Ann Bausum

Ann Bausum writes about history for readers of all ages from her home in southern Wisconsin. She works to make history feel alive and irresistible even for reluctant readers, including children and teens. Her books frequently explore issues of social justice, including the civil rights movement of the American South, free speech, immigration, women’s voting rights, and queer history. She has also documented the influence of propaganda during multiple periods of history, both in the United States and beyond.

Irresistible stories have taken her to unexpected places. She authored a pair of books for children and adults about Stubby, the stray dog who came home a hero from World War I. More recently, she’s written about the German resistance during World War II and the preservation of the plays of William Shakespeare with the First Folio collection of 1623.

Her latest work, White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History, debuted on August 12, 2025, with an unprecedented six starred reviews. This book for teens explores how the Lost Cause, a warped account of history that emerged in the former Confederacy, has warped our understanding of the past, influenced our culture, and infected our public discourse.

Bausum’s nineteen books have earned consistent acclaim since her publishing career began in 2000. Collectively these titles have earned three dozen starred reviews as well as multiple state and national awards. Named a Notable Children’s Author by her adopted home state of Wisconsin, she and the body of her work have been recognized nationally with the Nonfiction Award of the Children’s Book Guild of Washington, District of Columbia.