I loved this book. The graphics are well done and the content is so much fun. You are reviewing the bits of history that were missed or just wrong. This book is good for several different age levels.

We would be better off if even half of this book were in our schools’ history textbooks. Lies My Teacher Told Me shows how our history books continue various unfair beliefs or judgments about different cultures. But nationalism will not allow that.

Artist Nate Powell (the first cartoonist to win a National Book Award!) adapts the late James W. Loewen’s work into a graphic novel. I love an excellent graphic novel adaptation, and this one is excellent!

Thank you, NetGalley and The New Press, for this ebook!

Excellent, powerful graphic novel adaptation of nonfiction. Updated edition of Loewen’s examination of high school textbooks for American History. Sadly, many of the issues brought up in 1995 are still happening.
He did contribute to this edition before his death. Powell references current events in his artwork

Lies My Teacher Told Me is a book that has been on my mental "to read" list for years, which is why I am so excited to have received the ARC of the graphic novel from The New Press and NetGalley.

So I read this book through the lens of a regular reader and as a teacher. As a teacher, I found the amount of text on the page to be good for an older audience (i.e. late middle school / high school +), which seems to be the right audience for this book. The book strikes a good balance between text and imagery. The images add to the reader's understanding of the text and do not detract from the words on the page (which I have found with some graphic novels - I’m more interested in the pictures than the words). In fact, in this case, you HAVE to read to understand the image on the page.

I also enjoyed the presentation of these historical lessons using graphics as graphic novels are immensely popular with kids/teens and help to break up the text into "easier to digest" portions. Unfortunately, we lose many kids as readers in these grades because they find books (especially longer books, like textbooks) to be "boring". James Loewen and Nate Powell recognize this and even speak to it during the first few pages of the book. "And it's in history classrooms where students spend MORE time simply reading from their textbooks, answering fifty-five questions at the end of the chapter, and so on."

As a regular reader, I appreciated the subject matter, much of which made me question the history lessons I endured as a child - but I guess we didn't think as much about bias back then, we just accepted what we were presented. I believe it's important for everyone to read books that question the usual interpretation of historical events and this graphic novel has made me want to pick up the original text.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves history, teachers of children in middle school/high school, and any adult looking for an interesting text to read. I am looking forward to adding this graphic novel to my classroom library.

This is the book that needs to be taught in history classes - an exploration of how history is taught in America and who benefits or suffers because of it. From the founding of our country to the 2020s, Loewen explains that history is shaped by politics and capitalism, and that does not create an unbiased curriculum. Using current and past history text books that are used in the US, he goes through and discusses the shortcomings and outright lies perpetuated by these 'histories.'

I remember reading the original book and hoping this adaptation would be more approachable. However, I'm not a fan of graphic novels with lengthy paragraphs. They feel out of place in the format and don't add much beyond the artwork.

For readers hesitant to tackle longer works, I recommend trying the audiobook of the original instead.

While this graphic novel offers some good information, I'd suggest it primarily for those unfamiliar with the original book.

The greatest strength in this is the fact that it is a graphic novel. I've already had both English and history teachers tell me that adaptations are 'less than' full novels or books, are somehow dumbed down or even worse, doesn't count as reading as all. It always perplexes me because barring the fact that that kind of sentiment is exactly what pushes people away from reading, is that we are all (hopefully!) taught as educators to scaffold and take into account various learning styles. This book does that, and is in some ways more powerful than the original book.

For example, I read about lynchings, both in my history textbook and in To Kill a Mockingbird. I knew it was bad and resulted in deaths. It wasn't until I was confronted with actual photographs that it made it crystallize in my mind. Nearly all of us have never seen this horrific act in any sort of real life context or in media. Now we have an image of it in book. It is not hidden by our lack of reference, the abstraction of words or like this book sets out to destroy, completely bypassing the subject. You have an image of a lynched black man, surrounded by happy white folks, eating and laughing, with children present as if this is good afternoon entertainment. No one that looks at that can try and rationalize it away with fancy turns of phrase or trying to hide it. Seeing that image slams home exactly the horrors that black folks faced for centuries, and causing us as the audience to question others that try and say 'slavery wasn't that bad' or that confederate flags are harmless symbols of 'Southern Pride'.

Even as a seasoned teacher, this book had so much in there that I didn't know. Not only that, I recognized a lot of the falsehoods, misinformation and outright lies that was taught to me in high school. I even recognized the history textbook I had! For example, Wilson was made out to be a doddering old guy who loved his 14 points so much that those mean Europeans refused to accept. But the revelation that he was a manipulating white supremist was insane at how deep that misrepresentation went. Columbus was no exception either and it makes my stomach churn realizing that we have a holiday and celebrate as children what essentially amounts to a depraved genocidal child sex trafficker.

Everyone should have this book to reach as many people as possible.

I have had the original version of Lies My Teacher Told Me on my shelf since my years as an undergraduate education student many years ago. The content has interested me, but the density and length of the text was a little intimidating. I was quite excited, therefore, to find a graphic adaptation of this same text! The graphic novel format made the text feel more accessible, and I imagine that many readers will feel the same. Though I have been fascinated with US history for about as long as I can remember, I learned plenty of new facts in this book. This title is essential for those who teach, those who learn, and those who live in the United States. This title is a bit beyond the scope of my elementary library, but I will absolutely be recommending it to all of the teachers I work with.

Summary:

As adults, many of us have learned that the facts taught to us by our history books aren't always so accurate. Not only is there an inherent bias in the writing (history is told by the winners, and all that), but there's a lack of checking and a focus on heroification.

Lies My Teacher Told Me aims to delve into American history books, examining what they do – and don't cover. Likewise, it's meant to help open our eyes. History should be making us ask questions – not shut down.

Review:

I'm SO excited that Lies My Teacher Told Me is getting a graphic novel adaptation! I hope this makes it even more approachable to a larger audience. That said, I sat down and read the original novel in preparation for the graphic novel. Yes, I wanted to read and compare the book that compares history books. It seemed appropriate.

I was not disappointed. Lies My Teacher Told Me: A Graphic Novel Adaptation does a great job of focusing on the central points and concerns. It doesn't feel like it's heavily summarized or cut down. Additionally, the graphics and illustrations help to drive home many of the points.

I was hoping that some of the statistics would be updated for the graphic novel (since we all know things change so quickly), but I also understand why this may not have been feasible. I still hope that this adaptation helps put an informative and interesting book into more hands.

Highlights:
Graphic Novel Adaptation
American History
Analysis of American History Textbooks

I had never read the original book and was captivated by the history lessons in this adaptation. As an English teacher in France, this book is a precious tool to give a new perspective on what my students think they know about American history and I am grateful that this illustrated version exists to help them understand it better.

This graphic adaptation is very text-heavy, but it allowed for a lot more details than I thought would be possible in such a short history book. I was pleasantly surprised about the comprehensive way it debunked the stories that textbooks teach us as facts and truths, and would recommend it for anyone interested in the questions of history-writing.

I first read Lies My Teacher Told Me in my AP U.S. History course in high school. I was super excited to be approved for this ARC because my son is going through American History right now, and I thought this format would be more engaging than a long (and dry) textbook. It was a hit!!! I can't wait to purchase a hardcover edition of the book.

Thank you The New Press and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this great book. This very detailed and meticulously researched book is a graphic novel adaptation of the previously published book with the same title. The content is very interesting and I highly recommend it, however, the text font was very hard to read, especially in a black and white version and the graphic aspect felt more like an illustrated text rather than a graphic novel. Nonetheless, it is an important book that provides a wider access to an important subject of history and should be read by those who would like to explore the subject from multiple viewpoints.

I received an electronic ARC from The New Press through NetGalley.
Powell remains true to Loewen's POV in his books in this graphic non-fiction version. Readers see Loewen's points illustrated clearly. Hopefully, the content makes readers think and engage in dialogue about United States history. Each chapter explores a different time frame that concludes with the present time. The artwork is highly detailed and captures the viewpoints and events missing in US History textbooks. The author is blunt in his opinions on textbook publishing companies while acknowledging why they write history as they do. There is much to absorb in this book and will take time to process the arguments and points. Well done to offer this information in a different style.

Much more dense than I expected, but it had ALOT of information in it. Gave me some new perspectives on some topics and some stuff that I need to research on other topics to verify. Overall it was worth the read.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

For a comic, it's pretty dense. But I thought it was interesting. I wouldn't have otherwise read a nonfiction history book; the reasons why were talked about in this book. It also gave some insight into how textbooks are made, which was disappointing but unsurprising. A lot of what's talked about has to do with issues involving racism and social class. And because of the nature of this book, it made me (encouraged me to?) think about the perspective and biases being presented here as well. This is a good read for anyone that wants to get upset about American propaganda/information censoring and/or wants confirmation that your history classes sucked.

Thank you Netgalley & The New Press Publishing for an eARC 🔥

Greetings, readers! I've just finished perusing the graphic adaptation of "Lies My Teacher Told Me" and I must say, it's a truly enlightening experience. Nate Powell's illustrations bring a fresh perspective to the text, making it feel more engaging and accessible.

I must admit, I was previously unaware of the extent to which American history has been whitewashed. This book sheds light on the darker corners of our nation's past, revealing uncomfortable truths about figures like Columbus and Wilson. It's a sobering reminder that our understanding of history is often incomplete and biased.

While the book is an engaging read, it's not a lighthearted one. It confronts us with the harsh realities of our nation's past and present. But that's precisely why it's so important. By facing these truths head-on, we can work towards a more informed and inclusive understanding of our shared history.
"Lies My Teacher Told Me" is a must-read for anyone interested in a more nuanced understanding of American history. It's a thought-provoking and eye-opening book that challenges us to think critically about the stories we've been told and the implications they have for our society today.

Lies My Teacher Told Me tells the stories left out of (or radically changed in) the usual American history textbook—and invites readers to reconsider what they’re learning by thinking about who’s telling this story, and what’s being omitted. From the ‘discovery’ of the Americas to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, it analyzes the lies, embellishments, and omissions that characterize the typical US history curriculum and uses them to consider American society as a whole, and the beliefs this one-dimensional portrayal of history perpetrates.

As a fan of the original Lies My Teacher Told Me, I knew immediately when I saw this book that I had to read it. This graphic novel adaptation of the original (a nonfiction classic with the same premise) captures the core ideas, messages, and thoughts while streamlining it into something immensely readable, making it accessible to a whole new audience without losing any of the purpose.

This is probably the most text-heavy graphic novel I’ve read, which meant that it managed to include way more information in under 300 pages than I would’ve thought possible, while still taking advantage of the illustrations and handwriting styles to carry the reader more fluidly through the narrative. That said, although it’s an easy read, it’s not a quick one; I often read graphic novels in one or two sittings, but I found this one was better to read in smaller chunks (a chapter at a time, for example), so I was able to really consider what I’d read before plunging into the next section.

If you’re a history nerd, a graphic novel connoisseur, or just exasperated by your US history class, this is a book for you!

A graphic novel version of the book originally released in the 90s. This is an intriguing insight into the evolution of American unipolarity throughout the ages but arguably doesn’t go far enough into its analysis or challenge the systemic issues behind what’s presented. It’s a bit ironic that a book so critical of textbook authors failing to question the status quo for fear of being shelved comes close to an unvarnished critique but can’t quite bring itself to get over the edge either.

Regardless, you’ll learn a lot from this. I didn’t know Helen Keller was so based for example, beyond her overcoming her disabilities.

I've been interested in Lies My Teacher Told Me ever since the original book was released, but I never made time to read it. When I saw that it was available in graphic novel format, I jumped at the opportunity to review an eARC. As an educator, I've been shocked to discover that so much of the history I learned in school was whitewashed and/or downright false which is why this book is so important. This book does an excellent job of explaining what textbooks have traditionally gotten wrong and why. I love the graphic novel format of this book. The illustrations help present the facts without taking away from the text. This book is aims to condense American history into a graphic novel format, so it does contain more text than many graphic novels do (just something to be mindful of, it is NOT a quick, easy read).

I'm also a homeschool parent and this book is one resource that I would add to my children's high school American history curriculum (of course it would be used along other resources). There is A LOT of information in this graphic novel, so I'd be most likely to use it with older teens. I would absolutely love to see something similar available for upper elementary and middle school students so they could be presented with the facts rather than using inaccurate/incomplete textbooks.

Thank you to NetGalley and The New Press for the opportunity to review an eARC of the graphic novel, Lies My Teacher Told Me.

Not my cup of tea unfortunately, but I am most grateful to have received the opportunity to read the ARC.