Enigmatic Events (UNSOLVED HISTORY)

Grade 4-8–Expecting just another set of flashy collections of tidbits about lingering mysteries of the past? These titles offer more substance than most. Each one begins with a volume-specific introduction and discusses seven controversial events or persons from the past. Most of the stories have been told before, although a few are relatively unknown. Deaths explores questions surrounding the demise of Tutankhamen, King Edward IVs young sons, Christopher Marlowe, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Meriwether Lewis, and others. Two-page supplements discuss doubts about the circumstances of the deaths of Sacagawea and of the discoverers of Tutankhamens tomb. Some of the individuals described in People were connected to prominent personalities in history. They are known as pretenders as opposed to imposters, terms explained in the introduction. (They truly believed they were Joan of Arc, the Grand Duchess Anastasia, and infamous Billy the Kid, etc., after these people were presumed to be dead.) Events examines great extinctions, especially of the dinosaurs, the lost colony of Roanoke, and others. Legends looks at Atlantis, Amazons, King Arthur, Robin Hood, and Pope Joan. Two lesser-known stories of the origin of El Dorado and of Welsh expeditions to North America complete this stimulating collection. Each volume has a significant glossary, a lengthy bibliography, and footnotes. These inviting titles have the look of leather-bound journals; a full-page illustration opening each chapter; reproductions, many in color; and a generously spaced format.–Ann G. Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY
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Gr. 5-8. The new Unsolved History series gathers together many of history's most interesting mysteries. This volume tackles such intriguing questions as What happened to the dinosaurs and to the ships Mary Celeste and the Maine? Who was responsible for the Salem witch trials? Did a comet cause the hole in Tunguska, Siberia? Blackwood, who also writes historical fiction, including Second Sight (2005) and The Year of the Hangman (2002), briskly reports on the incidents and offers various theories, some getting more attention than others and some not fully explained (aliens!). The format is clean but staid, with a mix of illustrations, some of more interest than others; the extensive bibliographies will be extremely useful in leading kids to further information. Kids will want to read other titles in the series: Debatable Deaths, Legends or Lies? and Perplexing People. Ilene Cooper
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