A Spoonful of Sugar: History Lessons from Riveting Novels │ JLG’s Booktalks to Go
By Deborah B. Ford on April 28, 2015 Leave a Comment
History doesn’t have to be boring. Today’s historical fiction is an expert blend of fact and storytelling. Without even realizing it, our readers learn a bit about their past, which often drives them to other resources to learn more. What do you know of Chung Ling Soo, who invented the magic trick of catching a bullet with his teeth? Have you ever heard of the U.S. maritime disaster that took more lives than the Titanic? How about Operation Pied Piper (no, no rats are involved). The following selections by the editors at Junior Library Guild will enlighten readers while whetting their appetites for bygone events.
bullet catchAXELROD, Amy and David Axelrod. The Bullet Catch: Murder by Misadventure. 320p. Holiday. 2015. ISBN 9780823428588. JLG Category: MM: Mystery Middle (Grades 5-8). LiveBinder Resources.
1918: Leo finds himself an escaped thief on the streets, when his life unexpectedly takes a turn for the respectable. He becomes a magician’s assistant, learning magic from the inside. Barzini, his mentor, realizes Leo has a gift that will be useful for the magician’s daring comeback trick—the bullet catch. The trouble is that the apprentice will have to shoot the gun.
Loaded with facts about Chung Ling Soo, the magician who invented the infamous trick, readers are also treated to Harry Houdini as an additional character. An excerpt and an educator’s guide are included in the publisher’s materials. Follow Amy and David on Twitter.