Virginia Loh-Hagan - Creepy Conspiracy Theories

Published in the United States of America by Cherry Lake Publishing
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Copyright 2018 by Cherry Lake Publishing

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Loh-Hagan, Virginia, author.
Title: Creepy conspiracy theories / by Virginia Loh-Hagan.
Description: Ann Arbor : Cherry Lake Publishing, [2018] | Series: Stranger than fiction |
Audience: Grade 4 to 6.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017031590| ISBN 9781534107571 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781534109551 (pdf) |
ISBN 9781534108561 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781534120549 (hosted ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Conspiracies--Juvenile literature.
Classification: LCC HV6275 .L64 2018 | DDC 001.9--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017031590

Printed in the United States of America
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About the Author

Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan is an author, university professor, former classroom teacher, and
curriculum designer. She thinks her dogs are conspiring to take control over the world.
She lives in San Diego with her very tall husband and very naughty dogs.

Introduction

Some people believe in conspiracy theories . Conspiracies
are secret plans. Theories are ideas. Conspiracy theories
explain events differently than the accepted way. Theyre
usually against the government. Conspiracy theorists
believe the theories. They think nothing happens by
accident. They think nothing is as it seems. They think
others are out to get them. They think others are hiding
the truth.

But there are strange conspiracy theories. And then there
are really strange conspiracy theories. Theyre so strange
that theyre hard to believe. They sound like fiction. But
these stories are all true!

chapter one

Fluoride

Fluoride is a special mineral. Its in toothpaste. Its in
drinking water. It fights tooth decay . Decay is rot. But
some people think fluoride is bad. They think it harms our
bodies.

Some theorists blame drug companies. They think drug
companies are poisoning people. The companies want
people to be sick. Sick people have to buy medicine. This
makes money for drug companies.

Some theorists blame communists .
Communists believe goods should be
owned in common. Theorists think

Government officials and scientists say the amount of fluoride in water is safe.

communists want to make everyone dumb. Fluoride is how
they control peoples minds.

chapter two

Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur was a rapper. He was killed in a drive-by
shooting. This happened in Las Vegas, Nevada. This happened
in 1996. His killing is a mystery. There are several conspiracy
theories.

Some theorists think Shakur is still alive. They think Shakur
faked his death. Shakur studied Niccol Machiavelli.
Machiavelli was a famous thinker. He wrote The Art of War.
He advised faking ones death to control an
enemy. Shakurs stage name was
Makaveli.

The letters in Makaveli can be rearranged to read AM ALIVE K.

Some theorists think hes hiding in Cuba. Shakur is thought
to be living with his aunt.

Some theorists think the government knows where he is. They
think Shakur has proof against criminals. Hes thought to be in
witness protection. A witness is someone who sees
something.

Some theorists think Shakurs friends planned his killing. Suge
Knight was his boss. David Kenner was his lawyer. Knight and
Kenner were thought to be greedy. They were afraid of getting
fired. They didnt want to lose Shakurs money.

Some theorists think Biggie Smalls had Shakur killed. Smalls
was a rapper. He and Shakur competed against each other. Hes
thought to have paid a gang to kill Shakur.

The FBI has denied protecting Shakur.

Explained
by Science

Scientists dont trust conspiracy theories. They admit these
theories may have some truth. But as a whole, theyre not
true. Humans find patterns and meanings. Theyre
uncomfortable with the unknown. They make up ideas to
explain things. Conspiracy theorists may have
confirmation bias. This means they pay more attention to
information that supports what they think. They ignore
information that disagrees with their ideas. They see
mistakes as cover-ups. They dont like being wrong. Experts
say that conspiracy theorists are more likely to be
conspirators. They spread rumors. They dont trust others.
Theyre negative. Theyre fearful.

chapter three

Philadelphia Experiment

Theorists think the government did a secret experiment.
This is the story: The government made an invisible ship. It
did this in Philadelphia. It was in 1943. The ship was called
the Eldridge . Scientists bent light around the ship. But
something went wrong. There were blue lights. There was
green fog. The ship was sent through time and space. It met
aliens. It reappeared in a different city. It returned to
Philadelphia. It went back 10 minutes in time. Some sailors
got hurt. They melted into the ship. Some
were turned inside out. Some disappeared.
Survivors went crazy. Their minds were
wiped clear. This is so they couldnt
remember anything.

chapter four

Kennedy Assassination

President John F. Kennedy was killed. This happened on
November 22, 1963. Two bullets killed him. One bullet hit
his head. Another bullet hit his neck. He was in Dallas,
Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the killing.
He acted alone.

But thats not what theorists think. They think President
Kennedys death was a plot . Plots are secret plans. They
think people were mad at the president.
Some theorists think there was another
gunman. Some blame CIA agents. The
CIA is a government agency. Some blame
the Soviets. Some blame a mysterious

Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby. Theorists think this was to silence Oswald.

man with a black umbrella. Some blame the mob. The mob
is an organized group of criminals.