Published by Henry Holt and Company

Summary:  On August 10, 1628, the warship Vasa set sail, the flagship of the Swedish navy, commissioned by the king and two years in the making.  The crew was on board with their families; to their horror, a wind blew that ship over less than a mile into the voyage, sinking it and killing many men, women, and children.  An investigation ensued, and several theories were put forth, but the cause of the accident was never determined. Centuries later, in 1956, the remains of the Vasa were discovered by Anders Franzen.  It took five years to figure out how to raise her, but this feat was accomplished on April 24, 1961.  Today the ship has been restored and is on display at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden. Includes a list of sources. 44 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  Quite a bit shorter than Russell Freedman’s usual works (maybe because he passed away in March), this is nevertheless an interesting and well-researched story of a tragedy that will draw readers in.  The illustrations are sumptuous, particularly the large foldout page, and are done in a style appropriate for the period of the story.

Cons:  From the title, kids may be expecting a story more similar to the Titanic.  It would make an interesting compare/contrast exercise, though, for those familiar with that story.

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Published by Calkins Creek

Summary:  In chapter one, readers learn of a mysterious radio broadcast on October 30, 1938, reporting that the United States had been invaded and was quickly being destroyed.  They soon find out that this was actually a radio play based on H. G. Wells’ science fiction novel The War of the Worlds about invaders from Mars.  Orson Welles and his team at CBS radio’s Mercury Theater adapted the story to sound like it was actually happening, simulating broadcasts from New Jersey that broke into a musical program.  No one was prepared for the panic that ensued, as many people across America believed that the invasion was real. Jarrow reports on the variety of reactions, including letters and telegrams sent to CBS and Welles, some critical and others complimentary of the program.  She also looks at the exaggerated reporting that made it sound as though the panic was much more widespread than it actually was. Includes a timeline; information about other hoaxes; links to the original broadcast, script, and other source materials; an author’s note; and source notes.  144 pages; grades 5-9.

Pros:  This well-researched book with lots of photos brings the events of October 30, 1938 to life and ties them into today’s world of fake news and Internet hoaxes.  

Cons:  The font was a little small.

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