True or False?: The Science of Perception, Misinformation, and Disinformation

by Jacqueline B. Toner

Written for pre-teens and young teens in lively text accompanied by fun facts, True or False? The Science of Perception, Misinformation, and Disinformation explores what psychology tells us about development and persistence of false perceptions and beliefs and the difficulty of correcting them, plus ways to debunk misinformation and think critically and factually about the world around us. This book explores how we think and perceive and why false beliefs, superstitions, opinions, misinformation, or wild guesses can just stick around and mess things up. You’ll see how misunderstandings and misuse of scientific findings can lead people to the wrong conclusions. Readers learn how to outsmart their brain to gain critical thinking skills and find ways to identify and correct false beliefs and disinformation.  Our big brains are super-efficient but glitchy. Scientists estimate that 90% of what we see, hear, smell, or sense never really sinks in. Instead, we pick up on the big things, general impressions, or important stuff and end up leaving our brains to fill in the missing info. And on top of that, people sometimes twist information on purpose. False beliefs can be shared from person to person or go viral in a flash, often by people who think the info is true.  

So how in the world do we know what’s real, what’s true, or who to believe? Dig in and get the facts!  

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

Published August 6, 2024

About the author

Jacqueline Toner is the author of eight best-selling non-fiction books with psychological themes for children from preschool through adolescence. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and won praise from library associations, and awards including a Mom's Choice Award and a nomination for a Children's Choice Award.

A psychologist who practiced for over thirty years, Dr. Toner, volunteers with a youth leadership group in her hometown of Baltimore and enjoys time with her family, including her three grandchildren.

Reviews

[Steff Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy do we need more books like this out there in the world.

It’s somewhat devastating to me to realize how truly essential the knowledge presented in True or False?: The Science of Perception, Misinformation, and Disinformation actually is. At the same time, I cannot thank the author enough for putting everything together. As someone who has watched family members deteriorate under the ever expanding pressure of both misinformation and disinformation, I wish so many more of us had some of the skills this book highlights we need.

Furthermore, it’s so essential in ensuring that the future generations do not fall prey to the misery that such experiences create. We need to learn how to think critically, to take a step back and verify what we think we know in a way that is factually based. And boy, is it hard.

I won’t pretend that I haven’t fallen prey to some of the lies that have spread about the internet. I definitely have. And it’s taken a lot of work over the years to try and deprogram my brain from continuing to do so. We need multitudes of generations to continue pushing toward developing defense mechanisms to false information.

This book is so important.

One thing I will note, however, is that the book is a long read. It’s, at times, even kind of exhausting. Despite the picture on the cover, I wouldn’t consider this a children’s book, though I could see it being read with middle-grade or high school students. And honestly, probably best to do so in segments.

I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent introduction to misinformation and disinformation and how to recognize and combat them - a vital skill in today's world, unfortunately. Kiddo (10) was fascinated and listened rapt every night. We read a chapter a night, which was about the right amount of information to keep it from becoming overwhelming.

There were a few things that could have been improved, however. There were a few mistakes in the section talking about how statistics and graphs can be used to lie, which made things unnecessarily confusing. The author also inexplicably lumped social media and search engines together, which resulted in several statements that were misleading or wrong. The author also simplified a few studies to the point where they didn't make sense.

I think it needed another edit by someone more familiar with statistics and graphs and also by someone with more knowledge of search engines and social media and how they work.

It also clearly is trying very hard to avoid being labeled "political" because it shies away from mentioning *anyone* by name and it becomes very obvious. Even when examples are given, the author chooses to avoid any mention of Trump or his campaign and instead uses examples like the tobacco industry in the 1980s to show purposeful disinformation . Which... has much less relevance to today's kids and makes it have less impact.

Overall though, it was excellent and I'll be recommending it.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Magination Press for providing an early copy for review.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book to read with middle grade children and use as a resource when issues with determining what is true or false.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fifth grade teacher, I see students frequently accepting all information at face value, and struggling to know how to identify facts and misinformation. This book addresses this in a very comprehensive yet engaging manner.

I appreciated the depth that the book had, and that it was written with the assumption that children are intelligent, capable and rationale people. I especially appreciated the discussions on research, identifying misinformation, what quality research looks like, and emotional responses to misinformation. I could see myself using it in my classroom throughout the year, focusing on a chapter for a couple of weeks at a time.

Such an important book. I highly recommend for upper elementary and middle school students.

Thank you to American Psychological Association: Magination Press, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

[Michael Duguay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Are You a Non-Critical Thinking Progressive?

If you believe everything MSNBC and The New York Times tell you, and want your children be same, then I have found the book for you. Books like this are dangerous. They encourage you to trust only certain sources of news, while dismissing others. These “trusted” sources were the ones who thought it was a good idea to invade Iraq or lock everyone out of school for a year due to a virus. This is probably the last book your child needs to read.

[JL Salty]

2/25
rating: g - no profanity, sex, or violence.
recommend: upper elementary through hs

BUT. this book is confusing. its presentation is kind of young. the colors, the infographics, the examples. but its length is too long and too in-depth for elementary. So I'm not sure where I would put this book. In general, a younger reader would think it too long. and an older reader would think it too young.

[Jeanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not sure what 8 to 11 year old would want to read this book. It was painful for me to read when it had such a political bent. This is not for children but it is a narrative that is getting old.

A special thank you to Magination Press — American Psychological Association and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Katherine Pogatshnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a fun and engaging introductory text to Perception, Misinformation, and Disinformation.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read about perceptions and whether something is true or false disputing the notion everything you are told is true.