About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle grader develops a fascination with the darker corners of history or asks complex questions about what happens to us after we die. It is an ideal bridge for the child who has outgrown simple anatomy books but still craves the 'gross-out' factor of science, providing a mature, respectful, yet witty look at how forensics and archaeology pieced together the lives of people long gone. Through accounts of the Jamestown cannibals, Aztec skull racks, and King Richard III, the book explores themes of justice, historical truth, and human resilience. While the subject matter is macabre, the author maintains a light tone that balances the 'creepy' facts with rigorous scientific inquiry. It is a fantastic choice for building vocabulary and critical thinking, as it asks readers to look at physical evidence to solve historical mysteries.
