Doomed!

The plague, aptly known as the Black Death, swept through Europe in the 1300s, killing more than 20 million people. Not only deadly but incredibly painful, the disease was characterized by black boils all over the body that oozed blood and pus. While providing more details about the plague, this book, an asset to any social studies collection, also addresses where the lethal outbreak originated and whether it could return. Aided by striking illustrations, sidebars, and fact boxes, readers will discover the conditions in the Middle Ages that made it possible for such an appalling disease to spread so easily.

In September 1666, a small fire broke out at the king's bakery in London, England, in the early morning. Several fateful factors worked together to turn this small blaze into a catastrophic conflagration that changed the city forever. This riveting account of a city set ablaze is supported by primary sources such as maps, diaries, and royal proclamations. Readers will be fascinated by old-fashioned firefighting techniques and people's reactions as the fire spread and burned for days. Images of London on fire will ignite their imaginations and further enable them to understand this era and setting in European history.

In AD 79, the residents of the booming Roman city of Pompeii were shocked when a nearby mountain exploded, releasing superhot ash, rock, and gas on the surrounding areas. What happens next is the extraordinary account of a volcano in action. Though the people who didn't flee Pompeii were doomed, the volcano preserved their remains, allowing us to better understand a fascinating time in the Roman Empire. Astonishing photographs of Pompeii, primary source records of the occurrence, and riveting text are just some highlights of this high-interest volume.

In 1846, travelers heading for California became trapped high in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Snowdrifts surrounded their shelters, and food supplies dwindled. How they stayed alive remains one of the most gruesome stories in US history. However, some facts that have come to light recently through archaeological digs will surprise even those who think they know the story. This gripping book, including maps and images of the era, tells the true account of the doomed Donner party.

The Hindenburg, the largest airship ever built and the pride of Nazi Germany, burst into flames over Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1937. It swiftly fell from the sky and was incinerated. This incident is remembered as the most infamous airship accident, killing 36 people and sinking the dirigible transportation industry. Fascinated readers will explore why and how this giant hydrogen-filled ship was made and the reasons it may have been doomed to fail. They'll also learn conspiracy theories and surprising facts about the circumstances of the terrible disaster. Authentic photographs and thoughtful sidebars add to the historical content.

The unsinkable luxury liner known as the Titanic may have sunk on its first transatlantic voyage in 1912, but people remain riveted to its storied legend. The collision with the iceberg in the North Atlantic was not the only mistake that was made that day. In this spellbinding volume, readers will learn about the passengers and crew aboard the doomed ship and what really happened that tragic night. Historical photographs will transport them back to the glamorous era, while the narrative paints an absorbing picture of the Titanic's sad fate.