About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their child declares history is boring and refuses to engage with school lessons. The Smashing Saxons, part of the beloved Horrible Histories series, transforms the Anglo-Saxon period from a dry list of dates into a whirlwind of hilarious and disgusting facts. Through witty text, silly cartoons, and a focus on the gory, gross, and goofy aspects of daily life, it sparks genuine curiosity and joy in learning. Perfect for reluctant readers aged 8 to 12, this book is a fantastic tool for making history feel alive, relatable, and unforgettable, proving that learning about the past can be pure entertainment.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book is replete with violence, death, and disease, all treated with a comedic, desensitized tone. Torture, executions, battlefield injuries, and gruesome medical practices are described directly but always for humorous or shocking effect. The approach is secular and historical; it explains both pagan and early Christian beliefs as factual parts of the Saxon worldview without proselytizing. There is no emotional weight given to death; it's just another horrible fact.
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