Bodies from the Bog [Paperback]

James M. Deem (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

One morning in April 1952, Danish workmen digging in a peat bog near the town of Grauballe made an astonishing discovery: the body of a man preserved in the bog, his face Xattened by the weight of the peat and his skin as brown as the earth in which he lay. Who was this man, and how had he come to be there?
With striking photographs and engaging text, James M. Deem tells the story of Grauballe Man and other bog bodies discovered in European peat bogs. He explains who they were, how they lived and died, and how their peat graves acted to preserve their bodies so well.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The high "ick factor" here will attract cursory attention." School Library Journal, Starred

"The text is both engaging and accessible, and the starkly dramatic photographs are given dignity by the spacious and understated page design." Horn Book

About the Author

James M. Deem is the author of numerous books for young readers, including 3 NB of Julian Drew. Mr. Deem lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona. His newest book is Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Rediscovery of the Past..

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (August 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618354026
• ISBN-13: 978-0618354023
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 9.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Exploration & Discovery

More About the Author

James M. Deem is the author of numerous books of nonfiction and fiction, including the 2009 Sibert Honor Book, Bodies from the Ice: Melting glaciers and the recovery of the past.

Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, he moved to Tucson, Arizona, with his family when he was eleven. He earned a Bachelor's degree in language arts from the University of Kansas followed by a master's degree and a doctorate in reading education at the University of Michigan. For twenty-seven years, he taught reading and study skills to underprepared college students. He once again lives in Tucson with his wife Susan and now writes fulltime.

His most recent books include the award-winning series: Bodies from the Bog, Bodies from the Ash, and Bodies from the Ice.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bringing bog bodies back to life, December 5, 1999

By 

Caroline (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bodies from the Bog (Hardcover)

A mummified corpse and eerie bog haunt the front cover of this non-fiction treasure, beckoning readers inside to discover what "Bodies from the Bog" are all about. Deem chose his subject wisely, for children are known for their fascination with the unknown, in this case, the mysterious world of people who lived up to 5,500 years ago. Reporting on natural mummies and other artifacts that have been discovered in the bogs of Germany, Denmark, England, Ireland, and the Netherlands, Deem explores the scientific processes that go into researching and preserving the bodies, also describing how peat acts as a natural "mummifying" agent. Grauballe Man, for instance, discovered in Denmark in 1952, disclosed what his final meal had been through the contents of his intestines, the wounds causing his death enabled archeologists to infer that he had been a human sacrifice. Deem's research took him to almost all the museums currently exhibiting bog bodies and connected him with Dr. Wijnand Sanden, considered today's premier bog body expert. Deem brings bog bodies back to life with his engaging and accessible text. Accompanying captivating photographs, though sometimes grotesque, were taken by Deem himself. For example, by two close-up photographs of Tollmund Man, Deem writes, "The Tollmund Man had been hanged. Despite the circumstances of his death, the face of the Tollmund Man is still peaceful and at rest." The photographs, including text-enhancing photo-captions, will captivate middle-school-age readers as well as adults.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars yuck!, December 8, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Bodies from the Bog (Hardcover)

This book is very interesting. It has [lots of descriptionsabout people -just what I needed to keep my attention. My favorite part [are allthe descriptions]. This book is interesting and you won't get it from your parents because they will be majorly grossed out... hopefully not YOU! I recommend this book to kids who don't like to read much because this one will keep you awake for weeks.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Facts., August 30, 2010

By 

Reading for School - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bodies from the Bog (Paperback)

This book was for my 11 year old son. It had great photos and was easy for him to read.The facts are very interesting.