Killers of the Flower Moon

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2017

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Introduction

Teacher Introduction

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

Genre: Nonfiction; true crime; history
Originally Published: 2017
Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1160L; college/adult
Structure/Length: 3 parts, 26 chapters; approximately 400 pages; approximately 9 hours on audio
Central Concern: Author David Grann explores the true story of a series of murders of Osage Nation members in Oklahoma in the 1920s. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage became among the richest people in the world. As this historical narrative reveals, however, some members of the community were murdered while others died under mysterious circumstances. The Bureau of Investigation, a forerunner to the FBI, worked to unravel a chilling conspiracy and one of the most monstrous crimes in American history.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Descriptions of murder and violence; hate crimes; racism; exploitation; systemic injustice

David Grann, Author

Bio: American journalist and author; staff writer for The New Yorker since 2003; known for his meticulous research and captivating narratives; explores true stories often involving historical mysteries and injustices
Other Works: The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon (2009); The White Darkness (2018)
Awards: Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime (2018); Anthony Award for Best Critical/Nonfiction Work (2018)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide: