Witch Hunt: The Cold War, Joe McCarthy, and the Red Scare

by Andrea Balis, Elizabeth Levy, Tim Foley (Illustrator)

A cutting-edge look into a pivotal moment in US McCarthy's infamous "witch hunt" for communists during the 1950's Red Scare.

At the cusp of the Cold War, Americans were so afraid of communists living among them that they began to hunt them like witches. As Senator Joe McCarthy took up this mantle to hunt down “communists” in the US, citizens grew terrified of being accused, so they turned on each other - pointing fingers at neighbors, friends, and even family.

Told through a unique and inviting screenplay-format, brought to life with dozens of illustrations by Tim Foley, and comprised almost entirely of quotes derived from primary sources, Witch Hunt recounts the political craze that gripped America during the Red Scare when McCarthyism forced people to go to extraordinary lengths to keep themselves and their families safe from persecution against their own government.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, American History, Politics, Childrens

240 pages, Hardcover

Published April 16, 2024

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I chose to read "Witch Hunt" because it covers a topic I was personally interested in learning more about and it received a starred review in Booklist. Interestingly, though, the elements that were called out as positives in the starred review were the exact elements that made this a swing and a miss for me. I found the format of the book--lots of block quotes interspersed with bits of prose by the authors dubbed as "Fly On the Wall" context--to be more distracting than engaging. I appreciate that the authors relied heavily on actual quotes and source documents from the period, but I felt it would have all been more impactful if it was integrated into a cohesive narrative structure. My eyes had to do too much work to keep up with the format, and I expect I would have stopped reading sooner if I wasn't personally interested in the topic. Likewise, the creators chose to go with simple line illustrations of the people and events throughout the book, whereas I would like to have seen actual photographs and information-rich captions to make this fraught period of history come alive for the intended young readers.

This is an important piece of history to re-examine from a contemporary perspective, and the authors treat it with an appropriately critical eye. The book reflects the authors' deep research and simply falls short in presentation, in this reader's opinion.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I appreciate the format of the book, the actual text was so dry that I cannot imagine a YA reader picking this up and enjoying it. The information and history presented in the book has so much potential as a novel or radio program (as this format suggests), and the use of quotes from actual participants give it even more depth. It's just laid out in such a way that there's no feeling for the drama or emotion that the actual events should evoke. I wish this book had lived up to its potential...

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it bring Big Important Historical Thing (that I was never taught in school) down to a middle grade/YA level and makes it easy to understand. I also really like that it relies so heavily on actual quotes. However, to echo other reviewers, I can't see this being readable for the recommended age level, and we *need* books on the subject for it. In another format, it would easily be four stars.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC.

[Leyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short summary of the McCarthy era, includes all the main/major points. The perspectives of people who were children of the affected were an interesting addition. The illustrations were a fun touch.

Would recommend for someone wanting an overview without an excess of details or for younger readers.

[Quenby Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the information was very interesting and I really like the format of the book, it’s like reading a script for a podcast.

[Amy Philpott · Rating 2 out of 5]

The text format is so distracting that I found the book unreadable. It’s too bad as a middle grade/YA nonfiction book on the Cold War is needed.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since the end of the Second World War, the word "communism" has been used as a bogeyman for the average American, and is often the default label for any behavior that threatens a selfish sense of privilege. Why explain why you don't like something if it means also facing your own smallness, when you could just scream "communism" and stay secure in your own unjustified self-righteousness instead? Insidiously, the same people who do this are also the ones who want to ban books that explain, among other things, what communism really is. Heaven forfend that others learn the truth and realize that these book banners are merely fascists in disguise, so desperate to hold onto power that they curtail access to knowledge, with the intent of keeping those around them ignorant and, therefore, dependent.

Luckily, there are books like Witch Hunt, that do a phenomenal job of explaining to young readers what communism is, what fascism is, and why witch hunts are an affront to American values and to our civil liberties. Authors Andrea Balis and Elizabeth Levy use the framework of McCarthyism to do so, cleverly placing these issues in a historical context while quietly drawing parallels between that era and the present day. Most of the text is drawn straight from original quotes, testimony and reporting, interspersed with narration in the guise of "fly on the wall" asides. There's a comprehensive list of source notes, as well as a handy timeline. Tim Foley's excellent line drawings throughout bring the contents to life with intelligence and charm.

Honestly, I think that the only more fitting time in recent history to read books like these, about demagogues using scare tactics to curtail American freedoms is perhaps when our 45th president was first campaigning for that position (and, ugh, still is now.) Because holy wow, the similarities with him and his henchmen are breathtaking. No surprise, given the influence that Roy Cohn -- Bully. Coward. Victim -- had on both eras, as this book deftly shows.

But it's really the differences between then and now that are just outright heartbreaking. When elected officials and party representatives of the 1950s shunned Joseph McCarthy it's because they knew that he was an extremist whose harms would far outweigh any political gains they might be able to profit from themselves. Nowadays, the center has allowed itself to be held hostage by the paranoid rabble-rousing of the far Right: instead of being a bulwark against fascism, as the United States government was mid 20th-century, it's allowing the Right to erode any sense of decorum, balance and measured consideration in our halls of power. Were Joseph Welch to demand "Have you no decency?" of these people now, he'd be laughed at. Decency in this day and age is too often seen, if not outright vilified, as weakness.

That said, Witch Hunt isn't just a clever, engaging lesson in history, distant or recent. The book strongly suggests that people in power, both in government and in the media, should work harder to expose the fascists cloaking themselves in the American flag while hypocritically decrying the "unAmerican" behavior of others. Any spotlight given to the sensational claims of these publicity-seekers should be accompanied with a healthily critical coverage.

As both historical text and handbook for readers wishing to fight injustice, this is necessary, illuminating and highly accessible reading. Recommended.

Witch Hunt by Andrea Balis & Elizabeth Levy, illustrated by Tim Foley was published April 16 2024 by Roaring Brook Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!

This review originally appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

A decent, albeit underwhelming, exploration of the Cold War and, namely, the Joseph McCarthy-led "Red Scare" of the 1950s.

I was drawn to the book because of how the events sort of parallel stuff that's going on today - Trump and his many, many lies and fabricated accusations against his enemies, book bans across the nation out of fear of indoctrinating kids into being queer (almost like a Lavender Scare 2.0), Hollywood actors losing jobs and management and getting slapped with accusations of antisemitism over their criticisms of Israel's attacks on Hamas and Palestinian civilians. So I wanted to see how much I could draw comparisons between the events of the book and the modern day. But the book is written in such a dry way with just facts thrown out with little substance to them that I felt myself quickly losing whatever interest I'd had going into it. Obviously I stuck around and managed to finish it, but mostly because it was thankfully pretty short and its formatting allowed for it to be a quick read.

Which brings me to my main issue: the format. I appreciate the usage of primary sources and real quotes said by the figures mentioned in this book. But the blurb on the inside cover gives no indication of this weird screenplay-esque format that the authors have decided to apply to this book. Which is kind of where my interest started to fall - I'm not a big non-fiction person, so I much prefer those books to be written in a narrative sort of way. But this didn't really have that. The "fly on the wall" labels for the non-quote passages were kind of distracting, to the point that I just started ignoring them. But then I found myself ignoring the quote labels too, forcing myself to do a lot of re-reading to go back and see what was said by whom. (Or from what publication, since there were a lot of newspaper or magazine quotes in there too.) The information presented was interesting, but it was also very surface-level and left a lot to be desired. I guess it's not necessarily a bad thing to make me wanna go read more about the Red Scare, but I was hoping this book would be satisfying enough for me with that; it really just left my itch for some juicy Red Scare info unscratched.

Also, I have to admit, it feels weird to call this a young adult book. Between the illustrations and the very brief paragraphs of text, it reads much more like a middle grade non-fiction book. Kinda reminded me of the Who HQ brand of books, and I've found those a lot more satisfying than this. (I've read two of them in recent years, and while they might also make you want to do more research about their respective topics, they're VERY engaging to read.)

I guess I'll just be strongly utilizing their "further reading" list for more Red Scare-centric books to pick up in the future.

[Sally Kruger]

*Thank you to Media Masters Publicity for the opportunity to review this book.

WITCH HUNT by Andrea Balis & Elizabeth Levy & illustrated by Tim Foley chronicles the historical events surrounding the Cold War, Joe McCarthy, and the Red Scare.

At the end of WW I, there was the Communist Revolution in Russia. In the years that followed, Communism grew and spilled over into countries like ours. Joining the Communist party or simply having it thought that someone might be connected to Communism meant being placed on a blacklist in the U.S.

The most notorious hunter of Communists was Joseph McCarthy. He was determined to eliminate any Communists from the country. The HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) was formed in 1938 by Congress. People lived in fear that they would somehow be identified as communists or fascists. They could lose their jobs and be forced out of their communities. Famously, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were even executed as so-called communists.

WITCH HUNT covers the time period from the end of WW I until 1961. Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower presided over much of this era known as the Red Scare. Joe McCarthy, later elected Senator, joined with Roy Cohn and David Schine to search for and prosecute many innocent people over the years.

Authors Balis and Levy have recorded the events in an easy-to-read format that includes verbatim interviews, original stories from those involved, transcripts, and sections titles "Fly on the Wall." Their account tells of scary times involving book bans, blacklists, and paranoia that interestingly resemble some things in politics today. I highly recommend WITCH HUNT for teen and even adult readers.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always good to remind ourselves of our historical poor behavior and sad to realize we still need to learn some of the same lessons. For that reason I would recommend this to most adults. The material is presented as quotes from primary sources interspersed with "Fly on the Wall" blocks of text to represent the author's commentary on events. Source Notes are organized in the back of the book by page number. I would have preferred footnotes but the use of so many first person quotes may've made the text clunky. A timeline is also included. The book is appropriate for upper elementary school readers and perhaps even inviting as the quotes break up text into smaller chunks and many pages are illustrated. The narrative is straight forward and appropriate for the intended audience.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

WITCH HUNT is brilliantly written - it reminds me of a film documentary in that it presents the information with the collaboration of a narrator, quotations, and newspaper headlines/clippings. While the format may be off-putting and difficult to follow, at first - once you catch on, it’s very unique and a refreshing change from a typical expository nonfiction book.

The information within may raise some clarifying questions from younger readers, as it is definitely geared toward the older set of MG. The illustrations scattered throughout are expressive and complimentary to the text. Chapters are short, with short blurbs to keep a readers interest.

Back matter includes a timeline, notes on sources, further reading resources, acknowledgements, and index.

[Caylie Ratzlaff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3/5 stars.

It's not bad, so don't look at the 3 stars and immediately discredit this. I just expected....more? It's also told in an interesting way with many many many primary sources (which I love) but it's told in almost a radio serial format with interjections and not very lengthy texts. While it keeps it moving fast with how it's told, I also don't think it gives enough background information. I think I would have been a confused reader if I did not have the background knowledge I already do with this area.

I also liked the sketches included, but they needed context for them to be effective.

[Julie Stout · Rating 3 out of 5]

In contrast to other reviewers, I believe that the format of the book is attractive for YA. My problem SO FAR is what I would call historical errors that should not be overlooked. For example, on page 16, a lynching in July 1946 "is considered the last mass lynching in America." I would direct the reader to the MOVE bombing of 1985. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_MO...
I just think that is a really effed up thing to tell kids that lynchings ended in the United States in 1946 WHEN THEY ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. Things I appreciated: the topic and the use of primary sources and direct quotes.

Things I didn't appreciate: I think the biggest one is the format which is all over the place and makes it difficult to follow.

I started and stopped this one several times. In the end, I'm glad I finished it because I learned so much about this period in history and loved looking up actual footage from the events on You Tube.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors use a multiple point-of-view approach to telling the history of the Joseph McCarthy/Cold War era after World War II. Told in bursts of primary accounts, historical accounts, and analysis by the authors (fly on the wall), the book will keep readers hooked and hopefully inspire readers to read more about this scary time in our country’s history. Illustrated with black and white drawings.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the content of this book was excellent but did not care for the choppy way it is presented. It felt like a social media news feed and not a book and took me forever to finish because I didn't develop a reading flow until close to the end of the book. I'm sure the intent is to appeal to middle grade readers who have little to no attention span due to social media, but it really impacted my enjoyment of the book.

[Emmy 🔮 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really appreciate the book being published for teen readers but the format was a little choppy. I think it would’ve been better in a podcast format or audiobook. I think it’s an important time in American history to reflect on but I think this book material was pretty surface and could’ve included more about McCarthy’s censure and how his actions led to another senator, Lester Hunt, to kill himself in his senate office.

[tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who is saying that this book has no story is infuriating. The book isn't a work of fiction - it is a non-fiction middle school read and therefore it should not have a story. It is meant to be this way.

Secondly, it is an amazing book. I actually finished it in its entirety in one day. I cannot wait to read the other one about the Watergate scandal! Great work. Solid book!

[Jeff Koslowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 8 year old daughter chose this, of all books, for us to read together. Though the language is a little out of her range, she enjoyed the pictures and the different quotes from other people's perspectives. I would give them different voices and that helped her follow along.

[Amanda Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The layout of this book increases readability, but also causes some confusion. I really enjoyed the read. It's a topic you don't see a lot about in the world of Juvenile literature. And something that I, as a firmly adult woman, didn't know much about.

[Emily Mandeville-Houle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really interesting content, but the screenplay format made it difficult to read.

[Mary Krisann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated it - chose to return the book

[Remy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to read due to the way it's written, but there is a lot of good info.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A scorcher that exposes shameful attitudes, personalities, and events that might seem eerily familiar." [Kirkus]

[Emily Macleod · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slim volume meant for younger teen readers. It was pithy, concise, and endlessly entertaining.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Filled in some historical aspects of McCarthyism for me. The format felt awkward though.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Telling the story of the "witch hunt" for communists around the Cold War time period, this book will bring a unique part of history to any collection. The formatting of this book is a little unusual, which may be because I had access to a digital review copy. It read like a screen play, and at times, felt like information was missing between sections. Maybe if this is being turned into a graphic novel or having illustrations, that information may be provided visually and it will feel less chaotic.

The quality of information was excellent. Full of quotes and references pulled from primary sources, making Witch Hunt an excellent nonfiction resource to fill this gap in history on your shelves.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Balis and Levy employed their "fly on the wall style" in Bringing Down a President, and utilize again to tell the story of McCarthy era Communist "witch hunts" through short observations about particular occurrences, which are then supported by direct quotes. These come from a variety of sources and famous and not-so-famous people. There are presidential directives, interviews, Time Magazine and other news media snippets, and a lot of quotes from Josh, the son of Communist Party members that were especially interesting, since his father had to go into hiding in another state.

A wide range of situations were covered, from the investigations until Hollywood personnel that ruined hundreds of careers, to teachers, the Rosenberg spy case, to the discriminatory treatment of homosexuals. From cities to small towns, it seems like there was nowhere safe. This was fascinating for me to read, because in talking to friends and family members who lived through this time in Ohio, this was something that was in the news but not really on their doorsteps. Clearly, this was a widespread phenomenon, and the people I knew were very lucky not to have been affected!

Foley's illustrations really make this book; their black and white outlines mimic the style of Mad Magazine, adding a bit of humor to a grim topic. To be fair, history has treated McCarthy as a bit of a buffoon. Even at the time, people such as Senator Lyndon Johnson, made comments that he was "the sorriest senator out there" but that you "don't get in a pissin' contest with a polecat", so this is yet another historical example of bad actors somehow capturing something within the popular psyche that allowed them to have more power than seems reasonable to us today.

There are not a lot of books about this time period, and McCarthy and society instilled a fear of communism in the US population that had long lasting implications. I loved that this started with the banning of the Robin Hood story; that's a nice tie in with all of the book banning that is going on today. What this lacked in narrative flow, it made up for in the variety of topics, even including the Berlin Air Lifts and Oppenheimer and the bomb. This would go right along with Marrin's A Time of Fear: America in the Era of Red Scares and Cold War or Brimner's Blacklisted.

[Christian Davell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This engaging and concise book offers multiple perspectives on this fascinating time in American
history. Throughout the mid-twentieth century, a group of government officials used the fear of
Communism as a weapon to destroy lives and reputations and endanger the very rights that make
America free. In a unique script-like style that uses numerous primary sources and quotes, readers will uncover who was leading the ‘Red Scare’ campaigns and who were the victims of these American witch hunts.