SLJ Review of Strange History

Looking for something to grab the attention of reluctant history students? Try this series that focuses on the odd and unusual. Readers can learn about the fake beards worn by Egyptian pharaohs, rich Greeks buying the sweat from Olympic athletes, or Romans eating flamingo tongues. Photos of historic sites and artwork establish setting while comic illustrations and speech bubbles offer humorous touches. Vocabulary terms appear in colored text for easy identification. Back matter includes a glossary, suggested books for further reading, and a QR code to access online resources.

VERDICT: A fun way to introduce a unit or for individual enjoyment. The humorous approach will appeal to fans of “believe it or not” type books.