How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg

Bragg, G., & O'Malley, K. (2011). How they croaked: The awful ends of the awfully famous. New York: Walker &Company.

This book by, Georgia Bragg, gives the reader a very descriptive and gory view of how ancient famous people died miserable deaths. The books gives a look into the sad lives of King Tut, Pocahontas, Charles Dickens, and many others. Each section focuses on one particular character in the book. The sections start off with a brief overview of why the person was famous. At the end of each, piece the author provides various facts about the person, and further information about the objects or “antidotes” that killed them. It is fascinating to learn Pocahontas was captured by English men, and taken to London where it was filthy and littered with animal and human waste. She started to develop a cough, and after receiving no medical help, she tragically died of either tuberculosis or pneumonia. The tone enhances the mood of the book by using dry and humorous text.  By using pictures of skulls, cross bones, tombstones, and black birds, the illustrator continues to play up the feeling of death.  The font of the dreary looking text in the heading, and the facial expression of the oblivious characters continues to carry out the theme of darkness and impending tragedy. The black and white sketches and lack of color give a sense of gloom and doom. Illustrations on the first page of each section foreshadow what is written about the famous person. This book would be ideal for anyone who loves reading about history, or enjoys humorous and dreary books.