Famous Phonies: Legends, Fakes, and Frauds Who Changed History (The Changed History Series) Hardcover – November 4, 2014

My daughter loves books like these. She only wishes it was longer.

Great book by a great author!

This was an interesting book to read. There were lots of things I liked about it, and some I didn't. The book takes a look at various famous (and some lesser known, but important) people and legends from history. It then exposes the false ideas and misconceptions we have about these people.On the positive side, the author has a sarcastic, humorous "voice" that makes the book fun to read. There are also several lesser known legends that I found interesting and I liked learning about them. The book is well researched, easy to read, and interesting enough to keep the intended audience (kids ages 8-12) interested.On the down side, I didn't agree with the assessment of many of the historical figures. The sarcastic "voice" that made the book so fun to read also reduced these legends into bumbling knuckleheads that happened to trip into fame, fortune, or power. I have a difficult time believing they were as clueless as they are presented in this book.Obviously, I have mixed thoughts on the book. I think kids will like it. It's informative and fun to read, but I'm not completely sold.Content: cleanSource: I received a digital galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Brianna DuMont, author of the Changed History Series, is at it again with Famous Phonies telling the facts you probably won’t see in your history books! It is important to note that this is not a history textbook and contains some wonderful humor often in the form of illustrations and side facts. Be aware, the content of this book might completely change how you look at some of your favorite role models, so read at your own risk! Over time authors have found that an exciting exaggerated story sells better than the true boring story. Often, the more ridiculous the story the better it would be remembered. Therefore leaving out some of the less attractive details became common. For example, you probably have heard that George Washington accepted no payment during his office as president, while this is true, many books neglect the fact that he instead just billed everything he purchased to the government which added up to millions of today’s dollars! Or perhaps you’ve heard of Homer, the blind bard, who wrote The Odyssey and The Iliad. These two epics were colossal writings taking several days to recite, which would be quite difficult for a supposedly blind Homer. There is little evidence that Homer even existed, and much less showing he wrote these two epics. In addition, seven different cities claim to be his birthplace. Real or not, Homer’s writings influenced the strategy and planning of leaders from Alexander the Great to Xerxes of Persia. If you are a fan of amazing sayings then you have undoubtedly heard of Confucius, the great teacher and creator of hundreds of influential proverbs gathered in The Analects. However, his quotes and life story weren’t written down until over 100 years after his death. Because of this, it is hard to tell fact from fiction as the stories had been retold and adjusted so many times. Some tales claim he was nine feet tall, had thousands of disciples, and created hundreds of wonderful narratives, but none of these can be proven true or false! If those few facts seem surprising, know that they are just a few of the shocking truths in this book. Famous Phonies features 12 historical characters from Confucius in China, Hiawatha in North America, to William Shakespeare in England. In addition, Famous Phonies carries plenty of fun and hilarious illustrations and definitions to help the truth go down easier. Due to the type of content covered (which includes plenty of war), I would say this book is appropriate for anyone 10 or older. Famous Phonies is a book with fun and shocking truths on every page, perfect for anyone who wants to know more about these famous historical figures. This book gets 5 Famous stars!Zander H., 14, Gulf-Coast America Mensa

Poorly written revisionist pap. Shakespeare was a woman?..or an Earl?....Nothing is known about him? George Washington was ...get this..a bad general! He only defeated the greatest military force in the world with an underfunded, undisciplined ragtag force of patriots ...the writer is lazy and barely literate. A waste of time for everyone and, most importantly, the reader.

Brianna DuMont's book is directed towards children ranging in age from 10 to 14. The book is her initial offering into what she calls a Changed History series. Famous Phonies; Legends, Fakes and Frauds Who Changed History is designed to appeal to the middle-school student who tends to be turned away from square, adult language. Ms. DuMont is not dull. She speaks the language of the intended audience.Notwithstanding William Shakespeare and George Washington, most of the subjects covered in DuMont's book are not highly recognizable. Young readers are introduced to The Turk, Pope Joan, Major William Martin, Prester John and others. The author digs into the phoniness of real and legendary historical figures in a way that makes learning experiences exciting.Do you remember a teacher at the middle school level who inspired you to learn? One such teacher of geography comes to mind. I will always remember the name of the capital of Honduras because he told of a fictional animal. He called a galpa, and said it was native to Honduras. His silly story involved someone deciding to approach from behind to goose it. You get the idea. I have always remembered that Tegucigalpa is the Honduran capital.What's next for Ms. DuMont sounds tantalizing. She has posted on her Twitter account that the second book in the series relating to changed history will be about fugitives. She tweeted in the middle of February 2015 that it would come out in a year. While you are waiting for that one, consider grabbing onto the book about phonies. It would be the perfect birthday gift for a child not quite ready for high school.