Reading Level: Grades 3-4 Interest Level: Grades 6 – 7
Sometimes, people fight or bicker. And sometimes they go to war. Find out about the hideous history of some woeful wars. This engaging hi-lo book draws in 6th and 7th grade readers with dangerous content while a 3rd to 4th grade reading level makes the information accessible. It’s a roaring good time!
A wretched roster of wrongdoings fills this volume of the Hideous History series (4 titles), part of Bearport’s new Roar! imprint for high-low readers. It casts a wide net to gather many of history’s most infamous criminals—and the gruesome punishments many faced—into excitingly designed double-page spreads sure to hook the morbidly inclined. Pirate Ching Shih, Jack the Ripper, Bonnie and Clyde, and Guy Fawkes are a few of the most dangerous mentioned here, but readers will also be fascinated by entries on con man Victor Lustig, real-life-Sherlock Edmond Locard, and the Salem Witch Trials. A few popular (but very painful) punishments are also described. The drama is abundant and the facts kept deliberately light in the short paragraphs of text. A high-octane history that will hold kids’ attention.', Julia Smith, Booklist,'Hideous History looks into the various parts of history that aren’t the best. Disgusting Diseases looks into different illnesses that have plagued human history such as smallpox, scurvy, and yellow fever to name a few. There are bright and colorful pictures and illustrations throughout the book to keep the reader interested. The beginning of the book has a table of contents, and there is also a glossary, index, and a QR code the reader can scan to find out more. THOUGHTS: This is a great high interest, lower lexile series for middle school students.
