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White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History
CCBC Review:
This searing account thoroughly details the 160-year propaganda campaign to promote the South’s version of the Civil War. Known as the Lost Cause, it’s based on two untruths: that the South did not lose the war, and that the war was not fought over slavery. Bausum’s well-researched, rock-solid argument is accompanied by a visual inventory of Civil War monuments, many of which are still standing. Robert E. Lee is venerated by many for his Civil War leadership, but his defection of the U.S. Army to lead the Confederates was an act of treason. Thanks to government deal-making and efforts to reunite the country, he was ultimately not prosecuted. In time, however, groups committed to defending the Lost Cause championed for a positive and patriotic view of Lee along with numerous buildings, statues, and scholarships in his honor. The author meticulously curates the wide-spread, insidious, and unrelenting efforts to deny losing the war and preserve White superiority. Evidence of propaganda in plantations, modern textbooks, flags, holidays, laws protecting statues, and White supremacist activities, as well as in broader issues like racial disparity, critical race theory, and book challenges, is presented. Humanizing this cold catalogue, the author recounts her childhood in Virginia and what she understood as truth before living outside of the South. For meaningful context, Bauman discusses cultural deprogramming efforts in post-WWII Germany. Highly discussable, this is a timely tome for dedicated young historians. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Wisconsin author
Ann Bausum grew up in Lexington, Virginia. She moved to Wisconsin to attend Beloit College. She currently lives in Janesville.
CCBC Age Recommendation: 13 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Substantial Narrative Non-Fiction
Subjects:
19th Century
20th Century
African Americans
Civil War (US)
History (Nonfiction)
Perspective/Point of View
Racism
Rumor, Myth and Misinformation
Truth and Lies
On CCBC Booklist:
Race and Racism: Selected Books for Pre-K to Grade 12
Publisher:
Roaring Brook
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9781250816573
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 973 Bausum