The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous

Over the course of history men and women have lived and died. In fact, getting sick and dying can be a big, ugly mess-especially before the modern medical care that we all enjoy today. How They Croaked relays all the gory details of how nineteen world figures gave up the ghost. For example:

• It is believed that Henry VIII’s remains exploded within his coffin while lying in state.
• Doctors “treated” George Washington by draining almost 80 ounces of blood before he finally kicked the bucket.
• Right before Beethoven wrote his last notes, doctors drilled a hole in his stomach without any pain medication.

Readers will be interested well past the final curtain, and feel lucky to live in a world with painkillers, X-rays, soap, and 911.

Awards

2012 International Reading Association Best Non-fiction Award

2012 ALSC ALA Notable Children’s Books List

2012 Top Ten Audio Books

2012 YALSA ALA Quick Picks List for Nonfiction

2014 Garden State Teen Book Award

Texas Lone Star Master List

2012 – 2013 South Dakota State Library Reading List

2012 Best Children’s Books of the Year, Bank Street

2012 California Collections list (Elementary and Middle School)

2012 Capitol Choices Noteworthy Titles For Children and Teens

2012 Nominee for Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Grades 6-8 division)

2011 Los Angeles Public Library: LAPL Reads List

2011 Cybils Awards Finalist (nonfiction)