Are You Afraid Yet?: The Science Behind Scary Stuff

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Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature - Monserrat Urena
This small book focuses on the many things that can arouse fear in us. This is a fun concept for a book on its own, but the interesting twist comes when those very reasons for fear and fright are analyzed and explained. This is the science behind fear. This was a fun read with an interesting mix of facts and stories. The way the book is set up the reader is told a story. This story is then meant to "scare" and basically trigger the physical reactions of fear. These same reactions are then carefully explained. The combination is often interesting, even to readers who do not fall into the book's intended age group. It is, in other words, suitably appropriate for the target audience but also fun for older readers who like a good scare and the science behind it. I recommend this book as a fun and quick read. Reviewer: Monserrat Urena
School Library Journal
Gr 4–7—This book cleverly weaves together the supernatural and the scientific in an entertaining read that answers questions about ghosts, UFOs, vampires, werewolves, and how long a decapitated head can remain conscious. Examples depicting such things in classical fiction and popular movies are seamlessly interjected between the factual explanations. Each page is filled with detailed black-and-white illustrations, emphasizing the sometimes-humorous, yet often-macabre descriptions. This should appeal to kids who love scary stories, while introducing them to hard science and critical thinking in the process.—Donna Atmur, Los Angeles Public Library
Kirkus Reviews
Squeamish readers beware. With great gusto and unwavering focus on the gory details, O'Meara kicks up his explanation of the causes and physiological effects of fear with an array of bugaboos, from vampires and ghosts to the guillotine ("SWIIISH! . . . A basket every time!") and the Ebola virus. Though he does claim to have seen a ghost, in general he displays a skeptical attitude toward supernatural phenomena, and his rational explanations of night noises around the house, for instance, may offer at least a crumb of comfort to timorous sorts. Kaposy illustrates several of the author's references to films and literature with black-and-white comics-style panels-breaking down Ichabod Crane's physical reactions to facing the headless horseman, showing Edgar Allen Poe gravely sticking a finger up his nose to demonstrate how embalmers in ancient Egypt removed a corpse's brains-and depicts the author himself as an eerily lipless narrator. Hilarious, informative and attractively creepy bait, particularly for reluctant readers. (Nonfiction. 10-12)
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781554532940
  • Publisher: Kids Can Press, Limited
  • Publication date: 3/1/2009
  • Pages: 80
  • Sales rank: 949,692
  • Age range: 9 - 12 Years
  • Product dimensions: 7.30 (w) x 6.20 (h) x 0.50 (d)

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