BODIES FROM THE ICE: MELTING GLACIERS AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PAST by James Deem

Bibliography
Deem, James M. 2008. Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN-13: 978-0-618-80045-2


Plot Summary

In 1991 a couple climbing the Alps came across what they thought was trash left behind by other hikers. Upon further investigation, scientists revealed that it was the body of a man who lived 5300 years ago.
The Andes, 1995. In the lands of the ancient Incan settlements, an anthropologist found children religious sacrifices preserved in caves.
These stories are followed by others: in 1999 a special expedition in the Himalayas discovered the frozen body of George Mallory, who disappeared while climbing Mount Everest in 1924; the body of a Native American was uncovered in a glacier in British Columbia.

This truly fascinating book describes unique archeological discoveries. As glaciers melt throughout the world, more frozen bodies are appearing, adding to our knowledge of culture and history. James M. Deem takes us on a breathtaking adventure to learn some gripping secrets of our past and reminds us to appreciate,respect and conserve our natural resources.

Critical Analysis

The importance of science is underlined in this attractive book that explores glaciers, melting ice and mysteries from the human history. Bodies from the Ice offers a combination of topics in several disciplines: anthropology, archaeology, geography, glaciology, history and environmental studies. Due to the global warming, the mountain’s ice caps all around the world are melting, and unexpected objects are coming to the surface. Discoveries of mummies, body fragments and artifacts are described, as are the scientific methods of investigating them. Deem's carefully researched photo-essay examines the information on these remarkable finds and pieces it with other known facts to present a factual book that is everything else but boring.

Bodies from the Ice emphasizes the science over the melting glaciers but also gives details as to how the bodies were uncovered and what scientists and archaeologists have learned about people and cultures of the past. Lots of maps, sidebars that break up the pages with factual tidbits, an extensive bibliography and illustration credits, and an index are included as well. There is even a section on how young people can help to slow down the process of global warming and suggested glaciers to visit.

In addition to the informational text, starkly dramatic graphics are given dignity by the spacious and understated page design. Their variety impresses – from full-color or black and white archival photos, through lithographs and paintings, or just old newspapers facsimiles - they are all identified and captioned and illuminate the fascinating descriptions.

Deem’s engaging style and accessible writing creates a book that will capture young readers' attentions and will present them with useful resources at the same time. Bodies from the Ice is a very intriguing nonfiction read, and will be appealing even to those who just want an entertaining book to read.


Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “Deem's lucid account explores mummified remains recovered from several glacial locations and time periods…. With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the science”

Kirkus Reviews: “With global warming, the glaciers that crown our highest mountains have retreated, revealing humans who died there long ago. This respectful photo-essay opens with the story of Ötzi, found in the Alps in 1991 more than 5,000 years after his death. Deem goes on to explain how glaciers work to preserve and destroy human remains and to provide some historical background.”

Library Media Connection: “This highly intriguing work takes readers on a fascinating venture into some of the most remote regions of the world, to glaciers that are revealing their hidden treasures as they melt at ever increasing speeds. Individual chapters discuss different glacier types with discussion of how they can preserve and destroy human remains, and they feature simple maps so readers can get their bearings. The author discusses what archaeologists learn about history and culture through study of the preserved bodies".


Awards
2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Award Honor Book
Finalist for the 2010 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science BooksKirkus Reviews' Best Children's Books of 2008
Notable Book for Children 2009
2009 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12
2008 New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and SharingCapitol Choices Noteworthy Book 2009 (10-14)
Nominated for:
Young Hoosier Book Award, Middle Grades, 2010-2011
South Dakota Library Association Prairie Pasque Awards for Grades 3-5, 2010-2011 Garden State Teen Book Award for Nonfiction Grades 6-12, 2011


Connections
- Explore additional books about “bodies from ice”:
Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. Secrets of the ice man. ISBN 0761407820
Fowler, Brenda. Iceman : uncovering the life and times of a prehistoric man found in an alpine glacier. ISBN 0226258238


- Other books by James M. Deem:
Deem, James M. Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompei. ISBN-10: 0618473084;ISBN-13: 978-0618473083
Deem, James M. Bodies from the Bog. ISBN-10: 0618354026;ISBN-13: 978-0618354023
Deem, James M. How to Hunt Buried Treasure. ISBN-10: 0380721767;ISBN-13: 978-0380721764