Lois Miner Huey

This book definitely had an interesting topic, which is why I picked it up via the Libby app. Part of me was REALLY excited for this book. I did see on Goodreads while reviewing this that it's meant for 4th-8th grade (insert facepalm emoji here). However, because I didn't know this beforehand, the book felt very basic. (And it needs to be basic if it's meant as a textbook for 4th-8th graders.) The fact that it was basic, now that I know why it was this way, doesn't bother me. But this book felt...overwhelmingly disjointed. I see how the book connected, but it just felt like it didn't connect as a whole. I don't know how to explain it other than that. The way the Kindle is set up is also very confusing. (I can't explain it, but if you know, then you know.) This is such an interesting topic, but this book just didn't do it for me.… (altro)

This was the ultimate gross out book, but ever more so because I have OCD which mainly manifests itself in numerous showers and clean clothes daily.

I was so grossed out reading how dirty, smelly and filthy people were in the 1700s. Bad breath from not brushing their teeth and having their teeth fall out and become rotten, no underwear, very very infrequent baths, outer garments never washed, and chamberpots kept under the bed at nite had their contents dumped right out of the window !!!! Poop everywhere from people, animals - all over the roads. No refrigeration meant eating parasite filled meats and other foods. Smallpox, lice, flies and bedbugs everywhere.

Ugh !!!!!!!!!!… (altro)

I'm always curious about the past and how important it is recognize the impact the past has on the present. This book, "Forgotten Bones: Uncovering a Slave Cemetery" really piqued my curiosity. I enjoy reading about how these relics from the past are discovered and analyzed. In this case, the cemetery is located near Albany, NY, and discovered during an excavation to lay sewer pipes. The land belonged at one time to a wealthy farmer who owned slaves. The archaeologists were able to discover two rows of carefully buried bodies. After examination, the researchers were able to identify DNA, perform examination of the skeletons for information about health and diet and ultimately create busts showing how some of these people could have looked.

Reading about the processes for removing the delicate bones of the babies and children interred here, the way the researchers pieced together DNA that delineated the heritage of these slaves as well as how and why certain examinations are preformed make up the bulk of this short book. While the excavation is the main thrust of the book, there are many illustrations that help place this cemetery within the larger culture of northern slaves and their owners. In addition, there are several explanations of life as a northern slave. The author finishes her examination by comparing this find with two other cemeteries for slaves that are found in the North.

This book is an excellent look at the archaeology and preservation of the history of the United States. This book was an eye-opening look into the life of northern slaves and how their lives differed from those in the South. Highly recommended.

Julie K. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.

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