How they Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous

Bragg, G. (2011). How they croaked: The awful ends of the awfully famous. New York: Walker.

This nonfiction book is targeted towards middle school students and would definitely appeal to their morbid side. The book details how nineteen different famous people have died throughout history. Included in this collection are Cleopatra, Mozart, Marie Antoinette, Beethoven, Poe and others. Most of the deaths were not pleasant and what happened to the remains of the deceased, in some cases, were equally unpleasant. If nothing else, this book should give students a strong appreciation of modern medicine.

Georgia Bragg’s easy going style, makes the book a very easy, quick paced read. She includes details not only about the famous person, but about the time period and what might have saved the person if they had access to modern medicine. The deceased are highlighted in chronological order, helping the students fit these historical figures into a timeline. The black and white line drawings and boarders add extra details and some humor. This book could be used in Social Studies classes to capture student’s attention and help history come “alive”.

2012 ALSC Notable Book Award