Loch Ness Uncovered

★ ”Many trade series cover monsters and unearthly phenomenon with breathless storytelling that reads like clickbait. Rebecca Siegel takes a more measured approach in her examination of the Loch Ness Monster legend, framing the story as an early example of disinformation spread through news media. She opens with a bang; the famous pictures we’ve all seen of a tiny head and long neck emerging from a murky lake were absolutely fake and that fact had been out in the open for years. But Siegel doesn’t just take readers through the how and why of pioneering filmmaker Marmaduke Wetherell’s fraudulent stunt; she’s also interested in why everyone wanted to believe it.” —Youth Services Book Review

“Offering a world-class case study in ‘fake news,’ Siegel analyzes in depth how the legend of a creature hiding in the murky waters of Loch Ness got started….She draws on an array of published resources, including dozens of sensationalistic newspaper stories, to tell her tale, threading in savvy references to the legend’s value for local tourism, the popularity and suggestiveness of monster movies, the discoveries of actual creatures like the colossal squid, the influence of ‘confirmation bias’ on supposed eyewitnesses, and the media’s preference for highlighting mystery and speculation over facts…It’s hard to imagine a timelier theme.” —Booklist

“Utilizing a myth-busting framework, Siegel (Mayflower) depicts how ‘the Loch Ness Monster has transformed into an icon of hope, mystery, and possibility’ in this illuminating examination of the ‘unchecked media… elevated by a disgruntled actor’s hoax’ that birthed the tale of this legendary cryptid. Additional information provided via extensive source notes and interviews with key figures provide an engaging foundation upon which Siegel sets this amusing examination of mythical lore and fact that expands on media’s history of misinformation and its consequences. Concludes with tips for how to identify misinformation.”—Publishers Weekly

“As Siegel pulls at each string of the mythology surrounding the Loch Ness Monster, she provides clear analysis of why this myth became a world fascination and still draws countless spectators to the ­region…Tweens will enjoy the fresh approach to the Loch Ness Monster phenomenon; instructors seeking engaging, unconventional books on the topic of fake news will find this an excellent fit.” —School Library Journal