Review: Faces from the Past Forgotten People of North America by James M Deem

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

The first migrants arrived in North America perhaps 15,000 or 20,000 years ago. Who were these people . . . and what was their story? Their skeletons can reveal clues to their lives and deaths, and time and place in history. Sometimes artists use replicas of skulls to reconstruct human faces, which helps tell a person’s story. Sibert Honor author James M. Deem’s engrossing (and sometimes gross) book with full-color photographs introduces teens to a shipwrecked French sailor (1686), a Mexican soldier from San Jacinto (1836), and many more forgotten people.

MY TAKE:

As a former CSI fan and a Discovery Channel buff, I have seen the technique used in the cover before. So from the cover alone, I already knew what to expect from the book.

Faces From the Past is part history lesson, part archaeology lesson and part art and sculpture lessons. It features different people from different timelines.

What's great about this book is that it tries to tell the story of the featured person, or if it isn't possible, then it gives a brief background of the time and what possible happened to them. The reconstruction of their faces is more of an add-on to make them more relate-able and accessible to readers. It tells stories and discusses scientific methods without being too clinical about it.

I'm not too sure about this being for kids, though, as some of the words, as well as the length of the book itself seems a little too advanced for younger kids. This should be a good book for pre-teens and teenagers, though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. It's a fascinating topic.
2. It offers a look into different periods in history.
3. It makes the reader care about the people featured.

THE BAD:

1. Some kids may find parts of it boring.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Georgia and Sidney Wheeler had heard all about the mysterious cave.

READ IT IF:

1. You or your child likes shows like Bones.
2. You are a history buff.
3. Your child likes learning about history.

RATING:


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