The Bone Detectives: How Forensic Anthropologists Solve Crimes and Uncover Mysteries of the Dead

Jackson, Donna M. The Bone Detectives: How Forensic Anthropologists Solve Crimes and Uncover Mysteries of the Dead. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1996.

Plot: An introduction on forensic anthropology. The book details a case in 1989 when a hiker found a bleached white skull at a Boy Scout camp. Through the deduction of police, forensic anthropologist Dr. Michael Charney, and forensic sculptor Nita Binter, the skull, shreds of clothing, and a few broken bones allowed the killer to be found and tried. The book continues by explaining how historians use forensic anthropology to reconstruct and identify long-dead individuals.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: CSI Expert! Forensic Science for Kids

Personal Thoughts: As a tween, I think I would have been scared of this book. Then again, I have never found the nerve to enter a haunted house (even a Disney one), so I may not be the best gauge for scariness. Anyway, the book does provide solid information and illustrations describing the steps and science of forensic anthropology.