Written in Bone

Starred review from February 1, 2009
Gr 6-9-Walker takes readers on an archaeological investigation of human and material remains from 17th- and 18th-century Jamestown and colonial Maryland, while addressing relevant topics in forensic anthropology, history, and archaeology. The excavations encompass burial sites of colonists from various backgrounds, including a teenage indentured servant hastily buried in a trash pit, a grouping of prominent colonists laid to rest in lead coffins, and a woman of African heritage who likely toiled as a slave. Answers concerning the identity and fate of the uncovered remains are realized only after various specialists combine their findings to re-create relevant historical circumstances. In one instance, anthropologists provide anatomical details of a recovered skull to artists, who then use the data to produce the first sculpture of an American colonist of African ancestry. The text succinctly explains complex forensic concepts, such as determining the gender and age of a skeleton, or whether a skull represents a person originating from Europe or Africa. Captioned, full-color photographs of skeletal, dental, and artifactual remains shed light on colonial life. Historical documents, illustrated maps, and anatomical drawings complement images of various specialists at work in the field. Photographs of reenactors performing period tasks, such as grinding corn, provide insight into the daily life of the recovered individuals. Though other recent volumes discuss forensic anthropology, such as James M. Deem's "Bodies from the Ice" (Houghton, 2008), "Written in Bone" casts a magnifying glass on the hardships and realities of colonial life so often romanticized in American lore."Jeff Meyer, Slater Public Library, IA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 1, 2009
Grades 7-11 *Starred Review* This unusual volume, suggested to Walker by a scientist at the Smithsonian Institution, dipsinto American history to introduce the work of forensic anthropologists. Focusing on colonial-era sites in the Chesapeake Bay region, the large-format book provides detailed discussions and intriguing close-up views of the grave excavations at Jamestown, Virginia, as well as in three Maryland locations: Providence, St. Marys City, and Harleigh Knoll. With precision of her own, Walker describes the meticulous work of the archaeologists and other scientists who study skeletal remains, using physical clues as indicators of a skeletons sex, age, birthplace, station in society, and length of time in the colonies. They combine trained observation, background knowledge, and scientific expertise with detective skills to illuminate facets of our history; the final chapter discusses how forensic anthropology has contributed to historians understanding of colonial times. Nearly every page carries at least one illustration, usually a color photo but sometimes a helpful diagram, a map, or a period document or print. Back matter includes source notes, a source bibliography, a time line, and lists of recommended books and Internet sites. The reading level is relatively high and the quantity of detailed information is not for everyone, butthose intrigued by forensics and history will find this absolutely fascinating.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2009
With precise detail and meticulous description, Walker follows a forensic anthropologist and his team of scientists, historians, and archaeologists as they uncover human remains and other artifacts. Their excavations take them through a cross-section of people, from wealthy colonial leaders to indentured servants and African slaves. The book design is unified in its thoughtful use of layout, color, illustrations, and fonts. Timeline. Bib., ind.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

May 1, 2009
Few nonfiction authors can infuse history and science with as much suspense as Walker has done-in Fossil Fish Found Alive (rev. 1/03), in Secrets of a Civil War Submarine, and now in Written in Bone. Walker follows a forensic anthropologist and his team of scientists, historians, and archaeologists as they uncover human remains and other artifacts in Jamestown and colonial Maryland. Their excavations take them through a cross-section of society, from wealthy colonial leaders to indentured servants and African slaves. With precise detail and meticulous description, Walker recounts how each grave offers up a set of mysteries, how the archaeological team works to decipher the clues, and how they are often rewarded for their passion and hard work with new insights into the past. It is the sort of book that can inspire future archaeologists, and as such seems like the perfect next step after James Deem's series (Bodies from the Bog, Bodies from the Ash, Bodies from the Ice). The book design, despite some clutter, is unified in its use of layout, color, illustrations, and fonts. Extensive back matter-including notes, bibliography, and index-is appended.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)