How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous - Hardcover

Bragg, Georgia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 080273488X ISBN 13: 9780802734884

Publisher: Walker & Co, 2014

Synopsis

Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes, epic failures even lead to super successes . . . sometimes they become deep dark secrets. But remember-to fail is human, to laugh about our shortcomings divine. From Montezuma II's mistaking a conqueror for a god to Isaac Newton turning from science to alchemy to J. Bruce Ismay's jumping the lifeboat line on the Titanic, How They Choked knocks fourteen famous achievers off their pedestals to reveal the human side of history.

Successful "failures" include:
Marco Polo - Queen Isabella of Spain - Montezuma II - Ferdinand Magellan - Anne Boleyn - Isaac Newton - Benedict Arnold - Susan B. Anthony - George Armstrong Custer - Thomas Alva Edison - Vincent Van Gogh - J. Bruce Ismay - "Shoeless Joe" Jackson - Amelia M. Earhart

About this title

Review:

"This all-too-informative study deserves the wild popularity it will without a doubt acquire." --"Booklist", starred review on "How They Croaked"

"Engaging, informative and downright disgusting." --"Kirkus Reviews", on "How They Croaked"

"Expect this one to be passed around and poured over." --"School Library Journal", on "How They Croaked"

"Carried away on a swift-flowing stream of body fluids, medical ineptitude, and O'Malley's deliciously snarky artwork, kids will agree they got exactly what they came for." --"BCCB", on "How They Croaked"

Awards for "How They Croaked" Texas Lone Star List, ALA Notable Book, ALA Quick Pick List, IRA Young Adults Reading List, Bank Street Best Book of the Year

"An insightful, informative narrative explaining how these individuals earned a place in history, including both their accomplishments and embarrassing and sometimes-tragic failures . . . Readers will be entertained and fascinated by the flawed humanity depicted within." --"Kirkus Reviews"

"Written in a chatty style, full of wit and laugh-out-loud moments, this charmingly irreverent delivery of history is not only entertaining but packed full of lessons to be learned." --"School Library Journal"

"The snarkily entertaining narratives are illustrated with caricatures of each subject. For better or worse, subjects are rarely as one-dimensional as most biographies paint them, and this book proves that nobody is perfect." --"Booklist"

"A delightfully snarky look at the remarkable mistakes of a few of history's famous figures . . . If you have not already added "How They Croaked "to your collection, buy both it and "How They Choked "immediately. Read it yourself, put it on display--it will get passed around with (disgust) delight." --"VOYA"

"Offers caustically humorous insights into history . . . Irresistible entertainment (and solid information) for readers." --"Publishers Weekly"

"A delightfully informative, humorous, and honest look at some of history's well-known characters." --"Library Media Connection"

"This all-too-informative study deserves the wild popularity it will without a doubt acquire." --"Booklist," starred review on "How They Croaked"

"Engaging, informative and downright disgusting." --"Kirkus Reviews," on "How They Croaked"

"Expect this one to be passed around and poured over." --"School Library Journal," on "How They Croaked"

"Carried away on a swift-flowing stream of body fluids, medical ineptitude, and O'Malley's deliciously snarky artwork, kids will agree they got exactly what they came for." --"BCCB," on "How They Croaked"

Awards for "How They Croaked" Texas Lone Star List, ALA Notable Book, ALA Quick Pick List, IRA Young Adul

Awards for "How They Croaked" Texas Lone Star List, ALA Notable Book, ALA Quick Pick List, IRA Young Adults Reading List, Bank Street Best Book of the Year

An insightful, informative narrative explaining how these individuals earned a place in history, including both their accomplishments and embarrassing and sometimes-tragic failures . . . Readers will be entertained and fascinated by the flawed humanity depicted within. "Kirkus Reviews"

Written in a chatty style, full of wit and laugh-out-loud moments, this charmingly irreverent delivery of history is not only entertaining but packed full of lessons to be learned. "School Library Journal"

The snarkily entertaining narratives are illustrated with caricatures of each subject. For better or worse, subjects are rarely as one-dimensional as most biographies paint them, and this book proves that nobody is perfect. "Booklist"

A delightfully snarky look at the remarkable mistakes of a few of history's famous figures . . . If you have not already added "How They Croaked "to your collection, buy both it and "How They Choked "immediately. Read it yourself, put it on display--it will get passed around with (disgust) delight. "VOYA"

Offers caustically humorous insights into history . . . Irresistible entertainment (and solid information) for readers. "Publishers Weekly"

A delightfully informative, humorous, and honest look at some of history's well-known characters. "Library Media Connection"

This all-too-informative study deserves the wild popularity it will without a doubt acquire. "Booklist, starred review on How They Croaked"

Engaging, informative and downright disgusting. "Kirkus Reviews, on How They Croaked"

Expect this one to be passed around and poured over. "School Library Journal, on How They Croaked"

Carried away on a swift-flowing stream of body fluids, medical ineptitude, and O'Malley's deliciously snarky artwork, kids will agree they got exactly what they came for. "BCCB, on How They Croaked""

About the Author:

GEORGIA BRAGG is the author of How They Croaked as well as Matisse on the Loose, a middle-grade novel. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and two cats.
www.georgiabragg.com

KEVIN O'MALLEY is the co-author and illustrator of the popular Miss Malarkey series, as well as the New York Times bestseller Gimme Cracked Corn and I Will Share and many other books for children. He lives in Maryland.
www.booksbyomalley.com

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker & Co
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 080273488X
• ISBN 13: 9780802734884
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 200
• Illustrator: O'Malley Kevin