Strange but True: Twenty-Two Amazing Stories

by Donald J. Sobol, David Duncan

This is a collection of stories where the word "true" is sometimes open to interpretation. Some of the stories are true in the hard sense, for example Gregory Potemkin did in fact build artificial villages in order to demonstrate to Empress Catherine the Great that he was achieving great things in the Crimea. There are many coincidences between the presidencies of Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy. A Japanese soldier did hide out on Guam for nearly three decades after World War II ended.

Genres: Short Stories, Childrens, Young Adult

96 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1973

About the author

Donald J. Sobol was an award-winning writer best known for his children's books, especially the Encyclopedia Brown mystery series. Mr. Sobol passed away in July of 2012.

Reviews

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books from childhood.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently, I've had a couple lucky finds at thriftshops. I'm always on the lookout for books I remember that I enjoyed but no longer own a copy. Sometimes these books can be hard to find because they are long out of print. But I managed to find a copy of this one! I was so excited!

This book was written by Donald J. Sobol, author of the Encyclopedia Brown books, in 1974. I ordered a copy from the Scholastic Book order forms we got at school in the 70's. Strange But True: 22 Amazing Stories tells short tales about supposedly true mysterious occurrences. As an adult, I now know that truth can be stretched and that urban legends are often just stories that have been told so many times that people start to think they must be true. But, as a grade school student, I remember reading this book with wonder and excitement. I was thrilled that they might be true and enjoyed the tales just like I did other mysteries that are definitely true like the Lost Colony of Roanoke, the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, or the vanishing of Flight 19. Many mysteries lose their magic with adulthood (when I finally visited Roanoke a couple years ago, I found it all surrounded by yachts of vacationing rich eastcoasters and built up with condos and beach rentals.....totally ruined the wonder for me), but these stories are still just as weird and wonderful for me as they were when I was a child. Maybe that's because I will never be entirely sure whether they are true or not? Who knows.

I have no clue what happened to my original copy. I might have given it away to a friend years ago, or it might be at my mothers house on a dusty shelf, or just lost to time. But I was ecstatic when I found a copy for 50 cents at the thriftshop. It now sits on my bookshelf next to the Little House books, Narnia and Mary Poppins. :) I'm a sucker for nostalgia.

This book is still a fun read for kids and adults alike, if you can find a copy. From the Loch Ness Monster and Abominable Snowman to ghost ships and Jack the Ripper, this book's tales are varied and fun to read. True? That's debatable. Amazing? Definitely!

[Matthew Snope · Rating 4 out of 5]

A goofy book designed for grade schoolers, it contains two surprisingly beautiful and well-written stories: "The Frozen Ship" and "Potemkin's Villages". (Both of which are based on actual historical happenings.) The supernatural stuff is hokey (Loch Ness; ghosts; etc), but the stories based in reality are interesting and compelling. The writing is clear and tight. "Potemkin's Villages" has philosophical implications (although they are not explored since this is a book for curious grade-schoolers). "The Frozen Ship" is particularly cinematic and hauntingly beautiful. I found this book for 25 cents at a thrift shop and bought it on a whim. I enjoyed it overall. Not all the stories are true, but most have some basis in reality, and they demonstrate the mysteriousness, unpredictability, and strange beauty of life on earth.

[bup · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't care what the book data says, this book was around circa 1973, and I read about the Loch Ness Monster, and the Tumbling Dead, and some guy that didn't go on an elevator because he recognized a ghost.

Scared the hell out of little me, because it couldn't be in a non-fiction book with '...but True' in the title if it weren't TRUE.

I will give it a second star because it has stuff about the Loch Ness Monster, which is the junk science subject I still want most to be true.

[Destiny Dawn Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't even remember if this book was mine to begin with, or if it was my brother's. Clearly it was written for children, as the narrative is incredibly simple. Mostly, though, I'm troubled by the claims of truth made in the title. Really, in 1989 they knew the identity of Jack the Ripper? Because as far as I knew, that was still greatly disputed.

[Liza Maggio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this at least twice, maybe more often, in middle school. I loved it then. I kept my copy which is beyond tattered. I remembered some of the stories all these decades. It's still great: easy to read, interesting. I think the ones about ghosts are the best. Creepy, not gory, not horrible. Stands the test of time. Great for 5th (maybe 4th) through adult. I look forward to verifying some of the stories, if possible, on the Intetnet.

[Frank Cavanaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short pleasant read. Almost a short story with two to three page chapters about an unusual and often little known circumstance. The book is not meant to scientifically inform you on its topics. The facts presented are, as far as I can tell, accurate.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are 22 short little snippets of a historical (?) manner about yeti, frozen ships travelling through the Northwest Passage, Jack the Ripper, etc. Short little reads about fascinating things.

[JKR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engagingly written collection of true and supposedly true stories. People who enjoyed this book should check out “Great Sea Stories” by the same author.

[Emilyf11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun read

[Super Piss Baby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay book. Short read, interesting stories, and what few pictures it has are well drawn.

[Nathan Gliebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories. Some spark intrigue, while others are much too exaggerated

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was probably a parent's book or maybe a brother's book because I read this when I was probably about 10 or so.... which was 2005. I remember a few stories, one about a tiny man in an elevator, one about a girl on a train, and one about a girl falling 6 miles out of a plane. The stories absolutely terrified me as a child but I adored the book and reread it over and over again. I may have to dig this out of the attic just to reread a few of my favorite stories.

The title is misleading and it should be noted that the terms 'true' and 'stories' are both in it. I, even as a 10 year old, concluded that though the stories were strange, they COULDN'T be true. I suppose I was a realist even at that age. They are indeed opinions and retellings and would have to be researched further to determine the accuracy of the context.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book ages ago (probably about 15 years ago), and recently dug it out in response to a movie I watched. Although it is very simple in narrative--written for children (I was a child when I read it), it was my absolute favorite book growing up, and probably began my path in search of crazy stories and useless facts and secret love for all things spooky or a little too coincidental.

It's an easy, yet interesting read. Great for kids, and yes, even for adults who aren't looking for too much background or detail. Enough to spark interest for a deeper search of facts or a light read that won't keep you up until midnight to finish reading it.

[Mark Muckerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid, eerie and a bit scary for any 8 - 10 year old in the 1970's, and a great "first peek" behind the door of the supernatural and unexplained.

However, 40 years later, in this age of Wikipedia, the X-Files and Stranger Things, what was once spooky and unsettling may be more pedantic snippets in a 96 page book.

However (again), for the right audience, it still holds up as a first glimpse into the unnatural and unnerving, and if you already have it, keep it on your shelf because you never know when the right reader my pluck it from the dust and read it by flashlight under the covers. . .

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

After much Googling and searching my memories, I finally found this book. I had it in 3rd or 4th grade and lost track of it at some point. I kept seeing partial images of the cover; the dark grey top half, some creatures, some dark magenta. I can only remember stories about Nessie, Bigfoot, a ghost ship, a faithful dog who died, and something about a girl who hung herself maybe. I'm hoping I can dig it up in my parents' basement, or if not, online.

Very good stories about all sorts of things that might be true (but probably aren't).

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

love using this book with classrooms, the thought provoking stories make great classroom historical lessons

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one when I was a kid and remember being particularly terrified by a few of the stories. They were still quite eerie. A fun book!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, man. I loved this ridiculous book so hard as a kid.

[H.L. Sudler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for young adults to introduce them to reading, with short intriguing tales.