Talking Bones

Children's Literature - Beverly Kobrin

Girls and boys can learn more about the science of forensic anthropology from Peggy Thomas's Talking Bones. Black-and-white photographs and illustrations amplify her history which covers reconstructions similar to those noted in Ms. Jackson's book (The Bone Detectives) and more-the work done by forensic scientists to hold governments accountable for human-rights abuses, for example. I found particularly fascinating an ingenious chicken-leg experiment one scientist conducted to solve a murder.

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-A fascinating examination of this 100-year-old science that involves the study of bones to solve crimes and identify remains. Thomas traces its history from the Luetgert trial in Chicago in 1897 through the 1993 Branch Davidian standoff. Cases described are sometimes gruesome, but they are not sensationalized. Technology and equipment used by scientists are clearly explained. Excellent black-and-white diagrams show parts of the human skeleton, differences between human and nonhuman bones, and DNA analysis. Numerous black-and-white photographs illustrate many points, but they are often small or out of focus. The glossary and index are helpful, but there is no pronunciation guide. The list for further reading contains mostly adult books. This title will fill a gap in most collections and will appeal particularly to readers of Don Lessem's The Iceman (Crown, 1994).-Jeanette Larson, Texas State Library, Austin