Unexplained: An Encyclopedia of Curious Phenomena, Strange Superstitions, and Ancient Mysteries [Hardcover]

Judy Allen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Unexplained is a comprehensive and compelling one-stop guide to weird nature, the paranormal, and strange superstitions. Even with today's high-tech science, many events and ancient mysteries remain unexplained and surrounded by theories that stir the imagination and challenge scientific fact. This book systematically explores all aspects of the human fascination with the unknowable, from hauntings and the power of the mind to physical mysteries such as lost civilizations, ancient superstitions and symbols, and the persistent ideas about life from other planets. Evocative illustrations and intriguing photographs, combined with spine-tingling text by an award-winning author, shed light on the world's greatest mysteries.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up–A seamless combination of absorbing fact-filled text and stunning visuals in an investigation of mysteries that continue to baffle, tantalize, and spark endless debate. The book is divided into engaging subject areas as diverse as Hauntings, The Power of the Mind, Disappearances, and From Another Planet. Readers will pore over accessible and exciting entries about the sixth sense, premonitions, frog showers and fish falls, Atlantis, and crop circles. In addition, there are pieces on relatively recent subjects that have gained wide popularity, such as Feng shui and Men in Black. The articles, which are complemented by a wealth of attractive black-and-white and color illustrations, discuss and define the phenomena, and provide firsthand accounts. They detail some suggested explanations, but also encourage readers to draw their own conclusions. A user-friendly List of Phenomena by Area, an easy-to-understand glossary, and an accurate index are appended. Though this is a quality volume, Nancy Pear's Strange and Unexplained Happenings (Gale, 1995; o.p.) is a more comprehensive and sophisticated treatment of events that defy rational explanation.–Hillary Jan Donitz-Goldstein, formerly at New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Books for Growing Minds

"This gripping guide to all things strange, weird and paranormal explores our obsession with the unexplainable..."

 

Children's Literature
Do you need that right gift for a middle aged reader who has a birthday right around Halloween? This book could be that present.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher (October 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753459507
• ISBN-13: 978-0753459508
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #445,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Children's

More About the Author

Judy Allen is an award-winning author whose novel Awaiting Developments won the Whitbread Children's Novel Award. Judy Allen and illustrator Tudor Humphries created Kingfisher's award-winning Backyard Books series and many other successful books, including the Reading Rainbow selections Tiger and Seal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good First Book for Someone Who Has Suddenly Become Interested in These Subjects but Only Basic Information on Each Topic, August 30, 2007

By 

James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Unexplained: An Encyclopedia of Curious Phenomena, Strange Superstitions, and Ancient Mysteries (Hardcover)

This colourful simply laid out picture/reference book would be an ideal gift for a child who has recently developed an interest in some or a few of the topics covered. Hauntings, UFO's, Ghosts, Psychics, ESP, Monsters, Ancient Mysteries, omens, superstitions, symbols, natural phenomena, curses and other topics falling under the word unexplained are all in here. However there are only really a few paragraphs on each subject surrounded by illustrations and photographs, no more than a double page spread on anything inside. Reading the book from cover to cover will take less than an hour which you may also want to consider in determining if Unexplained is value for money. The book has enough to hold your interest for that hour but I don't think many questions will be satisfied, however it does create a desire to learn more and to think about some things. Maybe try and borrow it from your local library before ordering to see if it will suffice.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, educational, and popular, October 7, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unexplained: An Encyclopedia of Curious Phenomena, Strange Superstitions, and Ancient Mysteries (Hardcover)

Expertly written for young readers ages 9 to 14 and students in grades 4 to 9, "Unexplained: An Encyclopedia of Curious Phenomena, Strange Superstitions, And Ancient Mysteries" is a 144 page, profusely illustrated compendium of strange phenomena that has puzzled and intrigued people from our earliest recorded records down to the present day. Ranging from 'hauntings', to the extra sensory power of the mind, to superstitions and symbols, to unnatural phenomena (human combustion, weeping statues), to strange creatures, and more, "Unexplained" will prove to be a fascinating, educational, and popular addition to school and community library collections for children curious about the weird and the wonderful that seemingly defy logic and scientific explanation.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, October 11, 2006

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unexplained: An Encyclopedia of Curious Phenomena, Strange Superstitions, and Ancient Mysteries (Hardcover)

Ever wondered if there really are castles that are haunted? Or people who have real, honest-to-goodness ESP? How about those strange stories about frogs falling from the sky, or if the city of Atlantis actually existed? If you've ever had questions about seemingly unexplainable events, then you should really pick up this wonderful encyclopedia filled with information on a number of mind-bending (literally!) subjects.

Divided into categories such as Hauntings, The Power of the Mind, Superstitions and Symbols, Natural Phenomena, Strange Creatures, Disappearances, Ancient Mysteries, Lost Lands and Secrets, Cures, Signs, and Skills, Lines and Labyrinths, and From Another Planet, this is the definitive book for unexplainable, and often times unanswerable, questions. Also included are a List of Phenomena By Area and a Glossary, which are very well put together and amazingly helpful.

What's most exciting about UNEXPLAINED is that almost everything you could imagine--UFO sightings, the Egyptian pyramids, El Dorado, auras, and The Bermuda Triangle--are covered in this book. Some entries have scientific facts to back up what really happens (human combustion is usually explained by ball lightning), and, when fact isn't entirely possible, by writings and documents passed down through the ages (such as whether or not Shangri-La was a real place).

For anyone who enjoys pouring over facts, and especially for those interested in the paranormal and unexplained, this is a definitive guide for your collection. A great gift for the curious, and a great read for the interested!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"