Spring 2024

Awesome, Disgusting, Unusual Facts about the Civil War

From the Set Gross, Awesome History

The American Civil War was a bloody time in U.S. history, filled with battles, disease, and even glowing wounds! Struggling and reluctant readers will be fascinated to learn awesome, disgusting, and unusual facts about the soldiers' itchy uniforms, maggot-filled food, crazy contraptions, and how worm puke might've helped some soldiers heal faster. Carefully leveled text will have kids squirming with delight as they rush to share wacky facts with their friends.
Illustrations mixed with historical photos and sidebars keep kids engaged. A table of contents, glossary with pronunciations, further resources, and an index all enhance comprehension.

Format List Price Your Price Qty
$35.70 $24.95
Interest Level Grade 4 - Grade 6
Reading Level Grade 2
Dewey Number 973.7
Lexile 520L
ATOS Reading Level 3.0
Guided Reading Level O
Language English
Publisher Black Rabbit Books
Format Reinforced book
ISBN 9781623108892
Copyright 2024
Number of Pages 24
Dimensions 6.5 x 9
Graphics Full-color photographs

SLJ Review of Gross, Awesome History

Historical facts can be awesome, disgusting, or both at the same time, and readers who want to know more can read this series. From gladiators and mummies, to the Middle Ages and the American Civil War, there’s a variety of information to learn. Images and infographics support the text, and bolded vocabulary words and pop-up facts, such as “People in the 1600s used mummy flesh in their medicine” (Mummies), grab the reader’s attention. Following significant events and important people in history, the text is short, and doesn’t romanticize the past “People in the Wild West dealt with terrible diseases… Fleas spread typhus… A mosquito bite could give you yellow fever…” (Wild West). The back matter has three short answer questions, a glossary and an index, and additional resources. Some of the facts are, as the titles indicate, gross, which will be the appeal to certain readers. Similar reads include the “Weird But True” and “FACTopia!” series. VERDICT For older elementary readers who love learning gross facts.

Author: Stephanie Bearce