I Spy the Illuminati Eye: What's the Big Secret?

by Sheila Keenan

Overview

Enlighten yourself with this fun guide to the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing secret society.

This irreverent, illustrated guide takes a look with an all-seeing, skeptical eye at the history and mystery of the cultural phenomenon that's got middle-school kids flashing finger triangles and scrutinizing dollar bills for signs of the Illuminati. It's the first pop culture companion to the shadowy group behind everything from the French Revolution to Jay-Z's fabulous rise. How did an eighteenth-century philosophical society infiltrate governments, banks, the media, the military, Hollywood, and hip-hop? . . . Or did they?

Kids everywhere want to know who's in, who's not, and what all those signs, symbols, and secret rituals are really about.

Is it all really real? Find out in this fun guide to all things illuminati.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524787936
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	12/04/2018
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	634,201
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 6.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sheila Keenan is an established author of fiction and nonfiction for young people. Her books include the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Dogs of War, the picture book As the Crow Flies, and O, Say Can You See? America's Symbols, Landmarks and Inspiring Words, among other selected titles. She lives in New York City. Visit her at www.sheilakeenan.com

Editorial Reviews

12/01/2018
Gr 6 Up—This pocket-size illustrated guide takes preconceived notions of the Illuminati, paired with historical facts about Adam Weishaupt, the founder of the group; the Freemasons; and modern-day pop culture—and turns it on its head. While extremely informative, Keenan's sarcasm and skepticism isn't missed and it leads to a quick and fun read about a group that has baffled even advanced historians. This guide is jam-packed with information, and bright colorful artwork and witty captions make it appealing to readers looking for a few quick pieces of information. This is a fresh pick for students who would otherwise be deterred by denser histories. It concludes with a section that encourages young people to read carefully, to fact-check news, media sources, and copyright information, and to use common sense while researching—all completely in line with what school librarians are teaching daily. VERDICT Recommended for purchase in larger libraries where students casually read nonfiction or where librarians have success hand-selling titles.—Stephanie Wilkes, Good Hope Middle School, West Monroe, LA

School Library Journal

2018-10-20

This tongue-in-cheek look at the Illuminati leaves more questions than answers. Of course, that's the way they like it.

Secret codes and cryptography are always fascinating, but Keenan's examination of the supposedly current secret society is a jumble of information told in a sarcastic tone that falls flat. The book starts out well enough, with a brief discussion of the brain and a look at how humans are hard-wired to make connections between seemingly unrelated things, which leads to conspiracy theories. It also summarizes the creation of the original Order of the Illuminati and its Bavarian founder, Adam Weishaupt. From there, readers learn a little about the Templars, a little about the Freemasons, and a little about other secret societies. The book, like most good conspiracy theories, is quick to jump from interesting point to interesting point, but it's light on evidence along the way. Statements are presented to the reader as facts, but there's no way to know how Keenan came to these conclusions. For example, while discussing the New World Order, the book states that nearly 1/3 of American voters believe that the Order is "the global takeover by a secret government formed by the Illuminati and maybe aliens"; the part about the aliens is rescinded in the next paragraph, but there is no source for the part that is presented as fact. Keenan frequently alludes to "countless" websites, books, and videos but provides no backmatter for further reading or reference.

Skip. (Nonfiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews