Module 7 - How they Croaked: The Awful End of the Awfully Famous

Book Cover

Book Summary
This book describes the deaths of 19 prominent historical figures.  Each section gives a brief overview of the person's life and any conditions of incidents that led to the cause of death.  At the end of each section there are two or three short discussions on things related to the person, their occupation, their illness, or treatments they underwent. 

APA Reference of Book
Bragg, G. (2011). How they croaked: The awful end of the awfully famous. New York, NY: Walker Publishing.

Impressions
This book provides an interesting look at the end of many famous people students usually study in school.  The details given about their deaths and medical treatments are a grim and disgusting reminder of how far medical science has come over the years.  This book should appeal especially to 5th - 9th grade boys.  I learned new details about everyone in the book, even those people I knew a lot about already.

Professional Review

"In this gruesomely funny volume, Bragg examines the lives and deaths of nineteen historical figures, from King Tut to Albert Einstein. Sure to appeal to middle school students, this book highlights the peculiar and gross aspects of individual deaths, such as Henry VIII exploding in his coffin, or the use of blister beetles to treat George Washington. Interesting facts about related subjects are included between the chapters. O'Malley's black and white drawings compliment the text and add humor.

While generally well researched and well written, the book can, at times, perpetuate stereotypes and generalizations; for example, stating that "things were perfect" for Pocahontas before the English arrived and that the English of 1615 bathed only once a year. There are also a few factual errors, such as stating Elizabeth I and Bloody Mary were stepsisters rather than half-sisters; however, these errors are minor. Bragg has definite opinions on most of her subjects and is not afraid to share them, calling Charles Darwin "a few cards short of a full deck," and Henry VIII a "hateful, 320-pound ogre." Because of the irreverent style used through out the book, some readers may have trouble separating facts from opinion and hyperbole. Teens, however, looking to get their fill of gory, gross, and funny, will not be disappointed. It will be a popular addition in school and public library collections serving middle school students."

Martin, B. (2011). [Review of How They Croaked: The Awful End of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg]. Voice of Youth Advocates, 34(3), 300. Retrieved from: http://www.voyamagazine.com/

Library Uses
This book would be a fun addition to a teen Halloween program.  Several of the people in the book had gruesome deaths and many were dug up and moved around years after their death.  Also, some of the medical practices described are scary on their own.