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Book Cover for: Weird Disappearances: Real Tales of Missing People, Tom McCarthy

Weird Disappearances: Real Tales of Missing People

Tom McCarthy

Where did Virginia Dare and the rest of the colonists of Roanoke go? Did Anastasia Romanov escape being murdered by revolutionaries? Weird Disappearances: Real Tales of Missing People, for readers ages 9 to 12, features five true tales that examine moments in history when someone vanished without a trace. These mysterious disappearances are discussed against the backdrop of historical circumstances, whether it be the upheaval of the Russian Revolution or the blazing of a new trail high in the skies.

This is the fourth book in the new Mystery & Mayhem series, which features true tales that whet kids' appetites for history by engaging them in genres with proven track records--mystery and adventure. History is made of near misses, unexplained disappearances, unsolved mysteries, and bizarre events that are almost too weird to be true--almost! Delving into these tidbits of history offers a jumping off point into a lifelong habit of appreciating history.

Each of the five true tales told within Weird Disappearances is paired with a map, as well as fun facts about the setting and time period. These nonfiction narratives use clear, concise language with compelling plots that both avid and reluctant readers will be drawn to.

Nomad Press books in the Mystery & Mayhem series introduce readers to historical concepts and events by engaging them in an extremely popular genre--real-life adventure and mystery. Readers ages 9 to 12 are fascinated with the strange-but-true tales that populate history, and books in this series offer compelling narrative nonfiction paired with concise language that appeals to both voracious and reluctant readers. Nomad's unique approach to the study of history uses tantalizing tales based in factual knowledge that encourage a lifelong curiosity in the historical events that shape our world.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Nomad Press (VT)
  • Publish Date: May 16th, 2017
  • Pages: 128
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 9.10in - 5.90in - 0.50in - 0.65lb
  • EAN: 9781619305267
  • Recommended age: 09-12
  • Categories: Curiosities & WondersHistory - GeneralAdventure & Adventurers

About the Author

Tom McCarthy is an award-winning writer and editor. He has developed and edited titles that have won such awards as Harvard University's Goldsmith Award for Book of the Year, Reader's Digest Top Five Summer Books, Sport Illustrated's The Top Books of the Year, and Esquire's The Year's Five Best Reads.

As the series editor for several best-selling collections, including Incredible Pirate Tales, Ghost Pirates, and Incredible Tales of the Sea, he has developed a knack for finding great stories for readers of all ages. Tom's books for Nomad Press include Pirates and Shipwrecks: Real Tales of Terror on the High Seas and Survival: Real Tales of Endurance in the Face of Disaster. He lives in Guilford, Connecticut.

Praise for this book

Booklist

The true stories themselves are thrilling enough to keep older readers engaged, and will likely spur further exploration.
Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's Literature

Rating: Recommended -- Superior in style, liveliness, integrity and format.

The five chapters in this Mystery & Mayhem volume relate the stories of the lost colony of Roanoke, Amelia Earhart, Anastasia Romanov, Percy Fawcett, and Solomon Northup. Readers will probably be familiar with the first three but less so Fawcett and his two companions disappeared while exploring the Amazon in 1925. Solomon Northup was living in New York state as free man in the 1800s. In 1841 he was tricked and sold as a slave. His chapter tells of his life, how he escaped and toured Canada, talking about his life as a slave until he disappeared in 1857 after one of his speeches. Each chapter begins with a map and a brief timeline and concludes with a page telling what else was happening during that time. A few black and white illustrations, a glossary, and a short list of websites are included.

Other titles in the series:

Pirates and Shipwrecks: Real Tales of Terror on the High Seas
Kirkus Reviews
"Employing a casual, conversational tone that reads easily, McCarthy spins five yarns of bloodthirsty pirates and harrowing shipwrecks. McCarthy shows a good sense for the interesting and gory detail, offering up plenty of blood-soaked action while keeping it appropriate for a young readership."

Survival: Real Tales of Endurance in the Face of Disaster
Kirkus Reviews
"Recommend this to fans of the I Survived series who might be seeking a bit more fact and a little less fiction. A breezy offering just right for fans of survival tales."

Other titles edited by Tom McCarthy:

Far Afield, A Sportswriting Odyssey by S.L. Price
The New York Times
"The sports reportage in this gracefully written book is strong enough to make the sometimes-dated events seem timeless."

Esquire Magazine
"Far Afield is mostly a journey of self-discovery, honest and true without any of the usual sun-dappled barf. It reminds us that sports can tell us more about one another than just about anything else we do, so long as someone as able as Price provides the translation."

Duty, Honor, Victory by Gary Bloomfield
Sports Illustrated
"An excellent book, it could be sent to school with your kids and used for social studies classes."

Publishers Weekly
"A touching and memorable account of America's athletes on the battlefield."

Facing Ali: 15 Fighters/15 Stories by Stephen Brunt
Sports Illustrated
"These are men of substance, worth getting to know. Brunt does them justice, but the author has done something even more impressive: He has found something new to report about Muhammad Ali."

Racing the Sunset: An Athlete's Quest for Life After Sports by Scott Tinley
Triathlete
"Tinley rubbed shoulders with legends from all sports during the run-up in his own notoriety, and leveraged those relationships in writing his latest book. He opens their grief to us in their own words, and bares his own heart as well."

Undertaker's Son by Richard "Digger" Phelps
Donald J. Trump
"Digger is not only a survivor, he's an optimist who has made an indelible impression on everyone who has been lucky enough to know him. His book is a lesson in having the right attitude to not only overcome obstacles, but to contribute to society and our country in a big way. Undertaker's Son is a terrific read, and a wonderful book to add to any collection."

Foul Ball: My Life and Hard Times Trying to Save an Old Ballpark by Jim Bouton
San Francisco Chronicle
"An irresistible story whose outcome remains in doubt until the very end. Not just a funny book, but a patriotic one."

John Feinstein
"What it shares with Ball Four is Bouton's humor, his keen sense of what's right and wrong, and a remarkable tale that--if you didn't trust the author--you would find difficult to believe."

Jim Bouton
"Ball Four is a book I wanted to write. Foul Ball is a book I had to write."

Keith Olbermann
"Now in his fifth decade of telling the truth no matter the consequences, Bouton proves that a badly run city government can be just as dangerous--and just as hilarious--as a badly run baseball team."

Other titles from Nomad Press
Explorers of the New World
School Library Journal
"This informative, entertaining activity book takes readers on a fascinating voyage of their own . . . . An appealing and useful resource."

Children's Literature Review
This combination history and activity book from the "Build it Yourself" series will enliven home school and classroom history units . . . ."

The American Revolution: Experience the Battle for Independence
School Library Journal
"Featuring a lively page design, this volume asks readers a series of questions to prompt them to consider the American Revolution . . . . VERDICT A useful resource; purchase as needed."