Donna M. Jackson

ARC provided by NetGalley

Did you know that without uttering a single word someone standing in front of you will be able to read you like an open book? It’s true! Give it a try, because we all communicate with our bodies in a language that is virtually universal. Or so it appears. Giving the thumbs up in the US and Canada means that you approve, but in Greece it stands for something that is rude. And be careful when you nod your head in Albania and Bulgaria, as it actually means no. Our show more bodies are talking...whether we know it or not.

Body language is a complex, and sometimes, difficult topic to talk about given that we don’t often look at ourselves when we’re communicating. And for people that are on the Autism spectrum, like me, it’s even more difficult to interpret what the body signals mean if the voice says something different. And that’s where this book comes in. Even though it is a relatively short book, it has lots of good images and is engaging to readers, whether young or older. It walks the reader through what they’re saying, how they’re saying it, and when they’re saying it based upon how they’re holding themselves. Even better, it talks about the different cultures and backgrounds, so that it can help readers better understand what to be aware of in different cultures.

Body language tends to be something that we all take for granted and assume that everyone knows what different signals mean. Yet this book shows that different cultures and upbringings impact how we read and understand signals. Although this book is aimed at a younger audience, it is well worth the read for all ages. I give the book 4 out of 5 stars. show less

While it is not a book I would typically read, "The Bone Detectives" by Donna M. Jackson was enthralling and I could not put it down. Jackson very artfully sheds light on how forensic anthropologists study the bones of the deceased and in most cases, bring their story to life and often bring them justice.

Forensic anthropology is something I have seen in various crime television shows over the years, but I never really had a clear understanding of how it worked, until this book. With amazing show more pictures, Jackson begins by introducing the field of forensic anthropology and Dr. Michael Charney, who is only one of about 175 bone detectives practicing in the U.S. and Canada. Also within the introduction is a comical picture of Dr. Charney laughing on the phone with shelves and shelves full of human skeletons behind him next to pictures of his family and grandchildren-I couldn't help but giggle at first sight of this.

Jackson then delves into the many ways in which Dr. Charney uses bones in order to write a bone biography, in which he tells what race, gender, age, signs of violence, anomalies, etc. the bones reveal. My favorite part of this book was that it actually gave case examples of bones being used to identify someone and ascertain how they were murdered. For example, the case of Bun Chee Nyhuis, whose bones lead police to her killer through various bone study techniques.

Great read and very informational, I recommend this to anyone no matter what their certain interests are! show less

From an accessibility standpoint, this book offers quite a bit. First, the cover draws anyone with a heart in with a resounding "Awwwwwww" coming from every teen audience I showed it to. The endpages also add to the appeal and continue inviting the reader in with a warm sort of hug. The table of contents is descriptive and well organized . The index is also very in depth for a book of this length going out of the way to offer a sort of double coverage in defining medical terms by pointing show more readers to the terms themselves that are actually defined within the context of the narrative (which are almost ALL compelling) There is no glossary but there really doesn't NEED to be as any words that might need to be defined, are done so within the narrative. The photos tell the story that is needed and the captions explain adequately what the reader is seeing. There is no bibliography per se. However, as the main source for the book is a subject matter expert and she offers plenty of explanatory notes on the people she interviewed (also veterinarians or residents), I feel that the subject is well documented however as the average reader will not have access to these sources, this will make it difficult for a reader to research this matter more thoroughly. Overall this is an informative and easy read that gives the reader more insight into the world of emergency veterinary science. I would recommend it to any reader I had who was interested in this subject. show less

The Wildlife Detectives, by Donna Jackson, is a story of murder in the heart of America's parks. In 1993, Yellowstone Park rangers were shocked to find the star of their protected elk population dead, robbed of his antlers. This grisly scene begins the book's journey from Yellowstone National Park to the only wildlife forensics lab in the world in Ashland, Oregon.

The author has, rather expertly, blended a crime-genre whodunit with an introduction to the world of poaching. The narrative of show more collecting evidence and finding the culprit is interspersed with inserts full of information. These inserts help place the killing in the context of a worldwide poaching epidemic, while carefully explaining the differences between hunting for profit and hunting to feed a family. Jackson succinctly describes the crimes that can be committed against animals and how these rob everyone of national and international treasures.

The crime of killing Charger, the bull elk, is an engaging story for any age. There is a suspense woven into this book that makes it a page-turner.

The Wildlife Detectives has a very thorough index, a glossary of forensic and wildlife terms, and a thoughtful "What You Can Do to Help" section. There is no bibliography, but everyone who contributed to the makings of this book are acknowledged and thanked in the beginning.

Due to photographs of slain animals, this book is recommended for ages 10 & Up. show less