What do you think?
Rate this book
Two Truths and a Lie: Histories and Mysteries
Crazy-but-true stories about history, geography, and human achievement make this acclaimed nonfiction series perfect for fans of curiosities and wonders. A fun way for middle graders to explore ways to separate fact from fiction.
Did you know that a young girl once saved an entire beach community from a devastating tsunami thanks to something she learned in her fourth-grade geography lesson? Or that there is a person alive today who generates her own magnetic field? Or how about the fact that Benjamin Franklin once challenged the Royal Academy of Brussels to devise a way to make farts smell good?
Welcome to Two Truths and a Histories and Mysteries! You know the Every story in this book is strange and astounding, but one out of every three is an outright lie.
Can you guess which stories are the facts and which are the fakes? It’s not going to be easy. Some false stories are based on truth, and some of the true stories are just plain unbelievable! Don’t be fooled by the photos that accompany each story—it’s going to take all your smarts and some clever research to root out the alternative facts.
From a train that transported dead people to antique photos of real fairies to a dog who was elected mayor, the stories in this book will amaze you! Just don’t believe everything you read. . . .
Did you know that a young girl once saved an entire beach community from a devastating tsunami thanks to something she learned in her fourth-grade geography lesson? Or that there is a person alive today who generates her own magnetic field? Or how about the fact that Benjamin Franklin once challenged the Royal Academy of Brussels to devise a way to make farts smell good?
Welcome to Two Truths and a Histories and Mysteries! You know the Every story in this book is strange and astounding, but one out of every three is an outright lie.
Can you guess which stories are the facts and which are the fakes? It’s not going to be easy. Some false stories are based on truth, and some of the true stories are just plain unbelievable! Don’t be fooled by the photos that accompany each story—it’s going to take all your smarts and some clever research to root out the alternative facts.
From a train that transported dead people to antique photos of real fairies to a dog who was elected mayor, the stories in this book will amaze you! Just don’t believe everything you read. . . .
179 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2018
21 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Ammi-Joan Paquette
22 books86 followersAmmi-Joan Paquette has never met a ghost, mummy, monster, skeleton, or witch — as far as she knows. This book, she says, was inspired by a game she used to play with her sister: "Most of the details have been lost to time, but I still remember the shivery thrill I got when we played it. So, I drew on that same energy to write a spooky picture book, which eventually became A Ghost in the House." In addition to writing, Joan is also a literary agent representing authors of children’s books. She lives outside Boston with her family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 13, 2019
WHAT A GREAT CONCEPT!!!
also,
WHAT AN EASY BOOKTALK!
I mean, really, how has no one ever written this book before (to my knowledge).
There are nine chapters in this book, and in each chapter, there are three stories. Two of the stories in each chapter are true, and one of them is made up.
Readers are encouraged to do research to find out the truth.
Also, this is a series! I looked at two of them before picking this one to read, and I know at least one more is planned.
I read the whole thing through, like I always do with books I take out to schools, and almost always guessed the wrong lie. These are well-constructed fabrications.
The book includes photographs, maps, and other helpful visual information (while forthrightly admitting to the existence of photoshop).
One minor quibble about the graphic design: I don't remember there being a single story set in Egypt, so it's weird that Egyptian markers are all over the front cover of the book.
For my booktalk, I decided to play the game, but with facts about the library (so as not to give away the content of the book). Told the kids three facts about the library, and asked them to guess which one was the lie. We had a lot of fun with it, and it was a great way to kick off my presentations.
also,
WHAT AN EASY BOOKTALK!
I mean, really, how has no one ever written this book before (to my knowledge).
There are nine chapters in this book, and in each chapter, there are three stories. Two of the stories in each chapter are true, and one of them is made up.
Readers are encouraged to do research to find out the truth.
Also, this is a series! I looked at two of them before picking this one to read, and I know at least one more is planned.
I read the whole thing through, like I always do with books I take out to schools, and almost always guessed the wrong lie. These are well-constructed fabrications.
The book includes photographs, maps, and other helpful visual information (while forthrightly admitting to the existence of photoshop).
One minor quibble about the graphic design: I don't remember there being a single story set in Egypt, so it's weird that Egyptian markers are all over the front cover of the book.
For my booktalk, I decided to play the game, but with facts about the library (so as not to give away the content of the book). Told the kids three facts about the library, and asked them to guess which one was the lie. We had a lot of fun with it, and it was a great way to kick off my presentations.
January 26, 2018
Readers are going to love trying to pick out the fiction mixed in with some amazing facts. Paquette and Thompson do a great job combining text, photographs, maps, and more as they encourage students to dig out the facts by doing their own research and even include creative activities that mesh nicely with the theme of each chapter. I do, however, disagree strongly with the target audience indicated by the publisher! 8-12 year olds will have a difficult time with the high level vocabulary and will certainly get lost in history that is completely unfamiliar to most in that age group. However, fans of trivia and history in grades 7 and up will find this one hard to put down unless it is to grab a smart phone or tablet to double check what the authors reveal as factual. (Review of digital ARC from Edelweiss Plus)
June 3, 2018
Thanks to @kidlitexchange for the ARC to review from @waldenpondpress and authors @laurieannthompson and @ammi.joan.paquette ; this book is out June 26!
~*~*~*~*~*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this nonfiction read that teaches about information evaluation in an engaging, fun way. ~*~*~*~*~*
Each chapter has three fairly unbelievable stories. Two are true and one is false. Can you guess which is the lie? Can you use research skills to figure it out? My son and I loved trying to puzzle these out!
~*~*~*~*~*
I can see this being used as an introduction to an #informationliteracy course or as a hook for an #evaluation lesson for building research skills. I think I will use it as a read aloud game with my lunch bunch next year. It’s also pretty fun for a one on one read aloud...my son and I had a blast trying to find the lies and we learned a lot about obscure facts in the process...plus some evaluation skills!
~*~*~*~*~*
I have the first book in this series (TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: IT’s ALIVE!) in my library, but I haven’t read it yet. It will be on my summer reading list for sure!
~*~*~*~*~*
#bookstagram #book #reading #bibliophile #bookworm #bookaholic #booknerd #bookgram #librarian #librariansfollowlibrarians #librariansofinstagram #booklove #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookish #bookaddict #booknerdigans #booknerd #ilovereading #instabook #futurereadylibs #ISTElibs #TLChat
~*~*~*~*~*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this nonfiction read that teaches about information evaluation in an engaging, fun way. ~*~*~*~*~*
Each chapter has three fairly unbelievable stories. Two are true and one is false. Can you guess which is the lie? Can you use research skills to figure it out? My son and I loved trying to puzzle these out!
~*~*~*~*~*
I can see this being used as an introduction to an #informationliteracy course or as a hook for an #evaluation lesson for building research skills. I think I will use it as a read aloud game with my lunch bunch next year. It’s also pretty fun for a one on one read aloud...my son and I had a blast trying to find the lies and we learned a lot about obscure facts in the process...plus some evaluation skills!
~*~*~*~*~*
I have the first book in this series (TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: IT’s ALIVE!) in my library, but I haven’t read it yet. It will be on my summer reading list for sure!
~*~*~*~*~*
#bookstagram #book #reading #bibliophile #bookworm #bookaholic #booknerd #bookgram #librarian #librariansfollowlibrarians #librariansofinstagram #booklove #booktography #bookstagramfeature #bookish #bookaddict #booknerdigans #booknerd #ilovereading #instabook #futurereadylibs #ISTElibs #TLChat
June 23, 2018
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What I liked: Much like the first book in the series, this book creates a serious, yet silly experience for kids and parents. Filled with completely ridiculous, yet true stories, this book teaches us unbelievable, yet true, stories in history. At least most of the stories are true. For every three stories, there is one fabrication. As we read, we have to think about and research the stories to find out the real truth. Joan and Laurie do a really good job of combining pictures and maps and text to help people interact with the book and learn and discern between fact and fiction. I read this book with my 7 year old son was so intrigued by the history that he wanted to learn more and research on his own. What could be better than that?
What I didn't like: The only thing that worries me? That I won't remember what's real and what's not. I may say to myself: "I remember reading about that...it must be true." Of course that's always a problem when we read anything on the internet that may be fallacious. (less)
What I liked: Much like the first book in the series, this book creates a serious, yet silly experience for kids and parents. Filled with completely ridiculous, yet true stories, this book teaches us unbelievable, yet true, stories in history. At least most of the stories are true. For every three stories, there is one fabrication. As we read, we have to think about and research the stories to find out the real truth. Joan and Laurie do a really good job of combining pictures and maps and text to help people interact with the book and learn and discern between fact and fiction. I read this book with my 7 year old son was so intrigued by the history that he wanted to learn more and research on his own. What could be better than that?
What I didn't like: The only thing that worries me? That I won't remember what's real and what's not. I may say to myself: "I remember reading about that...it must be true." Of course that's always a problem when we read anything on the internet that may be fallacious. (less)
May 15, 2018
'Two Truths and a Lie: Histories and Mysteries' by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson is a fun read, chock full of historical and more contemporary facts and fiction. It brings a whole new level of intrigue to the icebreaker game of two truths and a lie, shedding further light on topics that either never fully saw the light of day or were too obscure to bring up in the first place. Some of the stories are a mix of truth and fiction, making it harder to discern how deep the lies run and how believable the truths really are.
Any lover of histories and mysteries, as the subtitle of the book mentions, will be taken in by the stories. Even though some are much more interesting, creative, and meaningful than others, the way in which the book is written will keep anyone reading and guessing. Some truths seem quite far-fetched while some lies will make you question your grasp of fiction.
A fun nonfiction journey through a wide variety of stories, 'Two Truths and a Lie' forces readers to engage with research and question anything and everything. For kids, it will teach that not everything can be believed, even if presented as truth, and for adults, it will re-instill the idea that research is a necessity, especially in this day and age when the prevalence of technology and social media can make anything seem true. Finding one's way around being drawn in by tempting headlines and seemingly true stories can be helpful in so many facets of life.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
Any lover of histories and mysteries, as the subtitle of the book mentions, will be taken in by the stories. Even though some are much more interesting, creative, and meaningful than others, the way in which the book is written will keep anyone reading and guessing. Some truths seem quite far-fetched while some lies will make you question your grasp of fiction.
A fun nonfiction journey through a wide variety of stories, 'Two Truths and a Lie' forces readers to engage with research and question anything and everything. For kids, it will teach that not everything can be believed, even if presented as truth, and for adults, it will re-instill the idea that research is a necessity, especially in this day and age when the prevalence of technology and social media can make anything seem true. Finding one's way around being drawn in by tempting headlines and seemingly true stories can be helpful in so many facets of life.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
May 28, 2018
Incredibly interesting! Kids will love it!
April 20, 2021
> Did you know that a young girl once saved an entire beach community from a devastating tsunami thanks to something she learned in her fourth-grade geography lesson?
Right. Small games to close the minds and make superstitious drones. Millennia ago there was a sign from gods. Centuries ago, there was a rightful decision of the anointed King. And today it is a little angel, who has read the Government mandated textbook, and with that message saved its people.
Only in real life, thousands of humans build up a Society. And those individuals made roads. And cars. And buses. And the people could move out and evacuate the area. Or move sand bags quicker to protect the property. And other people have built up knowledge and expertise in various domains: like improved dams, or even rescue services. And if less people would have read crap like this book, they would have known that they should not rely on a God-the-Government envoy, but rather to pay someone to tell them where it is better to build homes.
Right. Small games to close the minds and make superstitious drones. Millennia ago there was a sign from gods. Centuries ago, there was a rightful decision of the anointed King. And today it is a little angel, who has read the Government mandated textbook, and with that message saved its people.
Only in real life, thousands of humans build up a Society. And those individuals made roads. And cars. And buses. And the people could move out and evacuate the area. Or move sand bags quicker to protect the property. And other people have built up knowledge and expertise in various domains: like improved dams, or even rescue services. And if less people would have read crap like this book, they would have known that they should not rely on a God-the-Government envoy, but rather to pay someone to tell them where it is better to build homes.
July 18, 2018
Thank you @KidLit for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own. “Unbelievable truths about outrageous people places and events, with a few outright lies hiding among them.” First of all as a teacher, I loved this book. My teacher brain loved the engaging style of this book from the photos and stories to the activities sprinkled throughout the book. I found myself thinking of all kinds of lessons that would include nonfiction reading strategies. I think kids and adults would enjoy trying to figure out which articles were real and which were fake. The lies were so well written it was sometimes hard to discern. My only criticism is because of the way the book is setup it’s hard not to see the answer for the next set of stories. I am excited to share this book with my students and colleagues.
January 10, 2021
What I especially liked about the book is that at the end there is a research guide. Sometimes we read stories that sound fantastic, but how do we determine whether they are true or false? Even if true, how true? And those "tips and tricks," I think, are very important to learn, especially in this Information Age / Internet Age. I think a young reader can really appreciate these tips once they reach high school and later college/university. Even in daily life, determining what is science and what is pseudoscience (especially regarding health) is important. In fact, it could be life or death.
In general, it was a fun and interesting read; I read the stories with my siblings, and we guessed which stories we thought were the false ones. Some we have heard about; some we have not. I imagine it would also be a fun and interesting read for its intended audience.
In general, it was a fun and interesting read; I read the stories with my siblings, and we guessed which stories we thought were the false ones. Some we have heard about; some we have not. I imagine it would also be a fun and interesting read for its intended audience.
May 20, 2019
These are so fun and my family enjoys guessing which one is the lie. We were wrong so many times! I love the photos and evidence given to support each story since the lies are still surrounded by real things.
The only thing that keeps it from a full 5-stars is that it's unnecessarily wordy. Each story is about twice as long as it should be with a bunch of filler. I read them out loud so we can skip about half of the writing. A lot of the activity boxes are also unnecessary, giving you prompts that aren't very exciting or are so obvious most people have probably already done them.
The only thing that keeps it from a full 5-stars is that it's unnecessarily wordy. Each story is about twice as long as it should be with a bunch of filler. I read them out loud so we can skip about half of the writing. A lot of the activity boxes are also unnecessary, giving you prompts that aren't very exciting or are so obvious most people have probably already done them.
Read
January 27, 2021TSYA / Teen Reader (16): The lies the authors came up with are surprisingly convincing! It is usually difficult to make out the lie from the book alone, and this further encourages the reader to do some actual research to determine the answer for themselves. It is not just the stories that are captivating, either. From cover to cover there are interesting pictures, illustrations, and historical photographs. See more in the full review.
February 12, 2024
Very clever book to get kids thinking and practice their research skills. It is, unfortunately, not as clever as the first book in this series, some of the topics were obvious, and some of the humor was corny. I'd definitely recommend the first book, and this follow-up was fun, if not as brilliant.
March 20, 2025
Overall not as interested in history as I was the science one but the Ben Franklin fart one cracked me up. I completely expected that to be the lie, but I googled it and when it turned out to be true, I laughed so hard. I will never look at Ben Franklin or any of the Founding Fathers the same way. Who knew that Ben Franklin liked potty humor?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2018
Fun book arranged in triads, with two true anecdotes or stories and one false. Readers are challenged to figure out which is which, but the lazy have access to the solution in the back of the book. I enjoyed this a lot, and I also appreciated the hints on how to know truth from fiction.
September 1, 2018
Great book to hold the interest of reluctant but curious young readers.
October 29, 2018
The books in this series are such a great addition to the nonfiction section!
November 18, 2018
A dream-come-true book for researchers. I can't wait to share this with my students!
March 18, 2019
A fun way to present nonfiction - it's up to the reader to spot the lie in 3 reports of an event or place. Answers are at the back. Great to read together or to share with a classroom/group.
June 9, 2019
What fun!!! Can't wait for students to try this book.
April 13, 2020
Loved, loved, loved this book! Such a good resource for teaching kids to be critical consumers of information.
December 19, 2020
The students beg for these stories!
March 7, 2021
This was such a fun read aloud that drew students into looking closely at text.
August 17, 2024
it was a good book
Read
December 2, 202410/2024 Booktalks
July 8, 2025
Wasn’t nearly as captivating for us as “It’s Alive!” But still had a lot of fun and interesting topics.
July 21, 2018
I just love this series for so many reasons! First, it is just so interesting! Even the “lies” include true stories with information switched out to make it not true. There are quizzes and tidbits of information. There is so much to read about and just take in. I am so in awe with the authors who truly find unknown information that is fascinating and will keep kids (and adults!) reading. Also, I think it is so important to teach students/kids (and adults!) how to determine if information being given to us is valid and reliable. Third, I think the authors do a fantastic job including a wide variety of topics to give students who may have different interests interested. And with two books in the series now focusing on two different focuses, it makes it so even more readers will find something they want to learn about. And lastly, I am so glad that the authors are making nonfiction fun! Too many of my students don’t like nonfiction because they find it “boring.” This book is anything but boring.
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...
August 6, 2018
This is such a fun nonfiction series. All of the information is engaging and interesting, even the lies side of the book include true stories with information changed to make it untrue. I enjoyed the quizzes and extra bits of information. It’s a fully engaging book that will keep you reading for hours! Even as an adult, I found myself really enjoying my read through this book. The authors do a great job including a wide variety of topics so as to engage readers who have different interests. This book definitely makes reading nonfiction fun and I wish more books would do this! Great series and I am hoping to see more out there soon!
October 31, 2018
I love this series!
June 20, 2019
Just as entertaining and enjoyable as the first one! Maybe it's because I'm not a huge science person, or maybe I just got lucky, but actually guessed quite a few of the lies correct in this one!
Want to read
January 17, 2018Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews