SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

March 30, 2015 by Lori Henderson

Review: Encountering Aliens, Bigfoot, Chupacabra and Other Cryptids, and Ghosts

March 30, 2015 by Lori Henderson   1 comments

Ghosts haunt our dreams, Bigfoot, Chupacabra and other cryptids haunt the outdoors, and aliens haunt our skies. But do they really exist? Eyewitness accounts of people’s encounters with the unknown can help make the case for believing, but are these accounts really enough?

Eyewitness to the Unexplained Series: Encountering Aliens, Bigfoot, Chupacabra and Other Cryptids, and Ghosts: Eyewitness Accounts
Written by Chris Kincade, Katherine Krohn, Megan Cooley Peterson, Mari Bolte; Illustrated by Cristian Mallea, Michael Byers, Matt Stevens, Kako
All Ages
Capstone Press, Aug 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4914-0244-3, 978-1-4914-0243-6, 978-1-4914-0242-9, 978-1-4914-0245-0
32 pgs ea, $22.49 LIB

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Everyone likes a good spooky story, and it’s made even better if it can be said to be true. The four books in the Eyewitness to the Unexplained Series set out to do just that. Every volume is filled with eyewitness accounts of the strange or unexplained and then lets “You Decide” if the events really happened.

This series follows a basic format. Each volume starts by introducing the topic with a quick history of the phenomena being explored, and then launches right into the accounts. Most of the accounts are well-known in their sphere of influence. Anyone familiar with Alien lore will know the stories of Betty and Barney Hill, Travis Walton, and the Phoenix Lights. There are few people who have never heard of Bigfoot, or seen at least snippets of the Patterson footage. Other cryptids might be more regionally known, but stories still get out about the Jersey Devil and Mothman. Ghosts have permeated human societies for thousands of years, so stories of the Amityville House and Robert the Haunted Doll still send chills down our spines.

Each account is told in two to four pages with art illustrating the text. The text itself is short and direct without feeling simplified. After each account, there is a second section called “You Decide” that gives some additional information, such as what the eyewitness did after the encounter, or things that could have affected their story. It’s hard to say if this section is meant to encourage critical thinking, as the wording can come off as biased. At the end of every volume there is a glossary for words specific to the topic and a “Read More” section that lists books that can be looked up for further reference. The art balances a realistic look for the people and more fantastic appearance for the creatures. It is very colorful and sets the tone well for each story.

The Eyewitness to the Unexplained series is an entertaining way to feed a hunger for supernatural stories. As eyewitness accounts, they are non-fiction, thus making them a little more likely to be believed. I would have liked to have seen a little more emphasis on critical thinking and the questionable reliability of eyewitness accounts. This series had the potential to introduce some critical thinking skills and apply them to the accounts. I wish it would have taken that extra step. Still, it is a good introduction to many of these supernatural creatures and a place to begin exploring their existence.

Review copies provided by publisher.

Filed under: All Ages

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
aliensbig footcryptidsghostsnon-fictionsupernaturalunknown

About Lori Henderson

Lori Henderson is a mother of two teenage daughters and an avid reader. She blogs about manga at her personal blog Manga Xanadu as well as contributing and editing for Manga Village. She blogs about all things fandom (mainly Doctor Who) at her other personal blog Fangirl Xanadu. She's been at it so for over 5 years now and counting!

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

May 2023

Extincts: Flight of the Mammoth | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

May 2023

Recent Graphic Novel Deals, Early May 2023 | News

by Lori Henderson

May 2023

Peculiar Woods | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

May 2023

My New Life as a Cat, vol. 1 | Review

by Lori Henderson

May 2023

The Dog Knight | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Endangered Series #29: The Zack Files

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Ellen Myrick Publisher Preview: Fall 2023/Winter 2024 (Part Five – Berbay, Cicada & Creston Books)

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

School-Live!: Letters | Review

by Renee Scott

Heavy Medal

And now there are 38: May Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Suggestions

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Have Some LGBTQ+ Books for This Year by Riley Jensen

by Riley Jensen

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Trying Something New: SPEED ROUND w/ Marla Frazee, Doug Salati, Dan Santat, and Amina Luqman-Dawson

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

15 Returning Faces for Graphic Novels Shelves | Series Update

Best Graphic Novels 2022 | SLJ Best Books

Eight Graphic Works that Offer Fresh Perspectives on the Past | Stellar Panels

Top 10 Manga of 2022

Top 10 Manga of 2020

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John Bigfoot says

    June 8, 2015 at 4:43 am

    Bigfoot vs Alien would be a PC game I supposed.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023