Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan by Rick Bowers

Today Superman is best known for battling Lex Luthor and other super villains. But before Superman came to stand for "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" he was known as the "Champion of the Oppressed" and he regularly battled dictators, terrorists, and spies. In the summer of 1946 the Man of Steel even took on the Ku Klux Klan. Attacking the infamous organization was a dangerous affair for the creators of the show, and it required careful planning. Intelligence was gathered from spies who had infiltrated the organization. This is the true story of two outcast kids who grew up to create an iconic American hero, an activist and spy who wasn't afraid to fight for what he believed in, and an infamous organization that used hate-filled rhetoric to feed its greed.

This book contained a trove of interesting information and skillfully balanced multiple threads. I enjoyed reading about the real-life people associated with Superman.  This has a little something for everyone and is a quick to read. Naturally it has some appeal for superhero fans, but a love or even knowledge of comics isn't necessary to enjoy the book.

Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan: The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate by Rick Bowers

Erica's Picks
5th - 8th Grade
Tags: Biography, Comics, Fast Paced, History, Nonfiction, Spies

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