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Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland
Carolrhoda Books, Inc
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Sally M. Walker
108 books78 followersSally M. Walker has written science books for children, including Earthquakes, an NSTA/CBC Best Science Trade Book of 1997. She lives in DeKalb, IL.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
November 26, 2010
bones bones bones bones
bones are awesome. and this is a great book for kids who are budding forensic anthropologists. you know you are out there - KIDS, STOP WANTING TO BE ASTRONAUTS - ASTRONAUTS DON'T EVEN EXIST
but this book shows all manner of cool stuff - how people were buried, what they were wearing, what they were buried with, what happens to bones over time. it is fascinating that so much of people's lives can be reconstructed just based on their bones: who smoked a pipe, who was what race/gender/religion/socioeconomic class, who had rickets, even the identities of the bodies lying in unmarked graves - HOW COOL IS THAT??
we love bone detectives!they solve the mysteries of "where is this one's head?" and "why was this one just hucked down this crawlspace with this broken crockery??" and "what did this one look like with its skin on??
if my textbooks had been this fun in jr high and high school, i would be way smarter. but i'm not. but at least my bones are still inside my skin - suck on that, jamestown bitches!!!
what kid isn't fascinated by skellingtons?? this book treats them like clues, not corpses, and shows how respectful the scientists are as they exhume and examine the bodies. i can only hope that someday i get all dug up by scientists who will piece together my life and will maybe accidentally make it more exciting than it actually is and they will tell young wide-eyed kids i was clearly a racecar president gymnast with big boobs.
science!!
come to my blog!
bones are awesome. and this is a great book for kids who are budding forensic anthropologists. you know you are out there - KIDS, STOP WANTING TO BE ASTRONAUTS - ASTRONAUTS DON'T EVEN EXIST
but this book shows all manner of cool stuff - how people were buried, what they were wearing, what they were buried with, what happens to bones over time. it is fascinating that so much of people's lives can be reconstructed just based on their bones: who smoked a pipe, who was what race/gender/religion/socioeconomic class, who had rickets, even the identities of the bodies lying in unmarked graves - HOW COOL IS THAT??
we love bone detectives!they solve the mysteries of "where is this one's head?" and "why was this one just hucked down this crawlspace with this broken crockery??" and "what did this one look like with its skin on??
if my textbooks had been this fun in jr high and high school, i would be way smarter. but i'm not. but at least my bones are still inside my skin - suck on that, jamestown bitches!!!
what kid isn't fascinated by skellingtons?? this book treats them like clues, not corpses, and shows how respectful the scientists are as they exhume and examine the bodies. i can only hope that someday i get all dug up by scientists who will piece together my life and will maybe accidentally make it more exciting than it actually is and they will tell young wide-eyed kids i was clearly a racecar president gymnast with big boobs.
science!!
come to my blog!
October 28, 2019
This book is amazing! I honestly loved every second of it! Granted I'm obsessed with skeletons, but that's beside the point. The author worked alongside different groups of archaeologists while they excavated various places settled in colonial America, taking notes, studying, and watching as new discoveries unfolded. It covers multiple digging sites, some in Virginia, and some in Maryland, and through the skeletons, we learn what life was like for the first colonists. One of my favorite things about this book is how simply and thoroughly the author breaks down and explains the science behind everything. It contains a lot of information, so in this case I found it best for me to take my time reading it. It was well worth it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves learning about history, skeletons, early America, or archaeology, ages 10 and up.
May 10, 2012
This is obviously written for middle grades, but Walker avoids writing down to her audience. Which makes this something that can be enjoyed beyond just the target audience. And it is truly fascinating, as long as you're the sort of person who has any interest at all in archaeology, in history, in forensics, or even just in bones and dead bodies. And because Walker didn't skimp on the scientific explanations, I learned a fair bit. Not all of the science will be new to all readers, of course. This is the sort of book that's likely to appeal to readers who've watched a few episodes of Bones or CSI, after all.
April 20, 2011
Listening to this book was so cool!
I've been a fan of fictional forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan since long before the TV show Bones. I like what she's able to do with contemporary bodies, but I'm always interested in the asides about her ventures with older, more historic graves.
This book goes into many of the details of this process, using some bodies from colonial Jamestown.
The book goes into details of isotopes, of bone measurements, and of soil composition. It then takes this information as well as details as to how the body is positioned, and what is found nearby, and builds a portrait of the life of this individual. An attempt is made to match this portrait to the historical record, trying to identify who has been located.
The audience clearly is middle grade, but the information isn't so simplified as to be uninteresting. The age of the intended audience is clear when the narrator gives a brief explanation of negative numbers, but it usually is fairly universal.
I came at this book interested in the scientific aspect, but the historical viewpoint also grabbed me. While listening, I kept thinking of the opportunities for a classroom unit featuring a truly integrated curriculum. I'm going to suggest it to the 5th grade teachers at my daughter's school, since they cover Colonial America as well as basic human anatomy that year.
I've been a fan of fictional forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan since long before the TV show Bones. I like what she's able to do with contemporary bodies, but I'm always interested in the asides about her ventures with older, more historic graves.
This book goes into many of the details of this process, using some bodies from colonial Jamestown.
The book goes into details of isotopes, of bone measurements, and of soil composition. It then takes this information as well as details as to how the body is positioned, and what is found nearby, and builds a portrait of the life of this individual. An attempt is made to match this portrait to the historical record, trying to identify who has been located.
The audience clearly is middle grade, but the information isn't so simplified as to be uninteresting. The age of the intended audience is clear when the narrator gives a brief explanation of negative numbers, but it usually is fairly universal.
I came at this book interested in the scientific aspect, but the historical viewpoint also grabbed me. While listening, I kept thinking of the opportunities for a classroom unit featuring a truly integrated curriculum. I'm going to suggest it to the 5th grade teachers at my daughter's school, since they cover Colonial America as well as basic human anatomy that year.
April 26, 2014
In a captivating book about the unearthing of the Jamestown Colony graves in Virginia, Sally Walker discusses the lives of eight colonists. With the help of archaeologists and anthropologists, Walker tells the stories of a teenage boy, a ship captain, and indentured servant, a colonial officer and his family, and an African slave girl. Along with great analysis of historical events in Jamestown, Walker also informs readers of archaeological practices and the value and importance of forensic archaeology. Throughout the book, readers find out the amazing depth of information that archaeologists can determine about a skeleton just by burial practices, nearby object remnants, gender, ancestry, age, diet, lifestyle, and cause of death. This is such an interesting book. I didn't know a whole lot about the Jamestown colony and it was an interesting take on the classic non-fiction. We get to formulate stories of the people that the archaeologists are uncovering.
June 11, 2014
Loved this book. I'm a bit of a history buff and perhaps a little morbid as well. I never really thought about what it takes to exhume history from the ground and can say now, my eyes have been opened. To be a forensic anthropologist has got to be one of the most amazing jobs ever.
The detail in which each case history was examined is almost unreal. I was enthralled with how each person from the past was researched so extensively that cause of death, age and probable health history as well as cultural history made those people come alive.
I don't honestly think I can review this properly, so I'll just encourage you to read this yourself. I believe I'm going to try and find a copy for my Library, since the Library likes to get their materials back. ;)
The detail in which each case history was examined is almost unreal. I was enthralled with how each person from the past was researched so extensively that cause of death, age and probable health history as well as cultural history made those people come alive.
I don't honestly think I can review this properly, so I'll just encourage you to read this yourself. I believe I'm going to try and find a copy for my Library, since the Library likes to get their materials back. ;)
March 30, 2017
4.0
This was a fascinating story that incorporated the early colonial history of the United States with forensic science. I loved the stories that surrounded Jamestown, but I wished that the author had spent more time there since it was highlighted in the title. The forensic science was so interesting, but in the end I wish it had been surrounded with a little more historical information.
This was a fascinating story that incorporated the early colonial history of the United States with forensic science. I loved the stories that surrounded Jamestown, but I wished that the author had spent more time there since it was highlighted in the title. The forensic science was so interesting, but in the end I wish it had been surrounded with a little more historical information.
July 26, 2012
A very different tale of the life in Jamestown, Virginia around and beyond the times of John Smith and Pocahontas. This is not the fairy tale Disney's Pocahontas story, thru archeology and studying the bone remains we find out that reality is always more interesting.
May 6, 2026
I think this was book is super interesting! I definitely would have enjoyed it more if I didn’t have a big gap in the middle of reading it (due to my surgery since I was reading it with my students)
December 10, 2024
Okay this was actually really fascinating; forensic anthropology may be my new Roman Empire. Also, yes, another shameful Wit & Wisdom x Goodreads goal log, don’t @ me.
December 15, 2016
This book is split into several sections, each one dedicated to examining specific skeletons. The book begins with the remains of a teenage boy in Jamestown, but ends with a person of African ancestry buried in St. Mary’s City. The section I found to be most interesting covered three lead coffins which held the remains of Philip Calvert, his wife, and his child. Not only did Calvert’s position in St. Mary’s City intrigue me (for “he served as the governor, the mayor of St. Mary’s City, the chief judge, and the chancellor of the colony,”), but the coffins themselves were such a remarkable archeological/anthropological find (Walker 106). For example, usually people of this time period were buried simply in shrouds, so the lead coffins themselves were unusual. The coffins also represented significant opportunities for researches, such as the possibility of studying 17th century air that would have been sealed in the coffins.
Although I knew about many of the things the book teaches (which I primarily learned from Bones), I still learned a few new things and enjoyed this book nonetheless.
Although I knew about many of the things the book teaches (which I primarily learned from Bones), I still learned a few new things and enjoyed this book nonetheless.
August 3, 2009
A variety of ancient skeletons found in the Chesapeake region are discovered, and along with a forensic scientist the reader follows clues to help identify the demographics of the find. Cool, gross science, explained in plain language and GORGEOUS photographs. The book does feel a little long, but most kids won't feel the need to read it straight though like I did, and it is easily divided into chapters for biting it of in chunks.
July 30, 2010
Definitely for a younger audience, but quite good. Proof that history can be both cool AND "gruesome", perhaps. The pictures are great and the focus on the lives (and deaths) of young people from the colonial past was fascinating.
February 18, 2017
An archaeological study of Jamestown and the people who lived there. I was fascinated by the different lives that each skeletal remain indicated. This was a page-turner that really opened my eyes to the lives and times of the Colonial era.
March 18, 2017
YOU GUUUUYYYYS I LOVE BOOKS ABOUT LIVE PEOPLE STUDYING EXCAVATED DEAD PEOPLE!!!!!!!
Seriously, this book is AWESOME. It is very informative without being too technical, and it has so many gorgeous photos of the human remains in question.
Seriously, this book is AWESOME. It is very informative without being too technical, and it has so many gorgeous photos of the human remains in question.
December 14, 2010
To say this book is fascinating does not do it justice. I thought this book was WAY above a juvenile level. There were even words that I needed to look up and let's just say..I am not a juvenile. .
October 26, 2016
This was a fascinating read! Highly recommended!
January 17, 2023
"The graves and remains of colonial settlers carry a message to the people of today. They remind us not to forget their lives and accomplishments--and not to lose our connection to the past. A broken tooth, a fractured bone, an arthritic back, and strands of brown hair--all of them whisper:
"Rest with me for a moment of two. I have a story to tell."
-Page 134
"Rest with me for a moment of two. I have a story to tell."
-Page 134
February 20, 2023
An interesting enough book on archaeology investigating the history of Maryland in the states. It explains the meticulous methodology to ensure as much information as possible could be extracted from the remains. Together with other professionals, analyzing the bones, air, other contents of graves, will try and paint a picture of the time and place.
January 23, 2024
Doing some research before I visit the area. It's very interesting how our bones tell stories, even four hundred year later.
July 25, 2013
Pairing: The television show The Vampire Diaries will be paired with the nonfiction book Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland. This book details the excavation of several graves by forensic anthropologists in Jamestown, Virginia and Maryland. Using forensic science, the scientists are able to solve the mystery of who the remains may have been, how they lived, and how they died.
Book Citation:
Walker, Sally M. Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 2009. Print.
Audience: Readers who are fascinated with the mysteries in shows like The Vampire Diaries or who enjoy reading mysteries will be interested in reading this book about solving real-life mysteries. Additionally, students interested in forensic science, anthropology, or colonial history would find this text riveting. The book would be beneficial to both science and history teachers.
Selection Criteria:
Award-winning author Sally M. Walker has conducted meticulous research to present the forensic process and findings of nine grave excavations in Jamestown, Virginia and Maryland. She takes the reader through the entire procedure: from the finding of the graves, the process of recovering the remains, and using forensic evidence to determine not only cause of death, but how each person lived and in some cases, who exactly they were. The book is clearly written without being too technical or too juvenile. It is extremely insightful into the field of forensic anthropology and also how early settlers lived in this country. Nearly every page has a photograph or other visual aid, such as primary source document or diagram to help readers understand the content. The book is well-produced and a fine example of real world science application. While this book will not appeal to every reader because of its high reading level (Lexile 1140) and exhaustive detail, it will be a must read for CSI buffs and history lovers. It will be fine addition to the library collection for both science and history students and teachers.
Review Source:
Glantz, S. (2009). Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland. Library Media Connection, 28(2), 96.
Pickett, A. (2011). Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland. School Library Journal, 57(8), 59.
Awards:
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards, 2009, Honor Book
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, 2010
SOL Connection
BIO.5 The student will investigate and understand common mechanisms of inheritance and protein synthesis. Key concepts include
a) cell growth and division;
b) gamete formation;
c) cell specialization;
d) prediction of inheritance of traits based on the Mendelian laws of heredity;
e) historical development of the structural model of DNA;
f) genetic variation;
g) the structure, function, and replication of nucleic acids;
h) events involved in the construction of proteins;
i) use, limitations, and misuse of genetic information; and
j) exploration of the impact of DNA technologies.
Virginia and U.S. History
VUS.2 The student will describe how early European exploration and colonization resulted in cultural interactions among Europeans, Africans, and American Indians.
VUS.3 The student will describe how the values and institutions of European economic and political life took root in the colonies and how slavery reshaped European and African life in the Americas.
Ordering Information
Hardcover, 144 pages, $22.95
Published 2009 by Carolrhoda
ISBN13: 9780822571353
Book Citation:
Walker, Sally M. Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 2009. Print.
Audience: Readers who are fascinated with the mysteries in shows like The Vampire Diaries or who enjoy reading mysteries will be interested in reading this book about solving real-life mysteries. Additionally, students interested in forensic science, anthropology, or colonial history would find this text riveting. The book would be beneficial to both science and history teachers.
Selection Criteria:
Award-winning author Sally M. Walker has conducted meticulous research to present the forensic process and findings of nine grave excavations in Jamestown, Virginia and Maryland. She takes the reader through the entire procedure: from the finding of the graves, the process of recovering the remains, and using forensic evidence to determine not only cause of death, but how each person lived and in some cases, who exactly they were. The book is clearly written without being too technical or too juvenile. It is extremely insightful into the field of forensic anthropology and also how early settlers lived in this country. Nearly every page has a photograph or other visual aid, such as primary source document or diagram to help readers understand the content. The book is well-produced and a fine example of real world science application. While this book will not appeal to every reader because of its high reading level (Lexile 1140) and exhaustive detail, it will be a must read for CSI buffs and history lovers. It will be fine addition to the library collection for both science and history students and teachers.
Review Source:
Glantz, S. (2009). Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland. Library Media Connection, 28(2), 96.
Pickett, A. (2011). Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland. School Library Journal, 57(8), 59.
Awards:
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards, 2009, Honor Book
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, 2010
SOL Connection
BIO.5 The student will investigate and understand common mechanisms of inheritance and protein synthesis. Key concepts include
a) cell growth and division;
b) gamete formation;
c) cell specialization;
d) prediction of inheritance of traits based on the Mendelian laws of heredity;
e) historical development of the structural model of DNA;
f) genetic variation;
g) the structure, function, and replication of nucleic acids;
h) events involved in the construction of proteins;
i) use, limitations, and misuse of genetic information; and
j) exploration of the impact of DNA technologies.
Virginia and U.S. History
VUS.2 The student will describe how early European exploration and colonization resulted in cultural interactions among Europeans, Africans, and American Indians.
VUS.3 The student will describe how the values and institutions of European economic and political life took root in the colonies and how slavery reshaped European and African life in the Americas.
Ordering Information
Hardcover, 144 pages, $22.95
Published 2009 by Carolrhoda
ISBN13: 9780822571353
February 24, 2011
Book talk: There are stories waiting under the ground. Our ancestors buried their history along with dead, and for those who have been trained to read the signs, a pile of bones can be a buried treasure. Find out how to read a jaw bone to see the infections and pain hidden there. Discover how a spine can reveal a life of hard labor. Bones can even tell you if a person who died hundreds of years ago was left or right handed! Take a tour of the harsh life of early settlers viewed through the evidence that it left in their very bones.
Rocks my socks: Thanks to college roommates who got me hooked on CSI and Bones I've often heard people say things like 'the leg bone isn't even fused--this body was only a child!' in very dramatic voices but now I actually know what that looks like. I now know how they can tell all these things from looking at bones and thanks to the ample and clearly labeled pictures I have seen many of them for myself. What previously seemed vaguely magical to me now actually makes perfect sense. I could also see using this book in some great cross-curriculum teaching. They get a physicist in there at one point to develop an x-ray that can penetrate lead so they can see inside lead coffins to know where to insert a tube to attempt to get a sample of 17th century air without damaging the bones inside. They have mathematicians calculate how heavy the lead coffins will be and have historians find documents that lead to identifying the bodies. At the end they have artists create a sculpture based on a skull they find. The archaeology is fascinating too. They find the outline of the Jamestown fort by the discoloration of the soil where the posts were. And because this book was made for kids it was all beautifully formatted and explained in a way that I could actually understand. Ah the many perks of working in an elementary school library!
Rocks in my socks: Never have I appreciated modern dentistry more than I did while reading this book. The horrible abscesses and infections and pain described made me want to immediately go brush and floss--seriously they should put excerpts of this up in lobbies for dentists, this will be far more effective than fishtanks at getting kids to brush! There was also an indentured servant who was only a teenager found and listening to them describe all the evidence of pain and abuse around him was a bit much for me. On the other hand they found a guy whose family motto was apparently 'deeds are masculine, words are feminine' and I was actually hoping for a bit more gore and pain around his death. That's what you get for being sexist! Squeamishness aside, there were a couple of times that I thought the text was over simplifying things for its audience such as when it described John Smith as Pocahontas's 'friend.' If kids can handle those tooth infections, they can handle the ugly truth about history as well.
Every book its reader: I'd give it to anyone 5th grade and up with a sense of morbid curiosity or anyone who's ever wondered what the heck they are saying on Bones and wants it laid out for them in a clear, simple fashion (the main forensic anthropologist in the novel even works at the Smithsonian!)
Read more of my reviews at http://auldschoollibrarian.blogspot.com/
Rocks my socks: Thanks to college roommates who got me hooked on CSI and Bones I've often heard people say things like 'the leg bone isn't even fused--this body was only a child!' in very dramatic voices but now I actually know what that looks like. I now know how they can tell all these things from looking at bones and thanks to the ample and clearly labeled pictures I have seen many of them for myself. What previously seemed vaguely magical to me now actually makes perfect sense. I could also see using this book in some great cross-curriculum teaching. They get a physicist in there at one point to develop an x-ray that can penetrate lead so they can see inside lead coffins to know where to insert a tube to attempt to get a sample of 17th century air without damaging the bones inside. They have mathematicians calculate how heavy the lead coffins will be and have historians find documents that lead to identifying the bodies. At the end they have artists create a sculpture based on a skull they find. The archaeology is fascinating too. They find the outline of the Jamestown fort by the discoloration of the soil where the posts were. And because this book was made for kids it was all beautifully formatted and explained in a way that I could actually understand. Ah the many perks of working in an elementary school library!
Rocks in my socks: Never have I appreciated modern dentistry more than I did while reading this book. The horrible abscesses and infections and pain described made me want to immediately go brush and floss--seriously they should put excerpts of this up in lobbies for dentists, this will be far more effective than fishtanks at getting kids to brush! There was also an indentured servant who was only a teenager found and listening to them describe all the evidence of pain and abuse around him was a bit much for me. On the other hand they found a guy whose family motto was apparently 'deeds are masculine, words are feminine' and I was actually hoping for a bit more gore and pain around his death. That's what you get for being sexist! Squeamishness aside, there were a couple of times that I thought the text was over simplifying things for its audience such as when it described John Smith as Pocahontas's 'friend.' If kids can handle those tooth infections, they can handle the ugly truth about history as well.
Every book its reader: I'd give it to anyone 5th grade and up with a sense of morbid curiosity or anyone who's ever wondered what the heck they are saying on Bones and wants it laid out for them in a clear, simple fashion (the main forensic anthropologist in the novel even works at the Smithsonian!)
Read more of my reviews at http://auldschoollibrarian.blogspot.com/
November 27, 2013
Junior Books Project
Category: Informational
Source: Dr. Kimmel
This book will captivate readers of all ages especially those from the Chesapeake Bay region since this book is about the discovery of graves in that area. A team of archeologists discover some gravesides from the 17th and 18th century. They must carefully dig through the dirt to pull out these graves and then they use their bones to determine whether the person had a proper burial, was male or female, how tall the person was, what ancestry the person came from, the health of the person, and sometimes determine how the person died. Then, based on all the information they've collected from the bones and the soil around them, they determine what time frame this person lived in. From there, they will look at historical records to try to figure out who the person was. In this book, they talk about their experiences with the graves of a young boy and a Captain from James Fort, a high-class family of three, a white indentured boy servant from St. Mary, and a group of African indentured servants from Harleigh Knoll. At the end of the book they show a recreation of an african girl based off of her skeleton.
The front of the cover is mostly a cool turquoise blue color. There is a skeleton on the bottom left corner of the cover and the title takes up most of the page and is written in a yellowish brown. The back of the cover has a picture of the team examining a dug up grave and some reviews. If you open the cover, the left jacket flap has a summary of what the book is about and the right jacket flap has a small bio of the author. Next, will come the title page, then the dedication page and then the table of contents. Then there is a Note to the Reader from the author. Here, she talks about how the book came to be. The book is divided by chapters. In each chapter, there are actual photos of the sites and the artifacts found. Each photo has a caption explaining the photo. Walker gives a history background of each area--James Fort, St. Mary, and Harleigh Knoll--before discussing the bones they find.
I liked this book so much that it was really hard to put down. I think I liked it so much because I knew this was all true and it was exciting to see the discoveries. I also liked how they explained how they could know so much from bones like seeing how much carbon-13 was in their bones to determine how long they've lived in the colonies or seeing green stains on the bones to know whether or not the body was shrouded. The book was so exciting it almost made me want to become an archeologist!
There can be tons of activities done with this book! You can send kids on their own hunt for artifacts, you can teach about Jamestown and its beginnings, you can teach about indentured servitude and slavery and their similarities and differences. You can teach about ancient burial traditions or teach about how colonists lived back then.
Category: Informational
Source: Dr. Kimmel
This book will captivate readers of all ages especially those from the Chesapeake Bay region since this book is about the discovery of graves in that area. A team of archeologists discover some gravesides from the 17th and 18th century. They must carefully dig through the dirt to pull out these graves and then they use their bones to determine whether the person had a proper burial, was male or female, how tall the person was, what ancestry the person came from, the health of the person, and sometimes determine how the person died. Then, based on all the information they've collected from the bones and the soil around them, they determine what time frame this person lived in. From there, they will look at historical records to try to figure out who the person was. In this book, they talk about their experiences with the graves of a young boy and a Captain from James Fort, a high-class family of three, a white indentured boy servant from St. Mary, and a group of African indentured servants from Harleigh Knoll. At the end of the book they show a recreation of an african girl based off of her skeleton.
The front of the cover is mostly a cool turquoise blue color. There is a skeleton on the bottom left corner of the cover and the title takes up most of the page and is written in a yellowish brown. The back of the cover has a picture of the team examining a dug up grave and some reviews. If you open the cover, the left jacket flap has a summary of what the book is about and the right jacket flap has a small bio of the author. Next, will come the title page, then the dedication page and then the table of contents. Then there is a Note to the Reader from the author. Here, she talks about how the book came to be. The book is divided by chapters. In each chapter, there are actual photos of the sites and the artifacts found. Each photo has a caption explaining the photo. Walker gives a history background of each area--James Fort, St. Mary, and Harleigh Knoll--before discussing the bones they find.
I liked this book so much that it was really hard to put down. I think I liked it so much because I knew this was all true and it was exciting to see the discoveries. I also liked how they explained how they could know so much from bones like seeing how much carbon-13 was in their bones to determine how long they've lived in the colonies or seeing green stains on the bones to know whether or not the body was shrouded. The book was so exciting it almost made me want to become an archeologist!
There can be tons of activities done with this book! You can send kids on their own hunt for artifacts, you can teach about Jamestown and its beginnings, you can teach about indentured servitude and slavery and their similarities and differences. You can teach about ancient burial traditions or teach about how colonists lived back then.
February 7, 2012
Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland by Sally M. Walker (Carolrhoda, 2009) is about what we can learn about a few early American settlers from their bones and burial. It is both a lesson in very early American history as well as a scientific exploration of forensic anthropology. Since I’m studying Jamestown this week with my son and since I’m a big fan of the television show Bones for it’s insight into forensic anthropology, I really enjoyed Written in Bone. Walker approaches her subject with obvious passion, clear language, and well done scientific explanations, all for a young adult audience. She teaches without belittling her audience, a difficult task to do when she’s writing for youth as young as 12 and as old as any adult.
The book is easily accessible, with full color pages providing information for the reader, including black and white historical photos, color photos from the recent archeological digs, charts and diagrams, and maps and illustrations. Her chapters focus on a few different sets of human remains, including a boy from Jamestown, a well-to-do middle-aged man afforded a dramatic burial (including a coffin, which was rare in the starving early years of Jamestown), a teenager’s body found in the basement cellar, a family buried in lead coffins, and a hilltop cemetery. Some of these burials were covered in more chapters than just one, and for many of the people, scientists were able to estimate what the person may have looked like, and we were able to see a visual representation of their faces made from clay by a forensic artist.
To me, the most interesting stories were not those of the rich and well esteemed. Rather, I most enjoyed learning about the unknown poor people, especially those for whom we do not know their names: the indentured servant beaten to death in the cellar, the slaves buried on a hillside, even the boy with rotten teeth who died very soon after arriving in Jamestown. I loved how the scientists were able to determine what chores these people did by looking at their bones, and I especially loved seeing their faces reconstructed by artists.
I have so far loved every thing I’ve read that has been authored by Sally M. Walker, so when I heard of this book about Jamestown colony, I knew it would be just perfect for me right now. I’m so glad I found it. I’d highly recommend it to the student of American history, the student of history in general, and anyone interested in what science can tell us by reading the evidence from the past. Sally Walker once again has brought history and science alive in Written in Bone.
Cross-posted on my blog
The book is easily accessible, with full color pages providing information for the reader, including black and white historical photos, color photos from the recent archeological digs, charts and diagrams, and maps and illustrations. Her chapters focus on a few different sets of human remains, including a boy from Jamestown, a well-to-do middle-aged man afforded a dramatic burial (including a coffin, which was rare in the starving early years of Jamestown), a teenager’s body found in the basement cellar, a family buried in lead coffins, and a hilltop cemetery. Some of these burials were covered in more chapters than just one, and for many of the people, scientists were able to estimate what the person may have looked like, and we were able to see a visual representation of their faces made from clay by a forensic artist.
To me, the most interesting stories were not those of the rich and well esteemed. Rather, I most enjoyed learning about the unknown poor people, especially those for whom we do not know their names: the indentured servant beaten to death in the cellar, the slaves buried on a hillside, even the boy with rotten teeth who died very soon after arriving in Jamestown. I loved how the scientists were able to determine what chores these people did by looking at their bones, and I especially loved seeing their faces reconstructed by artists.
I have so far loved every thing I’ve read that has been authored by Sally M. Walker, so when I heard of this book about Jamestown colony, I knew it would be just perfect for me right now. I’m so glad I found it. I’d highly recommend it to the student of American history, the student of history in general, and anyone interested in what science can tell us by reading the evidence from the past. Sally Walker once again has brought history and science alive in Written in Bone.
Cross-posted on my blog
Want to Read
December 29, 2009(Carolrhoda, 2009. ISBN 9780822571353. Order Info.) Nonfiction. 144 pages. Grades 6-12.
This outstanding nonfiction book provides a great way to take advantage of the current popularity of forensics and its hip TV scientists by bringing forensics into the history and science curriculum. The discovery of 17th century graves in and around Jamestown, Virginia is covered by the on-the-scene author who follows the scientists as they work to uncover mysteries about the bodies of a Captain, an African slave girl, an upper class woman and more.
The cover has a creepy, haunting feel suitable for a book about bones and uncovering corpses. The photographs throughout the book of the archaeologists, the grave sites and the human remains are striking and informative.
Students who are eager for forensics on the bodies in the graves will have to read through a discussion of soil conditions and signs in the dirt of the original Jamestown fort and grave outlines before they get to the more tantalizing analysis of a teenage boy's teeth and bones from 1607. At this point the crime lab style details of how the scientists determine the skeleton's age, gender, ethnicity and more take over.
The brilliantly written text explains the fascinating history and science of the discoveries. Walker gives just the right amount of explanation for whatever the current issue is whether it is tooth whitening techniques of the 1600's, the stages of the hardening of seams in the human skull or the decomposition of bodies. This highly accurate text is clearly the result of the writer's immersion in the excavations and in the scientists' testing of the bodies, soils and artifacts.
Specific mysteries -- such as the missing lower legs and feet of a baby's skeleton are presented along with the clues then used to come up with possible explanations. In the process a lot of information about the lives of the colonial era people is covered. Topics such as rickets, class differences, medicine, religious freedom, funeral rites, life expectancy, step-families, warfare, farm work, slavery and of course anatomy are all made vivid.
Source notes, a bibliography, a timeline and recommended websites are included. This is a wonderful unification of science and history.
There is an article on our site on Colonial History through Kids' Books, a Featured Subject with activities, related books and links:
http://www.carolhurst.com/subjects/us...
This outstanding nonfiction book provides a great way to take advantage of the current popularity of forensics and its hip TV scientists by bringing forensics into the history and science curriculum. The discovery of 17th century graves in and around Jamestown, Virginia is covered by the on-the-scene author who follows the scientists as they work to uncover mysteries about the bodies of a Captain, an African slave girl, an upper class woman and more.
The cover has a creepy, haunting feel suitable for a book about bones and uncovering corpses. The photographs throughout the book of the archaeologists, the grave sites and the human remains are striking and informative.
Students who are eager for forensics on the bodies in the graves will have to read through a discussion of soil conditions and signs in the dirt of the original Jamestown fort and grave outlines before they get to the more tantalizing analysis of a teenage boy's teeth and bones from 1607. At this point the crime lab style details of how the scientists determine the skeleton's age, gender, ethnicity and more take over.
The brilliantly written text explains the fascinating history and science of the discoveries. Walker gives just the right amount of explanation for whatever the current issue is whether it is tooth whitening techniques of the 1600's, the stages of the hardening of seams in the human skull or the decomposition of bodies. This highly accurate text is clearly the result of the writer's immersion in the excavations and in the scientists' testing of the bodies, soils and artifacts.
Specific mysteries -- such as the missing lower legs and feet of a baby's skeleton are presented along with the clues then used to come up with possible explanations. In the process a lot of information about the lives of the colonial era people is covered. Topics such as rickets, class differences, medicine, religious freedom, funeral rites, life expectancy, step-families, warfare, farm work, slavery and of course anatomy are all made vivid.
Source notes, a bibliography, a timeline and recommended websites are included. This is a wonderful unification of science and history.
There is an article on our site on Colonial History through Kids' Books, a Featured Subject with activities, related books and links:
http://www.carolhurst.com/subjects/us...
Read
April 22, 2012Written in Bone is a story about the steps of forensic anthropology investigations. It took two whole years for scientists to develop a plan to approach colonial lead caskets that had been unearthed beneath what remained of a Catholic church because they were so rare. This book reveals exactly how and why these scientists do their work and what they learn. The author shadows the investigations of several sets of colonial era remains, which based upon the investigative work in the book, are likely to be a colonial teenager, an English captain, an abused indentured servant, a well off Maryland family found in lead caskets, and those buried in what was likely an early colonial African American cemetery. Close up photographs and detailed writing shows exactly how scientists come the conclusions they do, from assessing bone conditions and fractures to soil conditions and placement of the remains. Historical documents and new technology reveals how long English colonists might have lived in North America.
The book is accurate and authentic in conveying factual and documented material. There are many pictures that show the different grace sites and remains of people that were found. The information is presented in an organized way. Each chapter is a different case that was examined by the scientists so that way the different cases don't get mixed up. Also, there is backgroud about the procedure used before the different cases are introduced so the reader will understand what is happening while they read. The format is appealing to children. There are many pictures throughout the entire book that would catch the attention of the reader. The pictures go along with the text so they are used in order to help the reader further understand what is happening. The author's writing style is very clear. The author seems to be very enthusiastic about the topic because she went along and saw first hand all of the remains and procedures the scientists did.
This book would be good to use in the classroom because it can teach children about fossils and what scientists do to figure out how old remains are. The book is full of information and example of what scientists do and what they can tell about a person's life from their remains. I think that the book is written very well and is full of helpful information. It is written in a way that is clear for children so they can learn about a serious topic, but without having to struggle with the writing.
The book is accurate and authentic in conveying factual and documented material. There are many pictures that show the different grace sites and remains of people that were found. The information is presented in an organized way. Each chapter is a different case that was examined by the scientists so that way the different cases don't get mixed up. Also, there is backgroud about the procedure used before the different cases are introduced so the reader will understand what is happening while they read. The format is appealing to children. There are many pictures throughout the entire book that would catch the attention of the reader. The pictures go along with the text so they are used in order to help the reader further understand what is happening. The author's writing style is very clear. The author seems to be very enthusiastic about the topic because she went along and saw first hand all of the remains and procedures the scientists did.
This book would be good to use in the classroom because it can teach children about fossils and what scientists do to figure out how old remains are. The book is full of information and example of what scientists do and what they can tell about a person's life from their remains. I think that the book is written very well and is full of helpful information. It is written in a way that is clear for children so they can learn about a serious topic, but without having to struggle with the writing.
June 21, 2012
Written in Bone details several archeological excavations at various colonial settlements in Virginia and Maryland. There, burial sites are uncovered and the bones, coffins, and burial formations are meticulously examined in order to uncover clues about the early settler’s lives in colonial North America. Through careful examination and scientific methods, the scientists are able to tell the deceased person’s approximate age, gender, their ancestry, approximately how long they lived in the colony before their death, what diseases or other health ailments they suffered from, and even clues as to their social standing based on how they used their muscles, what preparations/rituals were used in their burial, and their burial sites. Bit by bit, clues to their past are uncovered, detailing who these colonists were, what their lives were like, and how they died. Through these discoveries the reader is able to understand exactly just how very difficult life was for these early settlers, the lives of these colonists were riddled with illness, starvation, violence, and death.
Throughout the book Walker includes historical information about the early colonies and colonists that compliment the specific excavations being discussed. By doing this the reader is able to glean a more accurate picture of the time period, as well as put into perspective the people and events that played major roles in the creation of these first colonies. Walker also includes information on the various scientific technologies used in the excavations, taking the reader through each step of the process the scientists undertake. The book is filled with photographs with captions that detail specific points in each excavation, as well as photos of colonial reenactors, colonial artifacts, and primary documents from the time period. The book also includes various illustrations, maps, and diagrams dealing with the excavation sites and colonial North America.
Written in Bone takes the reader on a unique and fascinating journey through history and science that not only uncovers mysteries from the past but brings to life the individuals who were part of it.
Throughout the book Walker includes historical information about the early colonies and colonists that compliment the specific excavations being discussed. By doing this the reader is able to glean a more accurate picture of the time period, as well as put into perspective the people and events that played major roles in the creation of these first colonies. Walker also includes information on the various scientific technologies used in the excavations, taking the reader through each step of the process the scientists undertake. The book is filled with photographs with captions that detail specific points in each excavation, as well as photos of colonial reenactors, colonial artifacts, and primary documents from the time period. The book also includes various illustrations, maps, and diagrams dealing with the excavation sites and colonial North America.
Written in Bone takes the reader on a unique and fascinating journey through history and science that not only uncovers mysteries from the past but brings to life the individuals who were part of it.
November 12, 2012
For history buffs and fans of TV’s “Bones” and “CSI,” this is an absorbing look at the work of forensic anthropologists and the stories in the bones they have unearthed. Author Sally Walker has several science books for early and older readers, and here she goes on archaeological digs and talks with those investigating the graves of colonial settlers. Emphasized is the care shown to each gravesite and the respect shown to the individuals found inside. (Native American remains are not shown out of consideration for the wishes of the descendants.)
Vivid writing sets the scene: “At the bottom of a carefully excavated pit, the rounded surface of a human skull gleamed with a yellow brown luster.” The well-organized narrative follows a series of digs into burial sites in the Chesapeake Valley. The first chapters discuss how scientists meticulously excavated the sites and discovered the skeletons. Later chapters delve into how each of these colonists lived and why they died.
Antique headlines and captions contrast with the slick presentation in a cyan, brown and gold color scheme. High-quality full-color photos, maps and illustrations on almost every page explain technical terms and present the evidence, as well as the methods used to determine the age, sex, health and race of each individual. For example, an historic recreation picture shows how colonists brushed their teeth with rags, and an accompanying photo shows this practice wore a groove in one colonist’s teeth. Also included is a chapter on the first reconstruction of a face of a colonist of African ancestry, showing how a digital image of the skull was used to help the artist model the woman’s features to give researchers a three-dimensional portrait from the past.
Besides an extensive index and author acknowledgements, Walker includes source notes, an illustrated timeline, a bibliography and print/online reading list. Colonial times in the Chesapeake Valley and the science used to uncover the period’s mysteries are brought to life in this eye-catching and enlightening book.
Vivid writing sets the scene: “At the bottom of a carefully excavated pit, the rounded surface of a human skull gleamed with a yellow brown luster.” The well-organized narrative follows a series of digs into burial sites in the Chesapeake Valley. The first chapters discuss how scientists meticulously excavated the sites and discovered the skeletons. Later chapters delve into how each of these colonists lived and why they died.
Antique headlines and captions contrast with the slick presentation in a cyan, brown and gold color scheme. High-quality full-color photos, maps and illustrations on almost every page explain technical terms and present the evidence, as well as the methods used to determine the age, sex, health and race of each individual. For example, an historic recreation picture shows how colonists brushed their teeth with rags, and an accompanying photo shows this practice wore a groove in one colonist’s teeth. Also included is a chapter on the first reconstruction of a face of a colonist of African ancestry, showing how a digital image of the skull was used to help the artist model the woman’s features to give researchers a three-dimensional portrait from the past.
Besides an extensive index and author acknowledgements, Walker includes source notes, an illustrated timeline, a bibliography and print/online reading list. Colonial times in the Chesapeake Valley and the science used to uncover the period’s mysteries are brought to life in this eye-catching and enlightening book.
March 29, 2011
Lit. class review:
Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland. Sally Walker. 134 pages. Carolrhoda Books 2009.
From the YALSA 2010 Best Books list. One of 11 non-fiction titles included. A friend mentioned that she’d heard about the dig and that it’s a pretty big deal in historical/archeological academics. The scientists and researchers associated with the project are hoping to learn more about the way the early colonists lived (and died) by studying their bones and other buried artifacts. The book includes a lot of pictures from the dig.
p. 50 – Though at first glance this looks like a good option for struggling readers because of the many pictures, drawings, and diagrams included to further clarify the subject, many of the terms are quite technical. Walker includes clear and simple explanations of terms that may be new or unfamiliar to younger readers (archeology, forensic anthropology, isotopes), but it may be difficult for readers to retain an understanding of these terms throughout their reading if they had not already been at least slightly familiar with the concepts.
p. 92 – I continue to be amazed by how much scientists and archaeologists can discover about when/where/how a person died simply by analyzing the bones and soil of a grave. They can estimate how long a person had been in the Americas by analyzing the levels of grain isotopes and comparing the levels of corn eaters to wheat/rye eaters. Who knew?! As Walker relays findings, she also includes a great deal of information about life and death in the early 1600s.
Walker seems to have taken great pains to write a work that was both scientifically thorough and historically interesting. Reluctant readers might be willing to skim through it because of all the pictures of skeletons, but it would probably best be used as a supplementary text in a social studies class during a unit on colonial America.
Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland. Sally Walker. 134 pages. Carolrhoda Books 2009.
From the YALSA 2010 Best Books list. One of 11 non-fiction titles included. A friend mentioned that she’d heard about the dig and that it’s a pretty big deal in historical/archeological academics. The scientists and researchers associated with the project are hoping to learn more about the way the early colonists lived (and died) by studying their bones and other buried artifacts. The book includes a lot of pictures from the dig.
p. 50 – Though at first glance this looks like a good option for struggling readers because of the many pictures, drawings, and diagrams included to further clarify the subject, many of the terms are quite technical. Walker includes clear and simple explanations of terms that may be new or unfamiliar to younger readers (archeology, forensic anthropology, isotopes), but it may be difficult for readers to retain an understanding of these terms throughout their reading if they had not already been at least slightly familiar with the concepts.
p. 92 – I continue to be amazed by how much scientists and archaeologists can discover about when/where/how a person died simply by analyzing the bones and soil of a grave. They can estimate how long a person had been in the Americas by analyzing the levels of grain isotopes and comparing the levels of corn eaters to wheat/rye eaters. Who knew?! As Walker relays findings, she also includes a great deal of information about life and death in the early 1600s.
Walker seems to have taken great pains to write a work that was both scientifically thorough and historically interesting. Reluctant readers might be willing to skim through it because of all the pictures of skeletons, but it would probably best be used as a supplementary text in a social studies class during a unit on colonial America.
March 22, 2014
WARD, Margaret
-Written in Bone Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland by Sally M. Walker
This fascinating book is about archeologists who have uncovered graves in and around Jamestown, Virginia and Colonial Maryland. The book has interesting pictures of the careful process of recording and removing the bones for study. It’s amazing what archeologist can tell about a person just from the bones and teeth, how old they were, what gender and what kind of work they might have done. (Reading Level 5) I picked two books to pair this with because one was an easier reading level than the other. Elizabeth’s Diary Jamestown, Virginia, 1609 by Patricia Hermes is a easy fiction book to match with Written in Bone. It tells the story of Jamestown through a diary of a young girl. She writes of the hardships and illnesses of the early settlers and her family. Written in Bone delves into what might have happened to the settlers and Elizabeth’s Diary fictionalizes what did happen to each family she was associated with. The reader could apply what she read in fiction to the non-fiction selection and it would help the reader to remember important facts in each book. Blood on the River, Jamestown,1607 by Elisa Carbone is another worthy companion book to Written in Bone, but for a more mature elementary reader. This book tells of an orphan, Samuel Collier who goes to the New World with Captain John Smith as his page. It goes into much more detail about the hardships of life in Jamestown; the lack of food, disease, and the friendly as well as the hostile Indians that the settlers encountered. What happened in Jamestown is somewhat a mystery. These fiction books can inspire the reader to evaluate, appreciate and explore further why it is important to learn about Jamestown and the surrounds.
-Written in Bone Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland by Sally M. Walker
This fascinating book is about archeologists who have uncovered graves in and around Jamestown, Virginia and Colonial Maryland. The book has interesting pictures of the careful process of recording and removing the bones for study. It’s amazing what archeologist can tell about a person just from the bones and teeth, how old they were, what gender and what kind of work they might have done. (Reading Level 5) I picked two books to pair this with because one was an easier reading level than the other. Elizabeth’s Diary Jamestown, Virginia, 1609 by Patricia Hermes is a easy fiction book to match with Written in Bone. It tells the story of Jamestown through a diary of a young girl. She writes of the hardships and illnesses of the early settlers and her family. Written in Bone delves into what might have happened to the settlers and Elizabeth’s Diary fictionalizes what did happen to each family she was associated with. The reader could apply what she read in fiction to the non-fiction selection and it would help the reader to remember important facts in each book. Blood on the River, Jamestown,1607 by Elisa Carbone is another worthy companion book to Written in Bone, but for a more mature elementary reader. This book tells of an orphan, Samuel Collier who goes to the New World with Captain John Smith as his page. It goes into much more detail about the hardships of life in Jamestown; the lack of food, disease, and the friendly as well as the hostile Indians that the settlers encountered. What happened in Jamestown is somewhat a mystery. These fiction books can inspire the reader to evaluate, appreciate and explore further why it is important to learn about Jamestown and the surrounds.
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