Shock Horror History!

A parent might reach for this book when their child complains that history is boring or irrelevant. For the kid who loves weird facts and gross-out humor but groans at the sight of a textbook, Shock Horror History! is the perfect antidote. It bypasses dry dates and lengthy explanations to present history as a series of bizarre, gruesome, and fascinating short stories. The book sparks immense curiosity by focusing on everything from terrible ancient medicine to shocking medieval punishments. While it deals with scary and sometimes violent topics, the tone is humorous and factual, making it appropriate for older elementary and middle school readers who are ready to see that the past was anything but dull.