Mummies and Murder (XBooks: Strange): Bodies in the Swamp

by N. B. Grace

Overview

Where did the mummy come from? What happened to the person that became the mummy? Find out all this and more!

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High-interest topics, real stories, engaging design and astonishing photos are the building blocks of the XBooks, a new series of books designed to engage and motivate reluctant and enthusiastic readers alike. With topics based in science, history, and social studies, these action-packed books will help students unlock the power and pleasure of reading... and always ask for more!

When a mummy is discovered in Denmark, museum experts are brought in to determine the body's origin. With many clues and facts, scientists try to discover why this ancient man was murdered.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780531136683
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/25/2020
Series:	Xbooks
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	14 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 13 Years

About the Author

N.B. Grace is a well-known author and an editor of children's books and young adult books.

Editorial Reviews

*"The attention-grabbing title and small trim size of this book-not to mention the serene bog-mummy cover image-guarantee that it will circulate under its own steam. Part of the high-interest XBooks: Strange series (4 titles), it opens with the sensational 1950 discovery of Tollund Man in a bog in Denmark and poses the primary questions that the book will tackle, effectively hooking readers before they even get to the table of contents. The main text is divided into four short chapters that describe the scientists' investigation into whether Tollund Man was murdered (he was found with a rope around his neck) and the basic information they learned about him upon close study, illustrated with gruesomely enticing mummy photos and painted scenes imagining Tollund Man's fate. The book offers frequent asides about how bogs preserve bodies, plus additional mummy examples. The text is always engaging and balanced, and a concluding XFiles section offers rich back matter, most excitingly, a chart of mummies discovered across cultures. An excellent and informative choice that kids will love."-Booklist, starred review

From the Publisher

04/01/2020

Gr 3–6—Engrossing stories of archaeology and the supernatural are explored in "XBooks," written at a fourth grade reading level. Each book starts with a brief introduction in a narrative style, followed by five short informational chapters. One in-depth story, such as the discovery of the Lost City of Ubar or the Roswell UFO incident, is examined with thorough and detailed information, along with descriptions of similar happenings around the world. Each page features about three paragraphs, along with eye-catching page layouts that often use primary source images. While certain topics are sensationalistic, the stories are explored in an even handed tone and provide both evidence and counter evidence to each side. The "X Files" at the back of each book showcase interviews with experts in the field, labeled tools and charts, along with a glossary, an index, and further reading. VERDICT This entertaining look at peculiar incidents will appeal to striving readers at the middle school level.

School Library Journal