Glenbard Parent Series Community Read to feature true story of murder, greed and prejudice

The Glenbard Parent Series has selected the critically acclaimed book "The Killers of the Flowers Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI" by National Book award finalist David Grann as its Community Read.

The Glenbard Parent Series will host Grann at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at Glenbard West High School, 670 Crescent Blvd. in Glen Ellyn.

This significant work that delves into an important part of American history.

The book is set in the late 19th century and tells the story of the Osage Indians being forced onto land that was thought to be worthless. When oil was discovered beneath their Oklahoma reservation, the Osage Indians became the wealthiest people per capita in the world and, ultimately, marked for death.

The book highlights the turbulent relations between whites and the Osage Indian Nation over more than 100 years and reveals prejudices that continue in our country today.

It outlines how a team from the fledgling FBI, led by old-style Texas lawman Tom White, solved a shocking murder case directed at members of the Osage Nation.

The book is being turned into a feature film with director Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Grann is an award-winning journalist with The New Yorker and is the author of three New Times best-selling books.

Before joining The New Yorker in 2003, Grann was a senior editor at The New Republic, and, from 1995 until 1996, the executive editor of the newspaper The Hill. He holds master's degrees in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy as well as in creative writing from Boston University.

After graduating from Connecticut College in 1989, he received a Thomas Watson Fellowship and did research in Mexico, where he began his career in journalism.

Continuing professional development units are available for his Sept. 5 presentation.

GPS is generously sponsored by the Birth to Five Community Coalition, Cebrin Goodman Center, Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE), College of DuPage, DuPage Medical Group, Emmy Gaffey Foundation, Glenbard Early Childhood Collaborative, Holiday Inn/Carol Stream and the Prevention Leadership Team of the DuPage County Health Department.

For further information, visit glenbardgps.org or contact Gilda Ross, Glenbard District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at (630) 942-7668 or gilda_ross@glenbard.org.