Hoaxed: Fakes & Mistakes in the World of Science

Isabella, Jude and Woo, Howie. Hoaxed: Fakes & Mistakes in the World of Science. Toronto : Kids Can Press, 2009.

Plot: Hoaxes, both accidentally and intentionally, spread throughout humanity's history. The text teaches readers to detect frauds through several historical examples, such as the Pitdown man fiasco. Other examples, such as a media frenzy surrounding a flawed experiment of cold fusion, began with genuine but misinformed belief in current times. A few hoaxes, such as a California film of Bigfoot, stem from intentional deception. A few chapters address hoaxes that persist through modern times, such as the belief in crop circles and aliens in Roswell. Additional texts address methods for avoiding hoaxes, as well as real, non-hoax events.

Genre: History, Science

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Fantastic Feats and Failures, Science Detectives: How Scientists Solved Six Real-Life Mysteries

Personal Thoughts: The text nicely balances between historical presentation and scientific methods to show readers the impact of both on everyday life. Through the study of hoaxes, text encourages readers to be skeptical of news stories without dismissing the genuine facts. As a result, the trivia-heavy book allows readers to use science class lessons into a misinformation-laden world.

Side Note: It's the Loch Ness Monster!