Duped!: True Stories of the World's Best Swindlers (It Actually Happened) - Softcover

Schroeder, Andreas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1554513502 ISBN 13: 9781554513505

Publisher: Annick Press, 2011

Synopsis

As long as there have been people willing to believe the unbelievable, people have been duped. In the best storytelling tradition, readers can follow the tales of: How the Nazis planned to destroy the British economy during World War II by flooding the world with millions of fake British banknotes How an infamous radio broadcast had American citizens convinced that Martians were invading the country How one of the 20th century’s most elaborate scams conducting tours to the lost Tasaday tribe in the Philippines fooled the world’s media and top scientists for nearly a decade. The author’s fascination with the boldness and inventiveness of the swindlers, as well as their motives, makes for a compelling read. The stories instill a sense of disbelief, amusement and even grudging admiration for these ingenious scam artists who often (but not always) meet a bad end. Accompanied by graphic-style artwork, each tale offers a great escape for readers drawn to true stories presented in a lively fashion.

About this title

About the Author:

Andreas Schroeder was the resident "Scam-meister" for 12 years on a popular radio show, where he uncovered ingenious frauds and hoaxes. He is an award-winning author who has published more than 20 books, including the highly successful Scams.

Remy Simard is a cartoonist, commercial artist and award-winning author and illustrator who has a long list of published children's books. His work has appeared in a wide variety of magazines and newspapers. He lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Review:

It's hard to imagine a more kid-friendly piece of nonfiction. The scams covered include a made-up Stone Age society discovered in the Philippines that fooled even National Geographic ... and a French rags-to-riches high-society swindle. Although the hook is baited with plenty of sensationalism...there's some good history to be learned beneath all the grandiose flimflammery. Schroeder writes in a lighthearted, chatty tone, equally matched by Simard's good-times black-and-white cartooning. A list of additional resources points the way toward more reading for kids tickled by such large-scale trickery. (Ian Chipman Booklist 2011-12-15)

The topic of the book is compelling and the writing of the cases is engaging. (Elizabeth Ford Resource Links)

This hybrid of nonfiction and graphic novel is a fun lesson on how the masses can be made into fools. (Mariela Siegert School Library Journal)

The wonderful thing about Duped! is that it is a fun read for those interested in scams, but it can also lead, all on its own, to discussing an amazing variety of topics. (Canadian Materials 2012-02-03)

It's hard to imagine a more kid-friendly piece of non-fiction. (School Library Journal 2012-02-01)

There is real value in sharing such a well-written and informative text. (Sally Bender Sal's Fiction Addiction 2013-08-11)

About this edition

• Publisher: Annick Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1554513502
• ISBN 13: 9781554513505
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160
• Illustrator: Simard Remy