Spooked!
How a Radio Broadcast and The War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
A Washington Post Best Children's Book
This book for young readers explores in riveting detail the false panic created by the famous War of the Worlds radio broadcast from 1938—as well as the repercussions of "fake news" today.
On the night of October 30, 1938, thousands of Americans panicked when they believed that Martians had invaded Earth. What appeared to be breaking news about an alien invasion was in fact a radio drama based on H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds, performed by Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre players. Some listeners became angry once they realized they had been tricked, and the reaction to the broadcast sparked a national discussion about fake news, propaganda, and the role of radio. In this compelling nonfiction chapter book, Gail Jarrow explores the production of the broadcast, the aftermath, and the concept of "fake news" in the media.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Jarrow (Bubonic Panic) sets the stage perfectly in this detailed, illuminating exploration of why ordinary Americans panicked when they heard a broadcast of New Jersey being invaded by Martians on Oct. 30, 1938. Under the direction of 23-year-old Orson Welles, a CBS radio enactment of H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds shifted the story's timing to the near future and its placement to real New York area locations. Artfully employed time-warping dramatic techniques made the story appear to be a live event complete with faked reassurance from Franklin D. Roosevelt and listeners across the country fell for the Halloween Eve prank. While the production launched Welles's Hollywood career, popular reactions ranged from outrage to headshaking at people's gullibility. Jarrow's engrossing analysis of an earlier era's "fake news" provides timely reminders to readers, which are underscored in her author's note. An extensive "More to Explore" section, illustrations from a 1906 edition of Wells's novel, period photos, timeline, source notes, and a bibliography round out this handsome volume. Ages 10 14.
