Books with author Susan Bartoletti

Sophie lives in the silly little town of Fadoodle Falls. Everyone in Fadoodle Falls is incredibly happy about every aspect of their lives. Everything, except for the fact that it never snows! Until one day...Sophie can't wait to finally go out to enjoy the snow. Unfortunately, Sophie is soon disappointed because the adults have decided that no one should ruin the first snow in Fadoodle Falls. See what happens when a group of silly adults try to decide what to do next.

*Please be aware that this book deals with serious social issues. It includes some strong language and mature situations. ABOUT EMOTIONAL PARAMEDICS: August Gallagher is a sweet and intelligent Brooklyn girl just trying to find her place in the world during the turbulent 1960s. Unfortunately, her mother, Alis, doesn't make things easy for her. Bad choices, poor parenting and abusive men create chaos at every turn. Yet, through it all, August reluctantly remains a devoted daughter and continues to be Alis's emotional paramedic. Along the way, August finds friendship, romance and makes a few dangerous enemies. When Alis hits rock bottom, August is forced to come to terms with the fact that it's finally time to cut the dysfunctional cord to save herself from Alis's emotional grasp.INTERVIEW WITH SUSAN BARTON:How much “real life” is in Emotional Paramedics?August Gallagher and I have a few things in common. We both grew up in Brooklyn and we both loved our grandmothers dearly. We both also came across a lot of colorful characters during our teen years. I’ve used several of my own life experiences as inspiration for some of the plot details, but no characters are real.There are many social issues at play in Emotional Paramedics. Were you trying to take a stand or make a statement by incorporating them into your book?I’d be lying if I said that tackling things like homosexuality, child abuse, war and racism was not a conscious decision on my part. I definitely have views on those subjects, and since I’m human, these things most definitely made their way into my writing. I do know I’ve approached these topics subtly and my hope is that readers will make their own decisions from there. What do you say to anyone who thinks some of the dialogue and plot are a little “rough”?There’s no denying that this story is for mature teens and adults. It was important to me that the dialogue was real and that the situations were believable. That meant using mature language and having some of my characters behaving in a downright disgusting manner at times. However, I’m confident that the language and mature situations are never, ever gratuitous – they serve a very real purpose in this book.What would that “very real purpose” be?I wanted to write a story of hope. I wanted to let any other Augusts our there know that things will get better. As you read Emotional Paramedics, you’ll see there is a common thread that ties many of the characters together: While you may have been dealt a crappy hand in life, that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. It also doesn’t mean that it gives you the right to be crappy to other people because of your own unfortunate circumstances. We all have the ability to change things and, once we’ve reached adulthood, we are all responsible for our own behavior.

In 1845, a disaster struck Ireland. Overnight, a mysterious blight attacked the potato crops, turning the potatoes black and destroying the only real food of nearly six million people. Over the next five years, the blight attacked again and again. These years are known today as the Great Irish Famine, a time when one million people died from starvation and disease and two million more fled their homeland. Black Potatoes is the compelling story of men, women, and children who defied landlords and searched empty fields for scraps of harvested vegetables and edible weeds to eat, who walked several miles each day to hard-labor jobs for meager wages and to reach soup kitchens, and who committed crimes just to be sent to jail, where they were assured of a meal. It’s the story of children and adults who suffered from starvation, disease, and the loss of family and friends, as well as those who died. Illustrated with black and white engravings, it’s also the story of the heroes among the Irish people and how they held on to hope.

Boys, let us get up a club.With those words, six restless young men raided the linens at a friend’s mansion, pulled pillowcases over their heads, hopped on horses, and cavorted through the streets of Pulaski, Tennessee. The six friends named their club the Ku Klux Klan, and, all too quickly, their club grew into the self-proclaimed Invisible Empire with secret dens spread across the South. This is the story of how a secret terrorist group took root in America’s democracy. Filled with chilling and vivid personal accounts unearthed from oral histories, congressional documents, and diaries, it is a book to read and remember.

Gobby is a happy little ghost. He makes friends with everyone. Everyone except Globby! Globby is the meanest ghost in Ghost Town, but Gobby has an awesome idea to get Globby to stop being so mean. Will it work? This book is a wonderful jumping off point for parents, grandparents, educators and others to discuss what it means to be a friend. The "Little Ghost Who Could..." is a book with a positive message for children. One that can be shared with small children or read by early readers. There are several thought-provoking questions to discuss at the end of the book, so there is additional value even after the book is read.

This is how history should be told to kids!From Newbery Honor medalist Susan Campbell Bartoletti and in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of woman suffrage in America comes the tirelessly researched story of the little-known DC Women’s March of 1913.Bartoletti spins a story like few others—deftly taking readers by the hand and introducing them to suffragettes Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. Paul and Burns met in a London jail and fought their way through hunger strikes, jail time, and much more to win a long, difficult victory for America and its women.Includes extensive back matter.