The bone wars

This British import tells the story of Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope, nineteenth-century American paleontologists who started out as friends but ended their lives as bitter rivals. The early days of paleontology were a time of amazing discovery but were also marred by slapdash research and questionable methodology. The author presents these events as all rather exciting; each chapter ends with a cliff-hanger prompt to encourage readers to keep going until they reach the end of the book. There is an irreverence to the style that, though mostly appealing, at times comes across as flippant (the author's attempt to summarize the Civil War for her British audience comes to mind). This book ties into a dinosaur series called What's So Special About?, which readers can discover if they visit the book's corresponding website. With short chapters, comics and line illustrations, and clocking in at less than 100 pages, this early chapter book will find a ready-made audience with dinosaur enthusiasts.--Dean, Kara Copyright 2018 Booklist