Bodies From the Ice by James M. Deem

Bodies From the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past
James M. Deem

Deem, James M. 2008. Bodies From the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Bodies from the Ice takes the reader on a picturesque journey through the glaciers of the world and the treasures they have been hiding. Written chronologically and geographically, James Deem starts in the Alps with perhaps the most significant find in glacial archeology, Otzi. Otzi was found by a couple hiking in the mountains and their discovery of 5,300 year old mummy led to a burst of interest in the field of glacial archaeology. Deem then takes the reader to discoveries of frozen children in the Andes, George Mallory and his quest to climb Mt. Everest, and the first man found in a North American glacier. He ends with a PSA concerning the state of the melting glaciers and what we can do to help keep the planet clean and green.

James Deem is a retired college professor who has written many other fiction and nonfiction books for children. In Bodies from the Ice he lays out the stories in an easy to read and understand format with lots of photos, captions, and sidebars. The table of contents has catchy titles such as "Dragons in the Ice", and "Iceman of the Alps", for those readers that want to skip around instead of reading right through. The end of the book holds a plethora of other sources for the avid reader. A list of glaciers to visit, websites to explore and a bibliography are just a few of the things he made sure to include. The text and photos on each page correspond to each other and each photo has a caption for those that want smaller chunks of information.

The organization of this nonfiction book is laid out so seamlessly that all the stories seem tied together. The basic text of the book is simple and follows complete thoughts. Sidebars exist on pages that follow up on more complex features such a sidebar for Otzi's ax, or the father of glaciology. Unfamiliar words or concepts are also italicized with a short definition. As mentioned before there is a table of contents, but there is also an index to take readers to a particular person or thing.

The layout and design of this book are meant to entice to reader both visually and physically. With pictures of mountains and glacier place strategically throughout the book, and stories of climbers and avid nature enthusiasts, it makes the reader want to visit and plan a hike to see the beauty that exists in the pictures. The graphics are large and take a lot of page space, but instead of detracting they tend to impact the words on page and illuminate the written narrative.

The style of the writing is better for older children and adults. Some of the subject matter can be gruesome and some of the pictures could be disturbing. Aside from those facts the author is very interested in what he writes and it is visible in his writing. He uses vocabulary that is understood on a general level and if an unfamiliar word is used he places it in italics and offers a two or three word explanation. As mentioned before the author makes great use of extended study suggestions. He makes it very easy to find more information about the subject.

Bodies from the Ice has won numerous awards, some of which include the 2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Award Honor Book, 2009 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12, and the 2009 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. The reviews have also been fast and furious and include reviews from:

School Library Journal, starred review (12/2008)
“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 sciences."

Booklist (12/2008)
“Perhaps most fascinating to kids will be the chapter on recently discovered Incan children sacrificed to the gods. The pictures of these children, looking as though they might be sleeping, are arresting. Heavily illustrated with historical memorabilia as well as photos of bodies, scenery, artifacts, and rather simplistic maps, this offers a lot to look at and learn about."

Horn Book Magazine (1-2/2009)
“As the book concludes, a striking irony becomes evident: glaciers continue to melt at an alarming rate, warranting caution and concern for the global environment, yet even as they dwindle they offer up more clues to our human past. The book design, with its variety of photographs, captions, and sidebars, seals the appeal. A bibliography and index are appended."

Other books that children and adults might enjoy are Discovering the Inca Ice Maiden by Johan Reinhard, Mystery on Everest: A Photobiography of George Mallory by Audrey Saukeld, and Icebergs and Glaciers by Seymour Simon.

There are also lots of activities that can be done concerning glaciers. Photographic journeys are a good way to see how something has changed. Use time lapsed pictures students or group members can sort them from start to finish and visually measure how much melting has occurred over the time the pictures were taken. Another activity could be using Google Earth to view pictures of glaciers as the look from the satellites that took the pictures. Students or group members can try to guess what part of the world the glaciers are in.