Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous
November 1, 2014
Gr 5-9-Most know who Amelia Earhart is and that she disappeared, but why did her plan fail? Bragg introduces listeners to a cast of characters from history, describing ways in which famous figures succumbed to failure. While this audio is humorous and entertaining, listeners will want to pair it with the print version to get the full effect of the illustrations and additional fun facts posted at the end of the each chapter. There is no doubt that L.J. Ganser pulls off the humor and sarcasm of the text, but those who are not familiar with how the book is laid out may not realize that Ganser is reading sidebars and charts that are listed at the end of each entry. While the print version of this book (2014) will be just as well received as Bragg's How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous (2011, both Walker), the audio version will miss the mark for those who want to see the illustrations. However, it will be sufficient for those who are simply interested in the well-read stories.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
June 16, 2014
Like Bragg and O’Malley’s How They Croaked (2011), this lightly illustrated book offers caustically humorous insights into history—this time, via 14 famous figures who failed spectacularly at something. Subjects include Custer (“After Custer died, the Indian women found his corpse and bored a hole in his eardrums because George Armstrong Custer was a man who never listened”) Earhart (“the bad odds about gravity caught up with her”), and Van Gogh (“This time his family got their wish: Vincent finally went into an insane asylum”). Irresistible entertainment (and solid information) for readers with a tendency toward schadenfreude. Ages 10–14. Author’s agent: Edward Necarsulmer IV, Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Melissa Turk.