Conspiracies and Secret Societies

Gr 9 Up—Patrons interested in conspiracy theories and the paranormal will fly through this riveting tome. It's written in an accessible, entertaining style and is chock-full of engrossing and provocative articles that range from a few paragraphs to several pages in length, many accompanied by black-and-white photos. There are no internal citations or reference lists, though websites and sources are sometimes mentioned within the text. However, since this is a dossier of conspiracy theories, the lack of credible reference sources is understandable. Topics are arranged alphabetically and vary from coverage of popularized conspiracy theories such as those around JFK's assassination, Obama's birth certificate, and Roswell to conspiracies that may be less well-known to teens such as Maria Monk's assault on Catholicism, the nefarious Mothman, and Morgellons disease. The pyramids and the Sphinx are included, but Stonehenge, a common research topic for students, is not. Also missing is an entry on the Georgia Guidestones, theories surrounding which have been around for decades and are a current buzz on some social media sites. Despite these minor oversights, Conspiracies offers a fascinating look at enigmas, intrigues, and oddities. While this work may offend, enrage, and even frighten some, it's sure to be a hit with conspiracy enthusiasts and certainly won't be a shelf-sitter.—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA