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November 15, 2017
Grades 8-11 The validity of news is an issue that, especially in the wake of the 2016 presidential election, has become highly debated. This first-out-of-the-gate work traces fake news back to the 1400s and then all the way up until the present day, with such media flashes as Pizzagate. This historical backdrop helps readers to critically think about how technology has helped in exacerbating the spread of misinformation. Currie is thorough in defining what fake news is and contrasting it against propaganda and satire. He explores types of bipartisan news from both America and other countries to emphasize how the spread of misinformation has invaded not only blogs and websites but also social media sites as well. While Currie does explain ways one can fact-check a site, he doesn't offer concrete ways to combat the spread of fake news. But that's understandable, given the newness and complexity of the issue. A necessary look at a disruption of our democracy and how we must fight it.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)