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The Bone Detectives
How Forensic Anthropologists Solve Crimes and
Uncover Mysteries of the Dead
by Donna M. Jackson; photographs by Charlie Fellenbaum
(Little Brown and Company, 1996; Paperback 2001)
It’s said that “dead men tell no tales” -- yet their bones have some
interesting stories to reveal. That’s what police depend on when the
only clues to a crime are the bones of the victim. That’s when it’s time to call in the “bone detectives.”
Following forensic anthropologist Dr. Michael Charney step-by-stop
through an investigations, this book shows how a person's sex race, age, height, and weight can be determined from studying his or her bones and teeth; how markings on bones can be read to establish
cause of death; how a sculptor uses clay to reconstruct a face from a skull so it can be publicized in the media and possibly recognized; and
how all of this information can be used to help crack a case.
Reviews
“Rights from the opening words, readers will find themselves glued to this fact-filled foray into
the fine art of forensics.”
- Publishers Weekly (starred review) 
“This readable book is a fine example of the application of scientific knowledge to the ‘real’ world.”
- School Library Journal (starred review)
"Science lovers will appreciate this book. There are only 175 bone detectives practicing in North America
who are "trained to extract the most amount of information from the least amount of bone." The book follows Dr. Charney who describes the mystery, the mental and physical processes of discovering the
truth about recent murders or historic personages ranges from the Iceman to Jesse James."
- Children's Literature
"Show kids a full-color cover photo featuring shelf upon shelf crowded with skulls, and you're certain to
get their attention. The rest of the book won't disappoint, either. Jackson follows forensic anthropologist Dr. Michael Charney and his colleagues as they solve an actual case by developing a physical profile
from bones and teeth, reconstructing the victim's skull, and using clues from fibers and other material to make further identification. . . "
- Booklist
Related links
Blood, Bones and Bugs: School Library Journal
DiscoverySchool.com lesson plan -
Little/Brown, Time-Warner Books
Center for Children's Books: Books about bones
Hedgehog "Teacher Selected" book
Order THE BONE DETECTIVES from Amazon.com
NEXT: Twin Tales
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