The BookBrowse Review

Published July 30, 2025

ISSN: 1930-0018

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In This Edition of
The BookBrowse Review

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Editor's Introduction
Reviews
Hardcovers Paperbacks
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Literary Fiction


Historical Fiction


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Essays


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Biography/Memoir


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Young Adults

Literary Fiction


Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Speculative, Alt. History


Graphic Novels


Biography/Memoir


History, Current Affairs and Religion


Extras
Book Jacket

White Lies
How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History
by Ann Bausum
12 Aug 2025
368 pages
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Genre: History, Current Affairs and Religion
Critics:

This powerful and unflinching examination of racism in America by award-winning historian Ann Bausum deconstructs the warped history of the Civil War for teen readers, perfect for fans of Stamped, Just Mercy, and Accountable.

Warning: This is not your average U.S. history book.

After the Civil War, the Confederates may have laid down their arms, but they were far from accepting defeat. By warping the narrative around what really happened during and after the Civil War, they created an alternate history now known as the Lost Cause. These lies still manifest today through criticism of Critical Race Theory, book banning, unequal funding for education, and more.

This book sets the record straight and explains the true history of the Civil War, and its complex and far-reaching aftermath. Written by historian and award-winning author Ann Bausum, White Lies is an impeccably researched chronicle filled with photos, robust back matter, additional resources, and more that fans of Howard Zinn's A Young People's History of the United States will enjoy.

"The clear, direct prose shuns euphemisms, explicitly naming obfuscating language, and addresses atrocities without lingering on grisly details. The dispassionate tone results in an authoritative voice, supported by extensive research, that avoids sensationalism...Essential reading." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A...powerful offering that encourages readers to critically engage with historical record and to use the knowledge they obtain to better the world." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Meticulously researched, this is a must-have in the history classroom and beyond." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

"An important and compelling work that belongs in all high school and public libraries." —School Library Journal (starred review)

"An essential volume to understand the history of racial division in the U.S." —Booklist (starred review)

Ann Bausum writes history for readers of all ages. Her books for young people help upper elementary, middle school, and high school students discover the drama and significance of stories from the past that may barely be presented in textbooks. In 2015 her adopted home state named her the year's Notable Wisconsin Children's Author. Two years later, the body of her work received national recognition with the Nonfiction Award of the Children's Book Guild of Washington, D.C.

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