Caught! Nabbing History’s Most Wanted

This scattershot survey of infamous criminals throughout history by Bragg (How They Croaked) offers mixed results. Covering such subjects as Joan of Arc and Al Capone, among others, Bragg limits her scope to Europeans and Americans—some of whom committed crimes, while others were judged unjustly. Each chapter includes “Facts and Stats,” such as the reward money offered for various criminals ($500 for Billy the Kid) and a few vocabulary terms. The profiles’ humorous language can sometimes feel intrusive or even inappropriate (such as a claim that Blackbeard was a “trendsetter” who “wasn’t that bad”), though O’Malley’s cartoons add amusement and interest. And while Bragg claims that all of these individuals “changed history,” which certainly seems true for Joan of Arc and John Wilkes Booth, the connection is less obviously clear for other figures, such as artist and murderer Caravaggio. While some readers may enjoy the flip approach, the uneven tone makes this a secondary purchase. Ages 10–14. [em](Sept.) [/em] Update: This review has been updated to reflect text changed in the book after the review was published.