Before becoming a full-time children’s book author, Christy Mihaly held a wide range of jobs—including library clerk, lawyer, and tobacco farmworker. These varied experiences have informed her writing across many different subjects, always with the goal of educating children in an entertaining way. Her latest book, America’s Founding Myths…and What REALLY Happened (Barefoot Books, May 26), illustrated by Marta Sevilla, was hailed by Kirkus as “playful, provocative, and packed with perspective.” It continues Mihaly’s mission by exploring the commonly held myths of American history and uncovering the lesser-known truths behind them. She recently answered our questions about the book via email.
As you researched your book, what did you learn that surprised you the most?
What surprised me the most is how much we’ve accepted many myths as true. In fact, these myths simplify and warp our history. When people think about “the patriots,” for example, many think of only white men. That’s just part of the story, though, and among other things, America’s Founding Myths highlights some of the contributions of Black and Indigenous people, as well as women.
Americans are known for their patriotism but not always for an attentiveness to our history. How can we do better at teaching and learning history?
Make it fun and engaging! History education needs to be about more than memorizing dates and facts. As educators know, studying original sources can be powerful. This work often takes extra support, with adults providing context and helping young people understand our ancestors’ handwriting, style, and word choices. But looking at these artifacts and documents can help make the past come alive.
And let’s center the exciting stories from our past and connect learners with the humans who lived here long ago. Let’s think of history lessons as conversations in which students are encouraged to ask questions, and that includes questioning the old stories that we’ve been told about the past.
How would you like your book to contribute to the conversation of where we are now as a country?
If we’re going to talk meaningfully about our present (and future), Americans must understand what happened in our past. We need to go beyond the red-white-and-blue myths of noble Founding Fathers to appreciate and understand the true richness of our past. Let’s dig up the real stories. Let’s understand the true significance of Columbus; learn about the life of the real Pocahontas; understand the contributions of Black and Indigenous soldiers in the early Revolutionary War battles and beyond. Let’s not fall into the trap of believing that all patriotic Americans must believe a single old story and retell it in unison. Let’s all keep learning together.
In your view, why do certain myths about American history persist so strongly?
That’s one of the fascinating things that became clearer to me in studying the sources of the myths the book discusses. Many of these myths were created deliberately to nurture patriotic pride. The myth creators knew what they were doing—they were weaving stories to build an American national identity for this new nation. These stories were then retold, taught in schools, and perpetuated by those in power. The true history is more complex and nuanced, so it’s harder to explain, but this complex truth is ultimately more interesting and instructive than the fairy tale.
When you look at America today, what gives you the most hope for the nation’s future?
The kids! They are open-minded and curious and full of optimism. Let’s take them seriously and show them how to discover the truth about their nation’s history, as we work together to build a positive future.
Ellie Halleron is an editorial intern.
