Mehlman-Petrzela's first book, Classroom Wars: Language, Sex, and the Making of Modern Political Culture (Oxford, 2015), explores the roots of the culture wars in American public schools, specifically amid heated battles over sexuality and bilingual education. Her writing has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Slate, Well+Good, and The Huffington Post and she has been featured as an expert historian in diverse media venues such as Brian Lehrer TV, The History Channel, and The Atlantic. Subscribe