Jan 30 2009
“You Wouldn’t Want to be an Aztec Sacrifice” by Fiona MacDonald
Although I tend to focus on adult nonfiction books, I do occasionally review children’s nonfiction books too. This is one of those books - if you’re interested, you can find other reviews of children’s books here.
Before I started at the library, I had never heard of the “You Wouldn’t Want to…” series, but now I see the books pass through the library all the time.
You Wouldn’t Want to be an Aztec Sacrifice by Fiona MacDonald is just one of many in the series - other examples are You Wouldn’t Want to be a Viking Explorer or You Wouldn’t Want to Work on the Railroads. They tend to focus on the more gory aspects of history; the things that a boy in elementary school would think is fascinating, but which the “normal” textbooks tend to pass over. 
In You Wouldn’t Want to be an Aztec Sacrifice: Gruesome Things You’d Rather Not Know, the author takes you from the beginning: Who the Aztecs are and who “you” are (yes, everything happens in the present tense, and it all happens to you - the author tells you “Now you are doing this. Now you are feeling that.” Etc. Except not in a boring way, promise.) Eventually, you get captured in battle and eventually end up as a human sacrifice to the gods (and in case you were wondering, no, no last minute save happens - you really do die as a sacrifice. I had kinda thought that a “But wait!” moment would happen, and you’d be saved. Nope - you die.)
The illustrations are bright, colorful, and eye-catching. I found a two-page spread online that I could download, so here’s two pages in the middle of the book:
I found that the book was both gruesome and humorous. That’s not normally a combination I find in reading materials, but I think the book will strike just the right chord for its intended audience - 4th to 6th grade boys. It is historically accurate (okay, not so much the pictures per say, but the facts and history in the book) and for kids who normally find history “bor-ring!” and “Can’t we do something else?” this might be just the ticket to spike their interest.
MacDonald’s right - I don’t want to be an Aztec sacrifice, but I did enjoy this book, and I would want to read more in the same series. With an eye towards my eventual job as a teacher, I have to say that I’m excited about this series - I think this is a great way to connect with kids who might not otherwise care. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.
Hava
This sounds like exactly the kind of thing that might eventually intrigue my five year old son. Presuming he ever starts to read. Or talk.
Callista >> Doesn’t children’s nonfiction just totally rock? After I finished my book review last night, I laid the book on the bed next to me, and my husband comes in to go to bed. Well, he starts looking through the book, and instead of going to sleep, he stays up reading every last bit of information in there.
“This is a cool book!” he kept saying. It is a well-known fact that my husband is a seven-year-old boy trapped in a 32-year-old’s body.
Well, he’s really into medieval stuff, so of course he started asking me, “Are there any books about medieval topics?” So today I did a search, found that there were, but that they are so new, my library doesn’t have them yet, and we can’t get them in on interlibrary loan (a book has to be at least a year old before another library will consider lending it to someone). So I requested the book be bought for our library, and it’s now on the list. Can I just say how much I LOVE my library?!?!
I’d love to have this whole series for my elementary classroom (when I get one). I’m putting it on my wish list…
Stephanie >> Does your son allow you to read to him? ‘Cause this would be a great book to snuggle down with and read together. I can’t think of any boy who wouldn’t love the books in this series.
WARNING: This particular book did have some gory stuff in it. You’d have to look at the book to see what I mean, but at the end, they do sacrifice “you,” right? Well, when that happens and the drawing is up close and personal to the altar, they position it so that the drawing of you is conveniently hid behind something.
But when they do another drawing of the altar from far away, you can see the body and some red blood (not a whole lot, since it is pretty far away).
So for any parents who don’t want their kids exposed to that kind of thing, I’d suggest picking a book out of the series that focuses on a less gory topic than being sacrificed on an altar.
Just thought I’d throw that out there…
Havs
Ya know, I think I remember this book, or something similar, from school. The sort of book that you could never borrow because someone else always got it from the school library before you. I really love those illustrations.
He will not, yet. But, I’ll see if this can change his mind.
Hindleyite >> Aren’t the illustrations awesome? My husband really loved the art style too. It really is a great series for children (and children stuck in adult bodies!)
Stephanie >> You’ll have to tell me if he likes them.
Sariah >> I could totally see Taylor and Torsten loving these books. I have the book by the front door to return on Monday, so it should be there next time you go to the library. And although I know you’re sad I’m not going to be posting every day, it makes my heart happy that at least someone cares that I won’t be posting every day. I won’t go back to posting once a month - it just won’t be every day like it was this month.
I should definitely try to do more kids books. They are certainly easier and quicker. Help break things up.
Hava
What? I would love to have my heart ripped out of my chest while still beating, have it offered to the gods, then having it devoured by the priests!!! Sounds like a fun spring break party.
That’s the spirit! Way to really get at the “heart” of the fun there.
Sorry, couldn’t help myself…
Hava