CCBC Booklists

CCBC Review:

In 1933, a woman named Alice Mackay reported spotting a “beastie” in Loch Ness, a Scottish lake. Almost immediately, a local newspaper ran with her claim, less concerned with facts than providing a sensational read. Mackay, as it turns out, owned an inn that needed customers, and tourism soon boomed in the area, helped along by the spurious story. One sighting led to more, and then big game hunter and filmmaker Marmaduke Wetherell journeyed to Loch Ness and produced “proof” on film. This well researched, engaging look at the myth of the Loch Ness monster is also a look at how misinformation is fueled and can easily run rampant. Wetherell’s “proof” is deconstructed so that readers see how he staged his “evidence”; so, too, are other claims. Despite this, belief in Nessie, as the monster was fondly known, persisted, although the momentum of the myth fell off with the start of World War II, during which Nessie was used as propaganda by the Axis powers as proof of their superiority—the British must be easily duped if they believed Nessie was real. Belief in Nessie lingers today, despite the historical evidence outlining her creation, which is laid out in this well-researched and documented work that concludes with a look at misinformation in our modern age, and tips for being an information consumer. This volume contains occasional black-and-white photographs. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center

CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 11 and older
Age Range: Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13) Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format: Substantial Narrative Non-Fiction
Subjects: 20th Century Journalism and Media Propaganda Rumor, Myth and Misinformation

On CCBC Booklist: Global Reading: Selected Books for Children and Teens Set in Other Countries 

Publisher: Astra
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9781662620232
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 001 Siegel

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