Module 7: Informational NonfictionBiography: Bury the Dead: Tombs, Corpses, Mummies, Skeletons and Rituals by Christopher Sloan

Summary: Bury the Dead is a non-fiction book containing a plethora of full color, gruesome photos that are sure to enthrall any reader with an interest in the macbre practices surrounding burials, from the ancient to the modern.

Citation: Sloan, C. (2002). Bury the dead : tombs, corpses, mummies, skeletons & rituals. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.

My Thoughts: Although I am not a fan of the gruesome, I do appreciate its place in a collection, especially a collection that serves the male population or reluctant readers. As such, I appreciate the appeal that Bury the Dead has for the aforementioned patrons and therefore appreciate it, although it would not be my first choice of reading material on a long flight.

Reviews:

Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature)

Archaeologists have long known that if you want to know how a people lived, study how they buried their dead. Funerary rituals and skeletal remains of those long dead give a better understanding of how people lived and interacted as a society. Arranged in chronological order, beginning with 115,000 B.C., Sloan examines the burial practices of Cro-Magnon man and moves on to explain Egyptian mummification, exciting finds like the tombs of the Amazon women of Ukraine and the Moche Lord of Peru. Modern funerary rites are chronicled with insight on how the practice of embalming introduced during the Civil War changed burial practices. It is with some alarm and caution that Sloan states that the modern technique of cremation may leave little record for future archeologists. Crisp, full color photos of grinning skulls, bones resting side by side with priceless treasures are eerie, haunting, and a tremendous draw for the curious. Well researched, intelligently written, with the most complex ideas made kid-understandable, this is quality non-fiction. 2002, National Geographic, $18.95. Ages 10 to 14.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2002 (Vol. 70, No. 17)

Sloan (SuperCroc and the Origins of Crocodiles, not reviewed, etc.) surveys funerary customs around the world, from both archaeological and anthropological standponts. Beginning with the earliest evidence of "burial with care" over 100,000 years ago, he goes on to describe major finds that have cast light on ancient Egyptian, Scythian, Chinese, and pre-Inca practices that left mummies or other preserved remains, then finishes with a sweeping look at current practices, from marble tombstones to sugar Day of the Dead skulls. Writing in consultation with a grief specialist, the author tries for a sober, straightforward narrative tone-which falters when he mentions particularly exotic customs, such as the Yanomami practice of pulverizing and eating their dead, or has to contend with an artist's reconstruction of Scythian mourners cutting themselves, not to mention the numerous close-up photos of mummies and bones. Still, most of these illustrations and examples are striking without being sensationalistic; both thrill seekers and children seeking some perspective on death or grief will find this rewarding reading. (index, bibliography) 2002, National Geographic, $18.95. Category: Nonfiction. Ages 11 to 13. © 2002 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Suggested Uses: Bury the Dead is a high interest book that works well to reinforce non-fiction conventions. Using a scanner and chart paper, students in groups work to create a display with examples of selected non-fiction conventions, identified, scanned, and posted.