As an adult I loved the information I learned in this book, and I found the organization of it to be really engaging and creative. As an educator, this is such a fun book to share with students because it is interactive and educational. Carlyn Beccia takes the reader through different ailments and cures that were used through the ages and then asks the readers which ones they think might actually work. I learned so much and had a good laugh as well.

An inquisitive examination of unusual cures used throughout history and whether or not these cures actually were effective. Selected Bibliography, Author’s Note.

“Some cures in this book are gross. Please don’t eat lunch while reading.” What a clever, playful book on history’s strangest cures! The format of this book is both interactive and insightful, and would keep even the most reluctant reader entertained and engaged. Each ailment is accompanied by a list of medical treatments from the past, and it’s up to the reader to guess which ones were effective. The author also adds historical knowledge on how and why each cure was used. The illustrations compliment the book's light and silly tone with images of smiling feasting maggots and necklaces made of worms. I would love to have this book in my future classroom library. ( )

Entertaining and educational; makes me doubly glad that I live in the 21st Century with modern medicine. ( )

Entertaining and educational; makes me doubly glad that I live in the 21st Century with modern medicine. ( )