How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous
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Overview
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
The author and illustrator of the bestselling How They Croaked shine a light on the darker sides of history’s most famous choke artists with information perfect for common core!
High-Concept History: Readers will be fascinated by the remarkable ways these historical figures failed-with all the gory details
Snarky Snicket-Like Tone keeps the darkness at bay
Illustrator Track: Kevin O’Malley’s existing fan base will help gain entrance into schools and libraries
Famous “Failures" Include: Magellan, Anne Boleyn, Vincent Van Gogh, Thomas Edison, Montezuma II, Amelia Earhart, George Armstrong Custer, Benedict Arnold, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Marco Polo, Isaac Newton, Susan B. Anthony, Queen Isabella, and J. Bruce Ismay.
Funny and Inventive Sidebars: break up the running text and add great facts that kids will love.
Multiple Award Winner: How They Croaked is the recipient of five state awards and three national awards.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Offers caustically humorous insights into history... Irresistible entertainment (and solid information) for readers.
A delightfully informative, humorous, and honest look at some of history’s well-known characters.
This all-too-informative study deserves the wild popularity it will without doubt acquire.
Engaging, informative and downright disgusting.
Expect this one to be passed around and pored over.
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.
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
- Title: How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous
- Authors: Kevin O'Malley, Georgia Bragg
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Print Publication Date: 2023
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Pages: 208
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781547614523, 9781681192161, 1681192160, 1547614528
- Resource ID: LLS:9781547614523
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T15:18:49Z
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