True Hauntings: Deadly Disasters
by Dinah Williams
Publisher: Scholastic Press, NY (2020); Paperback, 96 p.
Ages: Upper Elementary/Middle School (4-7) Lexile: 1020
Geographical Setting: Japan, England, and America
Time Period: primarily late 1800s to early 1900s
Summary:
As an established ghost writer, Williams analyzes the stories and professed hauntings of ten fatal disasters in history. While the majority of the catastrophes in this book occur between 1860 and 1911 in America, one story is about the Black Plague of 1665-6 in England and another from the 2011 Japanese tsunami.
Although each story contains plenty of quotes from survivors and local papers, these are not documented as either footnotes or endnotes. The author does include a few statistics and definitions regarding hauntings and ghosts based on psychic research. Depending on the type of disaster (natural, structural, or areal), Williams gives its historical backstory. She also includes plenty of historical black-and-white photos or drawings within the text and one additional resource in the ‘Further Reading’ section for each disaster. The sidebars for each story are not only educational but frightening as well, making readers recognize fact can be scarier than fiction.
Many of these disasters could have easily been prevented. However, at their time of occurrence, safety precautions, rules and regulations were either not in place or ignored to cut costs and expenses. Other disasters were due to nature.
Nonfiction Read-A-Likes (Ghosts):
Creepy and True: Ghosts Unveiled! by Kerrie Hollihan. A witty, yet well researched look at ghost appearances, unsolved mysteries, and spine-chilling hauntings from around the world. (Grades 5-9)
Haunted Battlefields by Alix Wood. Readers will learn about 12 historic conflicts and the battles that took place at each that may have led to their haunted status. (Grades 4-6)
12 Notorious Ghosts by Kenya McCullum. In this book ghosts from all over the world are narrated. They haunt hotels, castles, toy stores and more. Each ghost is intricately tied to each place and haunts in its own way. (Grades 3-6)
Nonfiction Read-A-Likes (Disasters):
- A History of 50 Disasters: From the Minoan Volcano to Climate Change by Gale Eaton. The author explains how civilization not only advanced in spite of disasters but because of them. (Grades 7+)
- Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans by Don Brown. A graphic novel adaptation of one of America’s worst natural disasters. (Grades 7-9)
- The Science of Natural Disasters: When Nature and Human Collide by Diane Taylor. An informative and absorbing book about the science and man made side of natural disasters. Includes hands-on research activities and projects along with real-world examples that will motivate readers towards further research. (Grades 7-9)
- Any of the I Survived (True Stories) Series and several titles in the What Was the…? Series (Grades 2-7)
Quotes and Insights:
“In a recent survey, nearly 20 percent were convinced that they have seen or been in the presence of a ghost” (p. ix). No citation for this given.
“According to psychic research, earthbound spirits are often caused when someone dies unexpectedly. Their death comes as a shock, so they may not know or accept that they are dead. They become stuck where they died or where they spent their lives” (p. ix-x). No citation for this given.
“The bodies were falling all around us and they were afraid to let us go out because we would be killed by the falling bodies” (p. 15). 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in New York.
“Ninety-six men, women, and children were killed by the avalanche, the deadliest in US history. The bodies were buried so deep, some as much as forty feet, that it took until the end of July for the last to be dug out (p. 26). (February) 1910 Wellington Avalanche in Washington.
“In less than twenty minutes, nearly 600 people - mostly women and children - died, some from the flames, some from the smoke, and others from being crushed by those trying to escape” (p. 41). 1903 Iroquois Theater Fire, Chicago.
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| Shirtwaist Factory Building (p. 13) |
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| Bodies of those who jumped from the Shirtwaist Factory (p. 15) |
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| Example of a sidebar (p. 91) |
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| Police measuring the theater exit. (p. 38) |
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| "Death Alley" - 125 victims (p. 39) |
I thought this was an interesting title to choose! Reluctant readers may be drawn to a book like this because of the supernatural topic. I like that it connected many of the stories with disasters because those are real events in history that children may be interested to go look up more information about or find a book about that specific topic as well. Doing your read-alike suggestions with both books on ghosts and disasters was a good choice!
ReplyDeleteI know I really enjoyed reading this book, not for the super natural aspect of it but for the history of the disasters. I had my kids read it as well and they really liked it. I'm sure it being a really fast read helped as well.
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