Bones
- Publisher
- Orca Book Publishers
- Initial publish date
- Nov 2020
- Category
- NON-CLASSIFIABLE, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures
- Recommended Age
- 9 to 12
- Recommended Grade
- 4 to 7
- Recommended Reading age
- 9 to 12
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781459821903
- Publish Date
- Nov 2020
- List Price
- $10.95
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781459807105
- Publish Date
- Apr 2014
- List Price
- $16.95
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781459807006
- Publish Date
- Apr 2014
- List Price
- $13.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
Sam and Annabel visit Sam's mom on her farm in Drumheller, Alberta during a dinosaur dig.
Annabel is thrilled to have access to paleontologists and spends as much time as she can near the dig, much to Sam’s dismay. But when they learn the dig has uncovered scientifically important bones, even Sam is curious. In fact, the whole town is talking about the discovery. When Sam and Annabel learn that Humphrey Battleford, a famous collector of stolen goods, is in the area, they realize they need to do their part to keep the ancient bones safe.
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
About the author
John Wilson was born in 1951 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He did his early growing up on the Island of Skye and in Paisley, near Glasgow. From 1969 to 1974, he attended the University of St. Andrews where he took an Honours B.Sc.. in Geology and never played golf once. He took a position with the Geological Survey of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). In his two years there, he mapped rocks, dodged land mines and watched the country sink ever deeper into civil war. Shortly before he was due to be called into the army, John retreated back to Britain on his way to the safety of Canada. He settled on Calgary where geology was booming and the only danger was freezing to death in January. In 1979, he moved to Edmonton to take up a post with the Alberta Geological Survey. In 1988 he sold a feature article to the Globe and Mail. This fueled a smouldering mid-life crisis and he took up freelance writing full-time. With some success, John mined the experiences of his travels for articles, journalism and photo essays. He even began to express himself poetically and, with a young family, began writing children's stories. He moved to Nanaimo and then Lantzville on Vancouver Island. John has been widely published by a number of Canadian presses, with his acolades including a shortlisting for the Governor General’s Award.
Awards
- Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
Editorial Reviews
"Readers will enjoy this book for its fast-paced, easy-to-read structure and its numerous pop culture references; it is a high-interest novel for students who read below grade level."
Library Media Connection
"Peppered with factual information about paleontology and the potential for fraud, the story moves along quickly to a satisfying end that still allows for the possibility of future entanglements with the villainous Humphrey Battleford."
Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group (SOYAMRG)
"The novel’s appeal comes from its thrilling storyline and its fascinating descriptions of the world of paleontology. Although Wilson deals with a fictitious dinosaur discovery, he makes paleontology an interesting foundation for his story without stepping too far away from reality...The interesting information about dinosaur research woven in the adventure story will capture many young readers and sustain their attention throughout."
CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"Another excellent example of Wilson’s care in research and presentation of data...Wilson conveys to his readers the depth of his own understanding of his topic, yet avoids any patronizing or erudite tone in his narration: exactly what struggling readers need in order to engage with the story."
Karyn's Kid Lit Reviews
"Wilson is a skilled YA author who can balance dialogue and description perfectly...Although a sequel, this novel is successful as a stand-alone, and will recruit more young readers, especially boys."
Resource Links
