We’re sharing some of the books that our team found most helpful for our research. They cover a wide number of issues, including overviews of the groups behind the backlash, the history of privatization, and accounts of normal folks trying to push back against authoritarianism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/translash.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ATHM-Blog-TheyCamefortheschools-min-680x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThey Came for the Schools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Mike Hixenbaugh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Journalist Mike Hixenbaugh tells the story of Southlake Texas, where a viral video of white high school students shouting racial slurs illuminated the deep divides that existed in the suburban community. A resurgent parental rights movement would go on to seize upon those divides and help inspire far-right activists across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This book is for people looking for a well-written narrative providing more examples of how the far-right movement weaponized the spectre of so-called \u201ccritical race theory\u201d and pivoted into a focus on trans kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nPurchase Here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/translash.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ATHM-Blog-SchoolMoms.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSchool Moms<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Laura Pappano<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Moms for Liberty and the larger so-called parental rights movement is the leading force fighting against LGBTQ inclusion in schools. In School Moms, journalist Laura Pappano attends parental rights events in an attempt to shine a light on this part of the far-right movement, including the Moms for Liberty Summit in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This book is great for listeners who want to hear first-hand accounts of how conservative parents groups organized, and how they have been weaponized by more powerful figures on the far-right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nPurchase Here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/translash.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ATHM-Blog-ThePrivateers-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Privateers<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Josh Cowen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What is the end result of anti-trans attacks on schools? That\u2019s the question education researcher Josh Cowen asks as he lays out how the conservative privatization movement has everything to gain from the increasing erosion of trust in public schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cowen\u2019s book was an essential source in researching the issue of school vouchers. We recommend The Privateers for anyone curious about the origins of the school privatization movement, and how the far-right has managed to funnel increasing amounts of public money to private schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nPurchase Here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/translash.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ATHM-Blog-OverturningBrown-712x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOverturning Brown<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Steve Suitts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Historian Steven Suitts examines the history of the backlash against public school integration, and how it has led to the current attempt to privatize education today. In the 50s and 60s, white-only private schools received public money in an attempt to circumvent integration. Today, private schools that receive public funding are touted as the solution for parents who want to make sure their children have an \u201canti-woke\u201d education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This account of civil rights era history is essential to understanding how the current backlash against inclusive public education is not new. It is simply the most recent fight in a long battle over democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nPurchase Here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/translash.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ATHM-Blog-ShadowNetwork-674x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nShadow Network<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Anne Nelson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Council For National Policy is the secret group pulling the strings of the conservative movement that most people have never heard of. Investigative Journalist Anne Nelson breaks down the complex web of relationships that make up the CNP and the network of far-right organizers responsible for the successes of Christian Nationalism. And as it turns out, their efforts are central to the attempt to privatize schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nelson has been an essential source throughout the production of the Anti-Trans Hate Machine, and we can\u2019t recommend her book enough when it comes to understanding how the most powerful players on the far-right operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nPurchase Here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/translash.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ATHM-Blog-SlayingGoliath-692x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSlaying Goliath<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Diane Ravitch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Even while the public education system is under attack, there are advocates leading the charge to protect this essential public good in our democracy. Through the accounts of communities in Colorado, Arizona, Massachusetts, and in numerous others across the United States, education professor Diane Ravitch demonstrates that resistance is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We recommend this book for folks looking for more examples of how to resist the growing authoritarian movement targeting public schools. It also provided our team with a deep insight into the flaws of school reform movements that seek to make money off schools in the name of innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSchool Moms<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Laura Pappano<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Moms for Liberty and the larger so-called parental rights movement is the leading force fighting against LGBTQ inclusion in schools. In School Moms, journalist Laura Pappano attends parental rights events in an attempt to shine a light on this part of the far-right movement, including the Moms for Liberty Summit in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This book is great for listeners who want to hear first-hand accounts of how conservative parents groups organized, and how they have been weaponized by more powerful figures on the far-right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Privateers<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Josh Cowen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What is the end result of anti-trans attacks on schools? That\u2019s the question education researcher Josh Cowen asks as he lays out how the conservative privatization movement has everything to gain from the increasing erosion of trust in public schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cowen\u2019s book was an essential source in researching the issue of school vouchers. We recommend The Privateers for anyone curious about the origins of the school privatization movement, and how the far-right has managed to funnel increasing amounts of public money to private schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOverturning Brown<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Steve Suitts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Historian Steven Suitts examines the history of the backlash against public school integration, and how it has led to the current attempt to privatize education today. In the 50s and 60s, white-only private schools received public money in an attempt to circumvent integration. Today, private schools that receive public funding are touted as the solution for parents who want to make sure their children have an \u201canti-woke\u201d education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This account of civil rights era history is essential to understanding how the current backlash against inclusive public education is not new. It is simply the most recent fight in a long battle over democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nShadow Network<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Anne Nelson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Council For National Policy is the secret group pulling the strings of the conservative movement that most people have never heard of. Investigative Journalist Anne Nelson breaks down the complex web of relationships that make up the CNP and the network of far-right organizers responsible for the successes of Christian Nationalism. And as it turns out, their efforts are central to the attempt to privatize schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nelson has been an essential source throughout the production of the Anti-Trans Hate Machine, and we can\u2019t recommend her book enough when it comes to understanding how the most powerful players on the far-right operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSlaying Goliath<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy Diane Ravitch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Even while the public education system is under attack, there are advocates leading the charge to protect this essential public good in our democracy. Through the accounts of communities in Colorado, Arizona, Massachusetts, and in numerous others across the United States, education professor Diane Ravitch demonstrates that resistance is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We recommend this book for folks looking for more examples of how to resist the growing authoritarian movement targeting public schools. It also provided our team with a deep insight into the flaws of school reform movements that seek to make money off schools in the name of innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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