Loch Ness Uncovered: Media, Misinformation, and the Greatest Monster Hoax of All Time [Hardcover]

YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Winner
CCBC Choices 2025
The New York Public Library Best Books for Teens 2024
2025 Texas Topaz List

An extensively researched, myth-busting account of the world’s most famous monster hoax—the Loch Ness Monster—and a cautionary tale on the dangers of misinformation.

In 1934, a man was walking by a lake in the Scottish Highlands when he saw a long-necked creature swimming in the water. He grabbed his camera and snapped a photo. When the photo landed on the front page of the Daily Mail, it shattered the belief that paranormal creatures were pure fiction. But amid the monster-hunting craze, complex conspiracies soon emerged. The Loch Ness Monster became more than a mysterious sea creature—it became a phenomenon that caused people to question their assumptions and dig for the truth.

Meticulously researched through primary sources and in-depth interviews with key figures, Loch Ness Uncovered is the fascinating true story of the conspiracy that sparked intrigue worldwide. Complete with archival images, an engaging narrative, and a guide to media literacy, here is a nonfiction book that will transport young readers to the thrilling world of monster mania.2025 Dogwood Recommended Title (6-8)

★ 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 tlc: