About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their middle-schooler expresses an interest in the macabre, the unusual, or the history of science beyond the standard textbook. It is a fantastic choice for a child who feels like an outsider or is developing a dry, dark sense of humor. The story follows Matthew, a twelve-year-old orphan who becomes an apprentice to a phrenologist, a scientist who studies skull shapes to determine personality. Their journey involves digging up graves of famous figures across the globe. While the premise sounds grizzly, the tone is more of a picaresque adventure than a horror story. It explores themes of finding family in unconventional places and the ethics of early science. It is perfectly suited for readers aged 10-14 who enjoy historical mysteries with a gothic edge. Parents will appreciate how it prompts questions about scientific ethics and the Victorian obsession with death.
