Case closed? Nine mysteries unlocked by modern science

Gr 6-9-Similar to PBS's History Detectives, this book explains how historians have collaborated with experts in various fields (medicine, space, archaeology, meteorology, etc.) to resolve disappearances that have long puzzled them. Each chapter discusses one mystery, beginning with historical background. The modern scientific processes used to help solve it are then discussed, followed by the often-fascinating conclusion that was drawn. Famous bodies (Anastasia Romanov and George Mallory) have been identified, a lost city (Ubar) has been found, and mysterious journeys (Hsu Fu's, the Star Dust, and the INS Dakar) have been mapped. Several of the subjects (Hatshepsut, the Anasazi, John Franklin, and George Mallory) are covered in multiple books for this age range, but others are not as easily found. The writing is clear and engaging. The full-color illustrations are a mix of photographs, maps, and flat, animation-style art. Each chapter ends with a conclusion, but also poses a question that still remains to be solved. The book contains a glossary and an extensive index, but no notes or other bibliographic information. Students doing reports or historically minded browsers are the audience for this book. It's not an essential purchase, but it is an interesting one.-Lisa Crandall, formerly at Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This volume highlights scientific mysteries, dating from ancient times to the twentieth century, that have been reinvestigated using modern techniques including DNA analysis. A final section for each mystery analyzes whether the new information is conclusive. Color photos and maps add visual engagement, but the stylized illustrations give the people a disconcertingly similar look, be they ancient Chinese or twenty-first-century Argentineans. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.