Superman Versus the Ku Klux Clan

Gr 5 Up—Rick Bowers seamlessly weaves together accounts of the simultaneous emergence of the iconic Man of Steel and one of history's most notorious hate groups in his excellent book (National Geographic, 2012). As the Great Depression took its toll, Cleveland teens Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster decided the world needed a spectacular hero. They envisioned a character that would fight for the little guy and be a defender of truth and justice. Through trial and error, their idea evolved into Superman and was eventually introduced to mainstream audiences thanks to DC Comics. Around the same time, a right-wing group, the Ku Klux Klan, was forming in response to the country's political and economic unrest. Members blamed these problems on anything (and anyone) not fitting their narrow WASP ideal and sought to eliminate perceived threats through intimidation and violence. These two forces collided in 1947 on The Superman Radio Show, where the Man of Steel went head-to-head against the Men of Hate. Johnny Heller reads with the enthusiasm of an old-time radio announcer, doing the production justice. This fast-paced, meaty, and never dry account will fascinate teens, even those who don't enjoy reading nonfiction. An excellent supplement for American history classes.—Alissa LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI