Raucous Royals: Test your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce WhichRoyal Rumors are True (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: Anne Boleyn, Marie Antoinette, King George (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–8—This lighthearted look at historical rumors about European rulers from Vlad Dracula to George III is full of humor, interesting facts, and insightful perspectives. Some of the rumors turn out to be true (Henry VIII's weight), some are false (Louis XIV's bathing habits), and several are still undecided (Richard III as a murderer). Examining their veracity is a clever hook that leads into a fascinating look at how gossip, literature, and other unreliable sources can be taken as truth over time. The author provides just enough introductory context and shares well-chosen anecdotes and facts in an engaging conversational style. Varied approaches keep each section fresh: a mock casebook presents the "rumor suspects" regarding the death of Catherine the Great, for example, and opposing arguments from fictional historians show both sides of the question of Peter the Great's actual "greatness." Comic portraits and other illustrations add to the irreverent tone. Mary I reaches from her picture frame to grab the crown of Elizabeth in one scene, and a lineup of males against a wall demonstrates Napoleon's taller-than-average stature, among other funny examples. The conclusion offers tips on how to use research to gauge the accuracy of historical rumors, and a bibliography cites multiple sources for each figure covered in the book. This humorous approach to history has strong booktalk potential, and also serves as a compelling introduction to the notion that separating fact from fiction can be challenging and fun.—Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR
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From Booklist

This entertaining collective biography looks at rumors about a dozen royal figures and presents evidence of each tale’s truth or falsehood. The discussion begins with Prince Dracula (a real vampire?) and Richard III (a hunchback? murdered his nephews?), spotlights five colorful Tudors, then moves on to six later figures, including Marie Antoinette (“Let them eat cake”?) and Catherine the Great (crushed by her horse?). Noting the invention of the printing press in 1440, Beccia draws an intriguing connection between today’s rumor-filled tabloids and fifteenth-century pamphlets smearing Vlad Dracula (aka Vlad the Impaler). Nicely designed and fully illustrated with caricatured digital images sometimes inspired by period portraits, the book looks inviting and the lively text is consistently entertaining. The final section suggests how students can research historical rumors. A bibliography and a few source notes are appended. Though other history books have more substance, choose this one to engage readers in critical thinking about the “facts.” Grades 4-7. --Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618891307
• ISBN-13: 978-0618891306
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #322,898 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny Way to Learn History Highs and Lows, September 22, 2008

By	Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt "bookwriter" (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews

If you're trying to sneak some history into your kids' reading time, give this book a whirl. They'll learn lots of fun facts about ding-dong royals like Henry VIII - including whether his witchy wife Anne Boleyn had six fingers (both before and after she lost her head!). While entertaining and utterly engaging thanks to Beccia's fun illustrations, the book also offers parents a launching point in which to discuss the damaging power of rumors. What? You thought that Marie Antoinette actually said, "Let them eat cake!"??? Off with your head! HA!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Raucous (and wonderfully illustrated) Distillation of Rumors, December 9, 2008

By	Kris Waldherr "author of Doomed Queens, The L... (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews

The Raucous Royals is given life by the prodigiously talented Carlyn Beccia, who wrote, illustrated and designed it. Accordingly, the book has a remarkable integration between text, design and art. The book is designed to look like part tabloid magazine, part graphic novel, part Ye Olde Master homage. Frankly, I'm amazed to learn that this is only Beccia's second picture book; her debut was Who Put the B in Ballyhoo?, a circus-inspired alphabet.

(Yes, technically these are picture books marketed to children. But I think they're really for any age -- beautifully illustrated books are ageless -- though The Raucous Royals is definitely slanted to an older audience than Ballyhoo. Figure kids over eight.)

The core of The Raucous Royals is how history is "a Distillation of Rumors."* Beccia writes: "Once a rumor is born, it never truly dies. Before television, tabloid magazines, and the Internet, rumors about royalty were started by clever jingles, silly cartoons, small books called pamphlets, and simple word of mouth." From there, she deconstructs over a dozen rumors from the last five hundred years, starting with Vlad the Impader and finishing with England's unfortunate George III.

It's a fun romp, made all the livelier by Beccia's knowing wit and clever art. All the wives of Henry VIII are there, including Anne Boleyn and her supposed sixth finger. Elizabeth and her cousin Mary Stuart are presented in a Rashomon-like format. I especially liked Beccia's explanations of some of the stranger health obsessions of times past, such as "The Boil Butt Beautifier." Apparently Louis XIV was prone to nasty boils on his... well, you get the idea!

A few rumors are lightly glossed over because of the juvenile market constraint. For example, Beccia plays coy in her presentation of Catherine the Great's supposed death-by-horse. The rumor she offers: "Catherine the great empress of Russia, died after being crushed by her horse." Um, well, only half the story there. But how else could you explain this to a G-rated audience without tipping toward a racy R rating? It's a tricky thing -- and this is one tale from history that is just too juicy to leave out.

I think The Raucous Royals would make a delectable gift for any history fan, especially if they're on the younger side. I know if I'd had this book as a kid, I would eaten it up like coffee ice cream, my favorite childhood treat. So highly recommended for the holidays, birthdays and beyond. I can imagine many a juicy school report being fueled by it.

* Quote from Thomas Carlyle, 1795 - 1881.

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Kris Waldherr is the author of DOOMED QUEENS: Royal Women Who Met Bad Ends (Broadway Books, $14.95).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most fun way to pick up history trivia that I've found, December 2, 2008

By	Jennifer Bogart "@ Quiverfullfamily.com" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Rumors about royalty are nothing new. The bread and butter of English tabloids, rumours concerning the royal family often make it to the cover pages of our very own trash papers here across the pond. You may be surprised to learn that some rumours concerning royalty - hundreds of years old - have been accepted into the general body of historical knowledge as fact. In Raucous Royals, author Carlyn Beccia leads readers on a fun filled, factual romp to discover the truth that lies behind this antiquated mud-slinging.

Delving into the truths behind statements concerning an assorted cast of royal characters, Beccia encourages young historians to dig into the facts behind commonly espoused beliefs on the appearance, character, and behaviour of these famous figures. A select group of thirteen royals from the fifteenth through nineteenth centuries are included in this 64-page picture book.

Did Marie Antoinnete say, "Let them eat cake."? Was Empress Catherine the Great killed beneath her horse? Did Richard III kill his nephews? Was Queen Elizabeth I afraid of mice? These questions amongst others are examined in light of the available facts, removing hearsay from the picture entirely. Some of the answers might surprise you - I was shocked to learn that some of the historical "facts" my father had passed on to me as a girl were patently untrue; in fact, they were very persistent pieces of rumour mongering. Through Beccia's careful examination of the facts, readers will discover whether these - and many other - reports are true, false or unconfirmed.

Far from descending into dry, eye-rolling accounts, Beccia has created a uniquely engaging history resource filled with irreverent illustrations, trivia, quizzes and secret codes. A variety of creative visual techniques are employed to present historical facts in a captivating manner; illustrated graphs, letters, timelines, and authentic portraits are combined with Beccia's original artwork for a sumptuous visual presentation.

Yes, you read that right. Not only did Beccia write the text of Raucous Royals, she also designed and illustrated the book. In addition, then, to being a talented author and amateur historian she is a gifted artist as well. Her oftentimes-comedic interpretations of the royals combined with off-colour historical facts left me laughing out loud on more than one ocassion. Did you know that in seventeenth century France wealthy men and women would rub puppy urine on their faces to improve their complexion? Pair this factoid with an illustration of a smiling woman holding a bewildered puppy near her face and see if you can avoid laughing - I couldn't. Indeed, an assortment of such indispensable historical facts can be yours to add to your trivia repertoire to keep on hand for lulls in conversations.

Being familiar with some of the ribald behaviours of royalty, as well as having had some raunchy rumours whispered into my ear, I was somewhat concerned with the presentation of risqué subject matter in this title. Beccia exercised tact and caution, politely rephrasing and rephrasing the wildest of the accusations to keep this book appropriate for young children. As a parent, I'm deeply grateful that the Raucous Royals managed to be educational and entertaining without passing into PG-13 (and far beyond) territory.

Printed as a sturdy hardcover with reinforced binding, Raucous Royals is ready and willing to withstand repeated use in the home by both the intended age group (9-12 years), younger siblings who are fascinated by the artwork, and parents. I had a number of chuckles, and caught my husband reading it a few times as well, after which he shared some new facts he'd learned with me. It should also withstand many readings in school, public, and classroom libraries where it is sure to become a staple.

With an extensive bibliography and Beccia's recommendation to search out primary sources for themselves before believing a historical rumour, a newly enlivened interest in history is sure to result for many young readers.