Scream (If You Wanna Go Faster!) The History and Science of Amusement Parks

The narrative relates the extraordinary history of amusement arcades and fun parks from around the world. Beginning with a history of charter fairs, Victorian amusement parks and describing the iconic experiences of Coney Island. The book discusses characters such as the father of the funfair Fredrick Savage, who revolutionised the fairground and how progresses such as the wonderful new technologies like steam and electricity have brought much loved playground rides to life. Each page is filled with factual descriptions surrounded by vibrant illustrations which will appeal to a variety of age groups. Recognisable funfairs such as the iconic development of Disney Land and its famous attractions and other modern theme parks based on Star Wars and super hero franchises are certain to capture the attention of readers. 

With fascinating detail funfairs and amusements of all kinds are brought to life along with the realities of the dangers and darker side of this culture from times past, such as the amusement derived from Victorian ‘freak shows’, the use of captive animals for performance and the precarious and dangerous development of the roller coaster, a ride that in its early development sometimes ended in death and disaster. 

A book with a wide appeal for middle-grad and pre-teen readers.