Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery That Baffled all of France
By: Mara Rockliff
Illustrated by: Iacopo Bruno
Bluebonnet

This is a narrative that shows readers where the word “mesmerized” comes from. It is about Ben Franklin’s discovery of debunking a miracle cure. In France, Louis XVI started to be concerned about Dr. Franz Mesmer. Franz Mesmer seemed to have magical powers to heal people. Louis XVI asked Ben Franklin, along with others, to report about this mysterious doctor. Franklins hypotheses that it was only the subjects imagination, and not an external force, was quickly proved correct.


This book shows children not only the scientific equation, but also a sneak peak into Ben Franklin’s life.  I didn’t necessarily understand a lot of the book. Probably because I am not familiar with 18th century France, but when looking into it online I found that even the way the pages are drawn ties into France during that century. This book seems to be fit for older students, about 5th-12th grade.

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