Weird Disappearances

Where did Virginia Dare and the rest of the colonists of Roanoke go? Did Anastasia Romanov escape being murdered by revolutionaries? Weird Disappearances: Real Tales of Missing People, for readers ages 9 to 12, features five true tales that examine moments in history when someone vanished without a trace. These mysterious disappearances are discussed against the backdrop of historical circumstances, whether it be the upheaval of the Russian Revolution or the blazing of a new trail high in the skies.

This is the fourth book in the new Mystery & Mayhem series, which features true tales that whet kids’ appetites for history by engaging them in genres with proven track records—mystery and adventure. History is made of near misses, unexplained disappearances, unsolved mysteries, and bizarre events that are almost too weird to be true—almost! Delving into these tidbits of history offers a jumping off point into a lifelong habit of appreciating history.

Each of the five true tales told within Weird Disappearances is paired with a map, as well as fun facts about the setting and time period. These nonfiction narratives use clear, concise language with compelling plots that both avid and reluctant readers will be drawn to.

Nomad Press books in the Mystery & Mayhem series introduce readers to historical concepts and events by engaging them in an extremely popular genre—real-life adventure and mystery. Readers ages 9 to 12 are fascinated with the strange-but-true tales that populate history, and books in this series offer compelling narrative nonfiction paired with concise language that appeals to both voracious and reluctant readers. Nomad’s unique approach to the study of history uses tantalizing tales based in factual knowledge that encourage a lifelong curiosity in the historical events that shape our world.

Tom McCarthy is an award-winning writer and editor. He has developed and edited titles that have won such awards as Harvard University's Goldsmith Award for Book of the Year, Reader's Digest Top Five Summer Books, Sport Illustrated's The Top Books of the Year, and Esquire's The Year's Five Best Reads. As the series editor for several best-selling collections, including Incredible Pirate Tales, Ghost Pirates, and Incredible Tales of the Sea, he has developed a knack for finding great stories for readers of all ages. Tom's books for Nomad Press include Pirates and Shipwrecks: Real Tales of Terror on the High Seas and Survival: Real Tales of Endurance in the Face of Disaster. He lives in Guilford, Connecticut.