When People Were Things

A fan of Kristin Hannah's historical fiction? Curious about what caused the American Civil War but turned off to reading straight history because of the way it was taught in schools, with over emphasis on memorizing dates, speeches, and politics? Nonfiction history can be just as interesting to read as historical fiction if told by a great storyteller.

"Lisa Waller Rogers' storytelling brilliance lies in her ability to humanize historical figures as multidimensional individuals grappling with moral complexities, personal struggles, and the weight of their times....This is historical writing at its finest...."-Emma Harris, 2024 Gilder Lehrman Maryland State American History Teacher of the Year

"As it has become increasingly difficult to engage young people with historical reading materials, this book's story-telling style, pictures, and quoted primary sources presents itself as a possible solution. The abolitionist movement is brought to life by Ms. Rogers in a way that both moves and inspires. Students of American history would benefit from more of these in-depth examinations."-Stephanie Meek, 2024 Gilder Lehrman Alaska State History Teacher of the Year

Why This Book Works

"What makes this book stand out is how approachable it feels. Rogers writes with clarity, balancing the weight of history with storytelling that keeps the reader turning pages. She doesn't just present dates and speeches; she brings to life the emotions, debates, and struggles that defined the era. It's the kind of history book that can appeal to both students just learning about the Civil War and seasoned readers who want to see the subject from a new angle. The pacing is steady, and Rogers has a knack for making historical figures feel real and relatable, rather than distant icons on a pedestal."-Amanda Sedlak-Hevener - Media/Journalist 

book summary: During the three decades before the American Civil War, Southern slaveholders tried to end the anti-slavery movement. They exerted their influence by censoring the press and the mail, attacking and killing abolitionists, burning buildings, drafting frightening new laws and repealing others, and terrorizing and abducting Northern free Blacks. Northerners began to realize that the Slave Power would not rest until slavery was allowed to plant itself all over the nation; many stopped compromising and pushed back. When People Were Things offers a humanizing lens of these disturbing times, portraying well-known Americans in new and surprising ways-activists that still inspire and energize us today-while not shying away from revealing a world often disturbed by Blackness.