Killers of the Flower Moon author David Grann adapted his bestselling book about the murders of Osage Indians in Oklahoma and the start of the FBI to make it accessible to younger readers.

“Parents wanted to share it with younger readers but because of some of the graphic nature and complex language in place, they couldn’t.” Grann said.

Grann tweeted many parents and even his own children talked about adapting the book. He says it has been his passion project since.

Grann said this adaptation continues his original mission to make sure as many people as possible knew about this dark part of Oklahoma and Osage Nation history.

“History isn’t always pretty and it can be ugly, but we grapple with it and we learn from it so that we don’t repeat it. It’s essential that we teach it,” Grann added.

Grann said he only wanted to do this version if it maintained the essence of the story and still captured the real horrors of the racism and greed of the time.

“For example at a crime scene, you would still cover the murder but you might not to quote the autopsy report,” Grann said explaining his decision not to delete part of the stories and to add a glossary.

In addition to the book bringing awareness to a troubling history for the Native American tribe, it’s also led to a movie filmed in Oklahoma. FOX23 told you Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon filming wrapped in Osage County in September. Actors such as Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio were spotted at several Oklahoma staples through the filming.

Grann says that’s just a continuation of his mission to reach more people.

“I’m not naïve. I’d like to think everyone would read the book but I do know that a movie starring Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio will reach a lot more people than I can.”

The adapted version was published Nov. 16 and is for kids 10 years old and up.

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