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Is It Real?: The Loch Ness Monster
Put on your detective hat and prepare all your investigative tools, because you've been assigned a new case to solve: the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster!
Follow along as award-winning author Candace Fleming uses all of her nonfiction tools and storytelling prowess to investigate the enduring mystery surrounding the existence of the Loch Ness Monster.
Nestled in the lush green hills of the Scotland Highlands lies Loch Ness, a deep, murky lake with a storied history. It is also the home of the Loch Ness Monster. Numerous stories and photographs by people claiming to have spotted the mysterious monster have surfaced, often gaining immediate fame. But after decades of countless expeditions, documentaries, firsthand accounts, pictures, and videos, the mystery of Nessie continues to haunt us.
Now, Sibert Award-winning author Candace Fleming invites you to become a detective and to join the race to uncover the truth. You'll learn how real-life detectives and scientists conduct their investigations to solve the greatest mysteries as the principles of the Scientific Method and more tools for boosting critical thinking and analysis are introduced. You will consider the evidence, see if you can tell the difference between fact and fiction, and maybe you can answer this age-old question about the Loch Ness monster: Is it real?
Follow along as award-winning author Candace Fleming uses all of her nonfiction tools and storytelling prowess to investigate the enduring mystery surrounding the existence of the Loch Ness Monster.
Nestled in the lush green hills of the Scotland Highlands lies Loch Ness, a deep, murky lake with a storied history. It is also the home of the Loch Ness Monster. Numerous stories and photographs by people claiming to have spotted the mysterious monster have surfaced, often gaining immediate fame. But after decades of countless expeditions, documentaries, firsthand accounts, pictures, and videos, the mystery of Nessie continues to haunt us.
Now, Sibert Award-winning author Candace Fleming invites you to become a detective and to join the race to uncover the truth. You'll learn how real-life detectives and scientists conduct their investigations to solve the greatest mysteries as the principles of the Scientific Method and more tools for boosting critical thinking and analysis are introduced. You will consider the evidence, see if you can tell the difference between fact and fiction, and maybe you can answer this age-old question about the Loch Ness monster: Is it real?
160 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2025
12 people are currently reading
3200 people want to read
About the author
Candace Fleming
66 books632 followersI have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France.
I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.
Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.
In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.
As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.
After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.
But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.
I told such a good story that people always thought I was telling the truth. But I wasn't. I didn't have a three-legged cat or a ghost in my attic, and I'd certainly never been to Paris, France. I simply enjoyed telling a good story... and seeing my listener's reaction.
Sure, some people might have said I was a seven-year old fibber. But not my parents. Instead of calling my stories "fibs" they called them "imaginative." They encouraged me to put my stories down on paper. I did. And amazingly, once I began writing, I couldn't stop. I filled notebook after notebook with stories, poems, plays. I still have many of those notebooks. They're precious to me because they are a record of my writing life from elementary school on.
In second grade, I discovered a passion for language. I can still remember the day my teacher, Miss Johnson, held up a horn-shaped basket filled with papier-mache pumpkins and asked the class to repeat the word "cornucopia." I said it again and again, tasted the word on my lips. I tested it on my ears. That afternoon, I skipped all the way home from school chanting, "Cornucopia! Cornucopia!" From then on, I really began listening to words—to the sounds they made, and the way they were used, and how they made me feel. I longed to put them together in ways that were beautiful, and yet told a story.
As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.
After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.
But writing children's books is harder than it looks. For three years I wrote story after story. I sent them to publisher after publisher. And I received rejection letter after rejection letter. Still, I didn't give up. I kept trying until finally one of my stories was pulled from the slush pile and turned into a book. My career as a children's author had begun.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 3, 2025
Candace Fleming’s presentation of nonfiction is somehow always easier for me to read than anyone else’s. In this case, while you are seeing all sides of the question of the existence of the Loch Ness monster, the reader also learns the difference between types of evidence, the reliability of sources, and how to draw your own conclusions by putting them all together. Honestly, that feels more valuable than any determination that might be made about Nessie. Timely and timeless, these skills should always be kept at the forefront of our minds.
December 12, 2025
The author does a great job showing research skills that get the reader to a place where they can weigh the facts and decide for themselves if the Loch Ness is real or not. She’s one of my favorite middle grade nonfiction writers!
March 22, 2025
I love reading about mysterious and fascinating supernatural things—UFOs, Bigfoot, ghosts, and the Loch Ness monster. I love it all! This book goes into great depth from 1933-2024 about all the research, quests, photos, videos, and fun as people search for the unknown. There seems to be proof, it’s de-bunked, then more evidence comes forward. Knowing how little we know of so many undiscovered creatures in oceans, on mountaintops, and in rainforests, never say never!!
March 31, 2025
I have always been intrigued by the world's unsolved mysteries. I picked up this book at my school's book fair and dove right into it. This was more detail than I had previously been able to read on the subject, and being a middle grades book, kept the details easy and concise. I liked the style of this one and how it gave investigation tips as well. It was educational on multiple fronts.
December 22, 2024
Huge thanks to Scholastic and Scholastic Focus for the physical ARC! So cool to have one of these.
This is really cool. It’s set up as if you are the investigator, and with the help of your Black Swan Scientific Investigations Handbook you are prepared to research the existence of a prehistoric beast! Comb through the evidence, read through the witness accounts, and try hard not to form an opinion! I can see this being such a huge hit with kids and if their imagination is good, there’ll be no end to the fun they can have.
For me, the actual scientific research included was my favorite. From the first sighting all the way to the latest in 2024, the author has delivered an opinion free dissection of what’s been seen and recorded. Whether you’re a believer, or want to stick with the science, the information is so interesting that I think both sides can read for enjoyment.
Is it a prehistoric plesiosaur, that not only survived the last 66 million years undetected, but also survived the fact that the loch was frozen 18,000 years ago? Or is it a new species that has evolved since the loch thawed and perhaps is unrelated? Perhaps a giant eel? Perhaps even something invertebrate that wouldn’t leave huge bones behind to be found?
And while there is no concrete evidence to push forward as proof, there’s certainly nothing definitively proving it’s not real or possible… and if it’s not, why do people keep spotting it?
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-is-it-...
This is really cool. It’s set up as if you are the investigator, and with the help of your Black Swan Scientific Investigations Handbook you are prepared to research the existence of a prehistoric beast! Comb through the evidence, read through the witness accounts, and try hard not to form an opinion! I can see this being such a huge hit with kids and if their imagination is good, there’ll be no end to the fun they can have.
For me, the actual scientific research included was my favorite. From the first sighting all the way to the latest in 2024, the author has delivered an opinion free dissection of what’s been seen and recorded. Whether you’re a believer, or want to stick with the science, the information is so interesting that I think both sides can read for enjoyment.
Is it a prehistoric plesiosaur, that not only survived the last 66 million years undetected, but also survived the fact that the loch was frozen 18,000 years ago? Or is it a new species that has evolved since the loch thawed and perhaps is unrelated? Perhaps a giant eel? Perhaps even something invertebrate that wouldn’t leave huge bones behind to be found?
And while there is no concrete evidence to push forward as proof, there’s certainly nothing definitively proving it’s not real or possible… and if it’s not, why do people keep spotting it?
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-is-it-...
July 15, 2025
Follow along as award-winning author Candace Fleming uses all of her nonfiction tools and storytelling prowess to investigate the enduring mystery surrounding the existence of the Loch Ness Monster.
eligible-in-2025
March 5, 2025Spotted in this interview with Candace Fleming at The Children's Book Review: https://www.thechildrensbookreview.co...
January 22, 2025
From a middle school teacher’s perspective, this book feels like a win for several reasons: (1) It’s under 150 pages and super accessible, (2) it’s about a topic that students are inherently intrigued by, and (3) it is written in a non-traditional format that is ripe for discussion, reflection, and engagement. For anyone looking to introduce more information literacy into their own lives or the lives of others, this is a fabulous (and fun) place to start!
It also seems like this might become part of a series, which I would love to see.
I’m going to have some of my students read it this month and will be curious to see how they engage with it! Stay tuned!
It also seems like this might become part of a series, which I would love to see.
I’m going to have some of my students read it this month and will be curious to see how they engage with it! Stay tuned!
September 23, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Starting in 1933, there were a number of people who have reported seeing "something" in Loch Ness. Some of these, like Aldie and John MacKay, seemed more credible, since they alerted not the news media, but rather the water bailiffs, when they saw a "commotion". Others, like Marmaduke Wetherell, staged things like footprints that were made with a hippopotamus foot ashtray! Some people, like George Spicer, might have been influenced by movies. The interesting thing about this Scholastic Focus book is that Fleming invites readers to look at the different occurrences in a critical manner, and teaches them how people's thinking can be influenced by things like popular culture. This is somewhat similar to her Crash From Outer Space or Curse of the Mummy in that it debunks myths, but adds much more information about investigative techniques than these two books. It talks about different kinds of evidence, and even walks the reader through how the early stories might be critically assessed. It helps that there is a ton of information presented from lots of sources; I didn't know that there weren't any sightings during WWII, or that there was an exhaustive study done in 2023. I did have my own theory about whey there weren't really many sightings before 1933 even though there was a road around the loch; before that time, there might have been more horse drawn vehicles, which might have lead to fewer travelers, or one's who had more important things to pay attention to than roiling water! In the end, Flemind presents evidence of some very good hoaxes, although it seems unlikely that there has ever been a creature living in the loch. This will be well received by my students, and is more middle grade friendly in the formatting than Siegel's recent Loch Ness Discovered.
Starting in 1933, there were a number of people who have reported seeing "something" in Loch Ness. Some of these, like Aldie and John MacKay, seemed more credible, since they alerted not the news media, but rather the water bailiffs, when they saw a "commotion". Others, like Marmaduke Wetherell, staged things like footprints that were made with a hippopotamus foot ashtray! Some people, like George Spicer, might have been influenced by movies. The interesting thing about this Scholastic Focus book is that Fleming invites readers to look at the different occurrences in a critical manner, and teaches them how people's thinking can be influenced by things like popular culture. This is somewhat similar to her Crash From Outer Space or Curse of the Mummy in that it debunks myths, but adds much more information about investigative techniques than these two books. It talks about different kinds of evidence, and even walks the reader through how the early stories might be critically assessed. It helps that there is a ton of information presented from lots of sources; I didn't know that there weren't any sightings during WWII, or that there was an exhaustive study done in 2023. I did have my own theory about whey there weren't really many sightings before 1933 even though there was a road around the loch; before that time, there might have been more horse drawn vehicles, which might have lead to fewer travelers, or one's who had more important things to pay attention to than roiling water! In the end, Flemind presents evidence of some very good hoaxes, although it seems unlikely that there has ever been a creature living in the loch. This will be well received by my students, and is more middle grade friendly in the formatting than Siegel's recent Loch Ness Discovered.
April 25, 2025
This one is set apart from others that can be compared to it (if this becomes a series in some way) that take an event or topic and give the background in a bite-sized but information-laden narrative nonfiction for middle grade. The reason this one is different is that Fleming is presenting the information but putting the reader in a "meta" investigator role where Fleming is teaching them about fact, fiction, evidence, testimony, and research guide a reader to determining whether the topic (in this case the Loch Ness Monster) is real or not.
So I doubly love the book and Fleming in general because of the approach. I think the seed was planted when she wrote books like Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell and The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb.
I love when I can learn new things and this one did it.
"There is a scientific reason for seeing all this. It is a phenomenon called pareidolia. Pareidolia is a trick of the human brain in which a person sees something significant in a random image. It's the reason people have seen [picture] A teddy bear on the surface of Mars [picture] A face in the dish sink."
So I doubly love the book and Fleming in general because of the approach. I think the seed was planted when she wrote books like Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell and The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb.
I love when I can learn new things and this one did it.
"There is a scientific reason for seeing all this. It is a phenomenon called pareidolia. Pareidolia is a trick of the human brain in which a person sees something significant in a random image. It's the reason people have seen [picture] A teddy bear on the surface of Mars [picture] A face in the dish sink."
April 30, 2025
Nessie, or the Loch Ness Monster, is probably the most famous of sea monsters/cryptids. Ever since its brief mentions in the 1930s, theories & sightings of its existence significantly increased in the following decades afterwards. Loch Ness has become integrated into pop culture with its increasing popularity as a tourist spot for anyone lucky to catch a glimpse of Nessie. Despite this, there has been many debates as to whether or not such a monster can exist. Candace Fleming takes readers on a detective history to learn about the origins and debate that is the Loch Ness Monster.
Relatively short, Fleming does get into thorough details in the history of the Loch Ness Monster. She covers many points, including certain aspects, I never heard of related to Nessie: origins, witnesses, the infamous photograph, research expeditions, and much more. The book is written like a detective case being reviewed, I'm sure for the kids, but it does emphasize the mystery of Loch Ness. What I did enjoy was the brief geographic history of Loch Ness, the manipulation of an original testimony of a witness, the recent studies on the water samples, and the notoriety of the first King Kong movie. And while the author doesn't say it outright, it seem to imply that Nessie is unlikely to be a plesiosaur let alone even exist. Fleming encourages readers to keep researching and do a proper investigation while using Occam's razor to truly make a new discovery about Nessie, as many are still invested in uncovering the truth. I, for one, find this book to be quite refreshing on the subject and very informative for those who want to start a light dive into the famous sea monster.
Relatively short, Fleming does get into thorough details in the history of the Loch Ness Monster. She covers many points, including certain aspects, I never heard of related to Nessie: origins, witnesses, the infamous photograph, research expeditions, and much more. The book is written like a detective case being reviewed, I'm sure for the kids, but it does emphasize the mystery of Loch Ness. What I did enjoy was the brief geographic history of Loch Ness, the manipulation of an original testimony of a witness, the recent studies on the water samples, and the notoriety of the first King Kong movie. And while the author doesn't say it outright, it seem to imply that Nessie is unlikely to be a plesiosaur let alone even exist. Fleming encourages readers to keep researching and do a proper investigation while using Occam's razor to truly make a new discovery about Nessie, as many are still invested in uncovering the truth. I, for one, find this book to be quite refreshing on the subject and very informative for those who want to start a light dive into the famous sea monster.
March 2, 2025
“Is It Real? The Loch Ness Monster” does two things well. First, it tells the story of the modern history of the Loch Ness Monster (aka Nessie). Second, it guides the reader through the process of analyzing the evidence for the case that Nessie exists.
On the one hand this is a history book, with Nessie sightings placed firmly in the context of the time. For example, I did not know that modern Loch Ness Monster sightings began shortly after the release of the movie “King Kong” which featured…dinosaurs with long necks.
On the other hand this is a book about evidence analysis using a fun mystery. In the discussion about the influence of “King Kong,” author Candace Fleming asks the reader to consider the potential influence of the movie on people who experienced sightings. While it isn’t a step-by-step guide, Fleming asks key questions about the evidence for the reader to consider. In an age where we need to develop critical analysis skills, this book is an excellent vehicle.
This book is great for upper elementary and middle school readers. It would be appropriate for high school students who are interested in the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster.
I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Scholastic Focus, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
On the one hand this is a history book, with Nessie sightings placed firmly in the context of the time. For example, I did not know that modern Loch Ness Monster sightings began shortly after the release of the movie “King Kong” which featured…dinosaurs with long necks.
On the other hand this is a book about evidence analysis using a fun mystery. In the discussion about the influence of “King Kong,” author Candace Fleming asks the reader to consider the potential influence of the movie on people who experienced sightings. While it isn’t a step-by-step guide, Fleming asks key questions about the evidence for the reader to consider. In an age where we need to develop critical analysis skills, this book is an excellent vehicle.
This book is great for upper elementary and middle school readers. It would be appropriate for high school students who are interested in the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster.
I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Scholastic Focus, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 24, 2025
This book is a fantastic middle-grade offering for kids who can't get enough of mysteries and science. In Is It Real? The Loch Ness Monster, Candice Fleming not only examines every facet of the case for and against the existence of Nessie, she also uses the case as a way to teach readers how to sift through evidence to reach their own conclusions.
I loved all the pictures and the layout of the book. From medieval illustrations to pictures of scientists searching Loch Ness in 2023, every facet of the mystery was outlined and illustrated as a "clue" to the mystery Fleming invites her readers to solve. The use of second person "you" language was a fun change from the normal third person voice, allowing me to really become part of the investigation. I'm excited to hand this one off to my kids, especially my curious-minded third grader.
Some parts of the book didn't engage me as much as others, and I thought the ending felt abrupt, but overall I did enjoy this book and I hope there will be more "Is It Real" mystery cases in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to review. I was not required to post a positive review and all opinions are my own.
I loved all the pictures and the layout of the book. From medieval illustrations to pictures of scientists searching Loch Ness in 2023, every facet of the mystery was outlined and illustrated as a "clue" to the mystery Fleming invites her readers to solve. The use of second person "you" language was a fun change from the normal third person voice, allowing me to really become part of the investigation. I'm excited to hand this one off to my kids, especially my curious-minded third grader.
Some parts of the book didn't engage me as much as others, and I thought the ending felt abrupt, but overall I did enjoy this book and I hope there will be more "Is It Real" mystery cases in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to review. I was not required to post a positive review and all opinions are my own.
October 5, 2025
I listened to this book in my car using Hoopla from my public library account.
WOW! I am so happy I have listened to it and intend to buy it in hardcover for my two elementary schools now! This book lays out how to do research in a way I love. The accumulation of resources, the notetaking, the casefiles, and the recognition of phony versus provable as a reader is actually engaged with this book is so needed right now in schools. I cannot wait to get the book and delve into the vocabulary used to guide the readers on how scientific study is completed, how theories are going to require data to prove, and how data can be mismanaged or lost (as in the lifetimes of the original folks studying Nessie) is simply riveting.
I am not usually that interested in Loch Ness (though I do love a good story), but I was hooked from the beginning on this one. (Now we need Area 51, Big Foot, and UFO's.)
WOW! I am so happy I have listened to it and intend to buy it in hardcover for my two elementary schools now! This book lays out how to do research in a way I love. The accumulation of resources, the notetaking, the casefiles, and the recognition of phony versus provable as a reader is actually engaged with this book is so needed right now in schools. I cannot wait to get the book and delve into the vocabulary used to guide the readers on how scientific study is completed, how theories are going to require data to prove, and how data can be mismanaged or lost (as in the lifetimes of the original folks studying Nessie) is simply riveting.
I am not usually that interested in Loch Ness (though I do love a good story), but I was hooked from the beginning on this one. (Now we need Area 51, Big Foot, and UFO's.)
March 12, 2025
For kids of all ages.
Have you ever wondered if the Loch Ness Monster is real? How would we know? What steps would you take to learn the truth?
Candace Fleming’s “Is It Real” is very clever and creative. It takes on the myth and investigates it step by step.
Candace Fleming provides newspaper accounts, scientific studies, photographs, and more to provide clues as to the Loch Ness Monster’s existence.
Follow the case or investigation by writing the clues and answers in your journal. Compare your conclusions with those in the book. In the end, you decide “Is It Real?”
This creative non-fiction book is geared for tweens and teens. Perfect for groups of kids. No guidance from parents needed!
Thanks to Scholastic Focus http://www.scholastic.com for an ARC to read and review.
Have you ever wondered if the Loch Ness Monster is real? How would we know? What steps would you take to learn the truth?
Candace Fleming’s “Is It Real” is very clever and creative. It takes on the myth and investigates it step by step.
Candace Fleming provides newspaper accounts, scientific studies, photographs, and more to provide clues as to the Loch Ness Monster’s existence.
Follow the case or investigation by writing the clues and answers in your journal. Compare your conclusions with those in the book. In the end, you decide “Is It Real?”
This creative non-fiction book is geared for tweens and teens. Perfect for groups of kids. No guidance from parents needed!
Thanks to Scholastic Focus http://www.scholastic.com for an ARC to read and review.
August 5, 2025
If you have a younger reluctant reader- esp. for nonfiction- give this title a go. I hope this becomes a series exploring these topics. This is broken into short chapters with terrific nonfiction text elements. It models critical thinking and evaluation of sources in a way that keep a young reader’s attention. Flemming is a master author for a wide range of ages. Nonfiction is usually ignored for Newbery consideration. I hope the committee gives this title a hard look and a nod. I would highly recommend this title for a classroom read or book club. So much more interesting than dry articles that have seem to be taking over reading curriculums. This title is unique in the fact that it will be interesting to all levels of readers.
March 1, 2025
I did not expect to find an investigation of the Loch Ness Monster to be so informative, but I was pleasantly surprised. The author uses the investigation as an opportunity to teach readers how to analyze information, from media sources, from online sources, and from personal accounts. This feels like an important skill for everyone. I appreciate that the digital searches made in the book are specifically of the organizations database rather than the internet at large. I'm not sure young readers will pick up the difference, but I noticed that searches were from a dependable source. Using Nessie as a topic is a great way to grab student's attention while imparting important skills.
October 14, 2025
This book helps the young reader be the researcher in investigating whether the LNM is real or not.
The author provided some of the stories of eyewitness "sightings" of the monster, from the 1930s to the present time. She outlines numerous scientific studies of the lake and searches for giant creatures. She also includes (as a sort of handbook) tips and facts to help the young researcher. In the end, she does not state whether the LNM is real or not, she allows the reader/researcher to draw their own conclusions. Backmatter includes an extensive bibliography and source notes for each chapter. The book lacks an index, and probably could have used one.
The author provided some of the stories of eyewitness "sightings" of the monster, from the 1930s to the present time. She outlines numerous scientific studies of the lake and searches for giant creatures. She also includes (as a sort of handbook) tips and facts to help the young researcher. In the end, she does not state whether the LNM is real or not, she allows the reader/researcher to draw their own conclusions. Backmatter includes an extensive bibliography and source notes for each chapter. The book lacks an index, and probably could have used one.
July 23, 2025
*Read this for a children's literature class. By their nature, unsolved mysteries are already super fascinating, and the story of the Loch Ness monster is one of the most well-known. As soon as I finished reading, my mind was brainstorming how it could be used in a classroom setting because of the format in which it is written. Fleming sets up the story as if the reader is an investigator trying to analyze evidence and draw conclusions. The concise writing and shorter length make this so accessible to middle-grade students.
April 4, 2025
Casting the reader as a private investigator of paranormal activity, this book engagingly walks you through the research process and challenges you to challenge your assumptions as you try to determine whether the Loch Ness Monster is fact or fiction.
These kinds of skills--being able to vet information and identify biases--are more important than ever these days. Maybe adults should read this too.
These kinds of skills--being able to vet information and identify biases--are more important than ever these days. Maybe adults should read this too.
June 3, 2025
This book was great. I got to explore the way of a detective and how they do their job. The only thing I would say is that the book never gave a real answer if the Loch Ness monster was real or not. And I did not like that. I picked up this book to see if the Loch Ness monster was real or not, and the book never gave me an answer. Although it was fun going through the case studies, it never gave us a real answer.
June 7, 2025
Candace Fleming is honestly one of the most talented writers for children across fiction and non-fiction genres! Whether it’s a picture book or a non-fiction chapter book, I love her versatility and style. This book teaches children how to be a good “detective” (and scientist) as the reader takes on the mystery of the Loch Ness monster. What sources are reliable? What is an eye witness? So many excellent skills being taught in an engaging context!
July 21, 2025
A very interesting book about the myth of the Loch Ness monster. It was a cool book in my opinion. One of the funny parts was when the scientists realized that the footprint Marmaduke Werthelle found was from a hippo, not the Loch Ness. Overall, a good book but sorta gave me a cliffhanger of the clues. I would recommend this book to someone in Scotland, studying about the Loch Ness, or any curious kid who wants to learn about myths. 4 star rating.
July 21, 2025
I have spent absolutely no time actually thinking about whether the Loch ness monster is real, and I love that this little book set me up as the investigator and gave me all the photos and evidence. It's a fun premise, if it seems a little overcomplicated of a premise with mostly a report written for you, that's okay by me. I think this really dives into people's beliefs, research and all the possibilities. It sets up a series which I hope happens because some middle school kids will love this.
November 20, 2025
I cannot express enough how perfect this book is for reluctant readers. Everything about this screams 5th grade boy who you can't seem to get hooked. They will be hooked!!!! You literally become a character within the book and find yourself invested in solving a hundred year old mystery. What is not to love! One can only hope that Fleming is able to continue to churn out similar books with other mysteries floating around in our world.
February 6, 2025
I loveeeee that Candace Fleming created this book (and soon-to-be series of books!) because we have so many middle grade kids who love Kate Messner's History Smashers collection and we struggle to find their next read... and even though this isn't history - this will TOTALLY be something those readers are drawn to. Excited to see this series grow and absolutely purchasing it for our libraries!
November 10, 2025
I really like how Fleming laid out all the evidence and then talked the reader through considering if the evidence was trustworthy. She also exemplified calling experts to fill in gaps in knowledge. She never swayed the reader with her personal opinion and leaves it for the reader to decide. Well done!
June 15, 2025
I received this as a gift from a student, so that meant I HAD to read it. :)
I enjoyed the read. I think it is a great resource to show the process of proving or disclaiming an idea. I liked the use of evidence and proof as well as experts. Highly recommend for kids that are curious.
I enjoyed the read. I think it is a great resource to show the process of proving or disclaiming an idea. I liked the use of evidence and proof as well as experts. Highly recommend for kids that are curious.
August 23, 2025
The only reason this is 3 stars is because the subject matter isn't something that interests me. Fleming does an excellent job of informing readers about investigative work. Kids interested in Nessie and amateur detectives will find this a good read.
August 25, 2025
This will definitely crush any monster dreams you have, but it's a great way to introduce kids to research and evidence and what kinds of questions to ask. Come to think of it, most adults could use this too.
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