Bone Detective: The Story of Forensic Anthropologist Diane France (Women's Adventures in Science (Joseph Henry Press))
Gr. 7-10. This unusually personal biography in the Women's Adventures in Science series introduces the life and work of a contemporary forensic anthropologist, from her rural childhood to her work identifying the victims of the 9/11 tragedies. Chapters, illustrated with sporadic color and black-and-white photographs, strike an uneven tone. Some anecdotes seem unnecessarily detailed for this age group (a conversation between France and her husband as they decide to split up), while the sometimes bubbly tone ("What a hoot!") and cheeky chapter headings ("The Nose Knows") seem at odds with the often somber subject matter. Still, the extensive detail gives readers a vivid sense of the daily work of a "bone detective," and clear explanations of the science will intrigue and inspire readers. Report writers may be frustrated by the sometimes rambling text, but the relationship to CSI subject matter ensure plenty of browsing interest. An appended list of further resources includes a publisher's Web site that leads to more information.Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.