
- They Called Themselves the K.K.K. --Birth of an American Terrorist Group (c. 2010NYP)
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co. and Scholastic Press.
Genre: Nonfiction/Information Books
My Reaction to her lecture and reception:
Susan Campbell Bartoletti was introduced to a small crowd who welcomed her warmly. She began by telling us that she was herself a teacher, like many of us in the audience. Susan was an eighth grade English teacher who also happened to have a love for history. She explained that her family vacations were often trips to landmarks, battlefields, homesteads, or cemeteries, all of which had historical significance. On one occasion, her daughter went to the beach with her in-laws and remarked, "I cannot believe, all we have to do is sit here, you mean we get to relax on vacation?". While on these trips, Susan was not just vacationing, she was gathering material for what would become her next career, as an author of Nonfiction or Information books. Susan's early attempts at authoring were so successful, she was met with a dilemma, should she teach or write as her full time occupation.
If you did not already know you have guessed it by now, she chose to leave teaching and become an author. It was obviously a wise decision as she has become an acclaimed young adult author of Nonfiction/Information books.
During her presentation, Susan introduced us to all of her young adult information books, and her rational for writing each of them. Spending the majority of the lecture discussing her most recent works, it became clear that her research and preparation left no stones unturned. She stressed the importance of doing "research to the edges". She explained that it is easy to stop once you have found a story or some history about which to write, but that researching to the edges meant that you have gotten the whole story; including those that were behind the scenes details and or players/persons involved. This research strategy proved very important in her most recent publication, The Boy Who Dared. Through her presentation she conveyed her painstaking research process involving years of note-taking, numerous trips to Germany and Europe, and heartfelt conversations with Holocaust survivors and men that plotted against the Nazi regime.
Susan also spoke in her presentation about her latest book which will be published later this year (2010). They Called Themselves the K.K.K. --Birth of an American Terrorist Group To prepare for this book Susan researched to the edges by attending an actual KKK rally in Arkansas. She spent an entire weekend immersing herself in the speeches and acts of hatred, that are still prevalent today in some circles of our country. Surely, like her other works, this will be a title worthy of shelf space in all libraries.
It was truly fascinating to listen and be a part of Susan Bartoletti's presentation. She made us all keenly aware that it takes more than a talented author and an imagination to write a quality young adult information book.
My reaction:
I was very impressed with Susan's presentation and body of work. I was most impressed with her tireless approach to research and to attain the entire story. As one that enjoys history and reading quality recounts of history, I can appreciate the time and effort she puts in to get the history right, and to ensure that the story of those who were disadvantaged is published for others to learn of their courage and sacrifice.
It is important for teacher/librarians to be aware that such books are available and to acquire them. Our students read history in class, but these Nonfiction works contain the content of the "real people" that provide perspective and will most likely provide the memorable impact for our students long term understanding and comprehension.
