Did Fleming Rescue Churchill?: A Research Puzzle (review)

It's scientist biography time in Jason's fifth grade, and he gets stuck with Sir Alexander Fleming, of whom he's never heard. Hoping to fire up his paper with what his teacher terms "colorful anecdotes" from the Internet, he finds a dramatic story of Fleming's father rescuing Winston Churchill's father and getting his son's education paid for as a reward, but he's crushed to see that the tale is probably legend rather than fact. Thoughtful Jason then turns his research lens on the process itself and turns his explorations of the legend into a key part of the paper. Noted nonfiction author Giblin is certainly qualified to tackle issues of soundness in research and critical thinking, and it's a concept that could use a champion. However, the story itself isn't particularly compelling, suggesting old didactic fictions in its information laden passages. The book also skirts the main issue by having Jason finding the urban legend on the debunking site itself, so that there's little discussion of the need or process for questioning apparently authoritative statements and accounts (and there's no indication that print sources too require critical assessment). Nonetheless, kids will sympathize with Jason's frustration at his apparent dog of a subject, and they'll find his near-seduction by a myth an eye-opening cautionary tale. The book's annotated sources helpfully allow readers to find Jason's print and online material along with him, and a list of tips for writing a research report is also included; final illustrations not seen.