Unraveling Freedom: 11/12/13

Unraveling Freedom by Ann Bausum takes a critical look at the United States's treatment of immigrants during times of war. It begins by comparing the treatment of Germans immediately following the sinking of the Lusitania and the treatment of muslims following the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks in 2001.

It's an unconventional approach for a U.S. history book aimed at ten year olds and older. It seems so often these books are either just basic facts or worse, facts and patriotism to the point of being propaganda. Bausum's book avoids propaganda and patriotism to uncover the racism that so often surfaces when the nation is either attacked or is at war.

The book's text, though is relatively short. It is essentially an essay padded with numerous historical photographs. I wish the essay part of the book were expanded to go into the various eras in greater detail. As it stands, it's more of an introduction to a difficult topic, than an exploration of the topic written at a middle grade level.

Three stars

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