From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. This stylish A-to-Z encounter with all things related to death and dying shows Noyes (
The Ghosts of Kerfol;
Red Butterfly), a Candlewick editor, at her liveliest, starting with the quotations from the infamous deceased which appear on the endpapers. Addressing topics as far-ranging as Genocide, Goth (as in goth fashion) and Spirit Photography (she traces its origins to an 1861 Boston jewelry engraver turned fraudulent medium), the author offers a broad illumination of spiritual, historical and biological aspects of death. Photos, paintings and engravings in homage to the end make the book dynamic visually, too. Readers will be struck by the breadth of information provided in a single entry, as well as by the way the entries speak to one another, forming a cohesive whole. But what may please readers the most is Noyess welcome neutrality: the only agenda here is in the service of knowledge. Ages 12–up.
(Dec.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6–10—Just as epicurean geology professor Dr. William Buckland is said to have eaten the embalmed heart of French King Louis XIV, students will devour Noyes's new book. Chock-full of fascinating facts, this is an alphabetically arranged compendium of enthralling yet easy-to-understand entries from "Amulet" to "Exhumation" to "Widow Sacrifice." The encyclopedic style renders the scope much less daunting than a straight narrative, as students can digest a bit at a time without getting lost. Readers will enjoy learning how bees and animal entrails have been used to predict the future, how mummies were embalmed in ancient Egypt, and how spirit photographers attempted to capture images of the souls of the dearly departed. The book is both comprehensive and compulsively readable, and even the most reluctant readers will find themselves caught up in the vivid descriptions and colorful photos and reproductions. A visually pleasing and attention-grabbing offering.—
Kelly McGorray, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, IL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
