Could It Be True?

by Allan Zullo

From the high school girl who encounters her twin in a hospital to the man who meets the stranger who found his college ring eighteen years earlier, this collection of true stories contains 10 exciting tales for true-life drama buffs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mystery, Short Stories, Childrens, Friendship

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

About the author

Allan Zullo is an American non-fiction writer. He is the author or co-author of more than eighty paperbacks for adults and children.

A native of Rockford, Illinois, Zullo graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1969 with a degree in journalism. His books include The Baseball Hall of Shame and Baseball Confidential (both co-written with Bruce Nash), A Boomer's Guide to Grandparenting (co-written with his wife Kathryn), and the Haunted Kids series. Zullo has also written articles for The National Enquirer, The Christian Science Monitor, Ladies Home Journal, and The Palm Beach Post. His syndicated comic strip "The Ghost Story Club" ran in American newspapers from 1995 to 1998.

Zullo currently lives in Fairview, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Kathrina]

I recommend this as a great read-aloud title for ages 7-11. Each story is easily digestible, and presents easy introductions to concepts of fate, coincidence, serendipity, and just plain luck. While veering dangerously close to Readers' Digest material, the stories still maintain a believable child's point of view that kept my children's interest and sparked eager discussion. Our favorites include "The Money Bag" (posing an interesting moral dilemma), "The Flight to Serendipity", and " Too True Stories".

[Eva-Marie Nevarez]

I can't wait to get this out of my home. This is the most stupid piece of garbage I have ever laid eyes on in my life. What a stupid joke. I have a notion to trash it to spare whoever gets it from the me the pain that I went through.
I suppose an 8 year old may like it but I don't know, most 8 year olds I know would laugh their asses off at this ridiculous trash.
I sincerely hope Allan Zullo is a fake name. I would be mortified to have my name on something like this.

[Chance Hansen]

Of all the Zullo books I've read I think this one is my favorite.

Cover
The cover isn't too bad. The front and back has enough mystery and intrigue to get almost anyone interested in it and it's done pretty well.

Interior
I have to really appreciate the introduction/disclaimer in the beginning. Noting that the names have been changed isn't too much of a shock but what is somewhat of an understandable but disappointing change is that creative privilege has been taken to push the coincidences to their limit.

With a total of 12 stories as is are nicely done. As someone that believes in a creator and as someone that has had crazy coincidences happen in my life can see a guided life in each story. A couple times it was obvious where they forced the drama and coincidences, but it was still enjoyable to read as is. Overall this book made me feel good.

[Laurie]

A good book for tweens and older kids with short, interesting stories of coincidence.

[Jeffery Worrell]

I think this book was really coll and all the coincidences in the book.

[Shanna]

Small coincidences are exaggerated and fictionalized into irritatingly unbelievable tales. Annoying dialogue, disconnected plot. Just lame.

[Tiffany Lloyd]

I thought it was going to be like old myths or old wise tales but it was just about coincidences. I did not care for it

[Kelly Chester]

What a great book

[Livia (Olivia)]

Weird but true Tales by Allen Zullo is all about coincidental stories that happened to people. It tells how when something bad happens to you it come back and turn out good and vice versa. I would recommend this book to anyone really. But its more geared toward children so I would recommend it to younger people.

My favourite stories in the book are the one were a guy loses his grad. ring on a beach the day he got it and years later a girl found it and tried to find him. She gave up and years later one day the dude was hot air ballooning with his son and he crash landed in a woman's backyard. As it turns out the woman was the person who found the ring and they later found out id was his and they got married and lived happily. And the other one is about twin orphan sisters that didn't know about each other and found each other in a hospital when they both broke their one of their legs in a ski accident.
The thing I did not like was how it all dragged on for a while.

[Jason Harlow]

I wasn't a fan of these stories at all. If they were even remotely believable that would be one thing, but there's no way these stories aren't told with at least the slightest exaggeration here and there. I was completely taken out of it by time I finished the third story. After reading this, I'm glad I passed on four of Allan Zullo's other books. I could maybe see first or second grade kids enjoying these stories, but otherwise, you should probably avoid this nonsense.

[Amanda]

Intresting stories.

I really like this book. I thought the stories were interesting but really the one I remember is the one where a girl found a balloon and it had a ring on it or something or another. I can't remember the story well enough to tell it correctly but I know it was a good story.

[Melanie]

ok well this is going to be long this is a great book like there is these twins and they are separated at birth and somehow they found each other in a very very weird way so yea maybe this isnt so long because i dont want to spoil the book for all of you but have a great day!!!!

[Anita]

The book equivalent of 'Ripley's Believe It Or Not', containing real-life accounts of what might be called fate, chance, destiny, coincidence, serendipity, synchronicity, etc. I just called it: "meant to be!"

[Alex Romanos]

This book had my 11 year-old son, a reluctant reader, up all night reading. My 5th grade students also love this book. It's very suspenseful and full of mysterious coincidences. It makes you think about fate and karma and all that creepy stuff middle schoolers are beginning to wonder about.

[Ms. Mielke's Class Make sure you post how your sheets tell you to!!!!]

Weird but True Tales is a very interesting book. It is really funny and has some true facts that seem that could never happen. I enjoyed reading all the weird tales, but I am surprised that they are true.
I think most people would enjoy this book, you should try it. IJ

[Laney Hogrefe]

I liked the book a lot because of the story in the middle called The Lucky Breaks. I didn't like some of the other stories in the book. I also don't like how short the stories are. I wanted to read more about some of the stories.

[Breanna]

This book is amazing because i like scary stuff, but there's not too much scary things, which is good!!

[Maggie]

This book is filled with a bunch of little stories where fate saves a bunch of people.

[S.R. Weems]

this boobk was amazing. unbelievable things happen, and it is all true!!
reading is believing!!

[Kenedi]

Now I know why they call it weird!

[Damaris]

weird nadia and i LOL'ed like 12345678900987654321 times

[Terry Huffman]

this was a good book!

[hunger games and K POP LAVA!!!!]

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD anfter reading that a coincident happend freakout

[John Adriel]

Only retards will enjoy.

[Karen]

A fun fast read of short stories about a number of coincidences.

[Emma Erickson]

very weird indeed.

[Catherine]

I think my students will enjoy these 9 tales of remarkable coincidences.

[Alexandra]

These true tales are very shocking to read. I'm surprised that some of these characters actually survived!

[Maddie W.]

ggggggggrrrrrrreeeeeeeeaaaaaaattttttt

[Lance Doering]

This book is kind of creepy.