About this item
That's the Stonewall.The Stonewall Inn.Pay attention.History walks through that door.In 1969 being gay in the United States was a criminal offense. It meant living a closeted life or surviving on the fringes of society. People went to jail, lost jobs, and were disowned by their families for being gay. Most doctors considered homosexuality a mental illness. There were few safe havens. The Stonewall Inn, a Mafia-run, filthy, overpriced bar in New York City's Greenwich Village, was one of them.Police raids on gay bars happened regularly in this era. But one hot June night, when cops pounded on the door of the Stonewall, almost nothing went as planned. Tensions were high. The crowd refused to go away. Anger and frustration boiled over.The raid became a riot.
About the Author
Ann Bausum writes about history for readers of all ages from her home in southern Wisconsin. Her works often focus on under-told stories from the past, and she frequently explores issues of social justice. Her newest title, The March Against Fear (National Geographic: 2017) , is her third work to examine the civil rights movement in the American South. In the case of these and other books, Bausum strives to bring the nation's social justice history to life in ways that empower and inspire readers young and old alike. Her previous title, Stonewall (Viking: 2015) , is among the first nonfiction books to introduce teens to gay rights history. Previous works have explored voting rights, immigration, and free speech, among other topics. The almost-forgotten story of Stubby lured Bausum away from social justice history temporarily. She wrote twin titles about the stray dog smuggled to Europe during World War I who returned to a hero's welcome. Both books were published in 2014 by National Geographic: Sergeant Stubby (for adult readers) and Stubby the War Dog (for children) .In the spring of 2017, the Children's Book Guild of Washington, D.C., will honor the body of Bausum's work by presenting her with its venerable Nonfiction Award. This award recognizes the consistent commendation earned by her individual titles through the years. Bausum's books have appeared consistently on lists of recommended and notable titles and have earned numerous literary awards including a Sibert Honor Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award, the Carter G. Woodson Award (on two occasions) , and the SCBWI Golden Kite Award. In 2015, she was named the year's Notable Wisconsin Children's Author by the Wisconsin Library Association.You may follow Bausum on Facebook and Twitter or visit her online at www.AnnBausum.com.
