Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France

It is 1776, and all of Paris is talking about the amazing Dr. Mesmer, who is able to offer cures for people with debilitating illnesses, and make people believe things that can’t possibly be. And, he does it all with a wave of his magic wand. Doctors are furious, and King Louis XVI does not know what to do. Benjamin Franklin is in Paris to try and convince the king to support the American Revolution, or surely the Americans will lose to England. But first, the king needs Franklin’s help to solve the problem of Dr. Mesmer. Franklin, a scientist in his own right, is sure Mesmer is a fake. But can he prove it?

Author Mara Rockliff has found an interesting moment in history for a fun story, and for historically-minded youngsters. But, it isn’t just the history that is interesting. There is a wonderful sense of how important science can be in solving puzzles of all kinds. Rockliff’s writing and research are solid. The illustrations by Lacopo Bruno are beautiful and a great deal of fun, but the book’s design is often distractedly busy.