Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Website
If you are interested in pursuing a career in forensic science, you may want to check out the official website of the American Association of Forensic Science. http://www.aafs.org/
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
next month's book
Just a heads up, so you can get started on next month's book! We will be discussing The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs by Jack Gantos. I have to say that this is one of the creepiest books I have read. Not scary or suspenseful, but creepy. It really stayed with me after I read it. It isn't a long book and goes very quickly.
PS This book has a few things in common with the movie Psycho.
PS This book has a few things in common with the movie Psycho.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Another Book
If you are interested in criminal investigation, you may want to check out the book "COmplete Idiot's Guide to Criminal Investigation". The blurb on Amazon says, "Offers a perfect summary of the necessary steps involved in basic investigation. Perfect for anyone looking to form a working knowledge of Criminal Investigation." So, if you want an introduction to this field, this may be the book for you!
Monday, February 19, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
another book you may enjoy
Solving Crimes: pioneers of forensic science
Read this review from School Library Journal:
Although there are numerous titles available that describe techniques used in modern forensic science, few do more than mention the significant pioneers in the field. Fridell documents the accomplishments of six men over the past century, from Parisian file clerk Alphonse Bertillon's system of measuring and recording the physical characteristics of criminals to British scientist Alec Jeffreys's development of "DNA fingerprinting." In the case of each individual, it is passion and persistence, often in the face of indifference or ridicule, that made the significant achievement possible. Technical terms, italicized in the text, are defined in a glossary. Most definitions are adequate when combined with contextual clues, but some are too minimal to be useful. For instance, "blood typing" is defined as "classifying a person's blood according to its blood type." Black-and-white photos, reproductions, and diagrams enhance the presentation and occasionally show some important aspects of the techniques under discussion. An annotated list of Internet addresses and the names and addresses of eight museums and exhibits in the United States offer opportunities for continued exploration of this fascinating field.
Read this review from School Library Journal:
Although there are numerous titles available that describe techniques used in modern forensic science, few do more than mention the significant pioneers in the field. Fridell documents the accomplishments of six men over the past century, from Parisian file clerk Alphonse Bertillon's system of measuring and recording the physical characteristics of criminals to British scientist Alec Jeffreys's development of "DNA fingerprinting." In the case of each individual, it is passion and persistence, often in the face of indifference or ridicule, that made the significant achievement possible. Technical terms, italicized in the text, are defined in a glossary. Most definitions are adequate when combined with contextual clues, but some are too minimal to be useful. For instance, "blood typing" is defined as "classifying a person's blood according to its blood type." Black-and-white photos, reproductions, and diagrams enhance the presentation and occasionally show some important aspects of the techniques under discussion. An annotated list of Internet addresses and the names and addresses of eight museums and exhibits in the United States offer opportunities for continued exploration of this fascinating field.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Discussion Question
Is being a coroner (i.e. a doctor who looks at dead people) more or less creepy than other kinds of doctors?
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Death Online
Click here to check out an online exhibit about death from the Australian Museum.
Warning: this website contains graphic images of dead bodies. If you are easily upset or think your parents would oppose, please check with them or skip this website.
Warning: this website contains graphic images of dead bodies. If you are easily upset or think your parents would oppose, please check with them or skip this website.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Sequel
If you have been enjoying The Christopher Killers, you should check out the sequel Angel of Death.
Read this review from School Library Journal:
Cameryn Mahoney, the teenaged forensic detective from The Christopher Killer (Viking, 2006), continues her adventures as assistant to her father, the county coroner of Silverton, CO. Her latest case involves the death of a favorite teacher, whose body is found by her classmate Kyle. Brad Oakes has seemingly been burned, but there are no signs of fire in his bedroom. Cammie is also dealing with an upcoming visit from her mother, who left long ago. On top of that, she finds herself attracted to Kyle and Deputy Justin. As she gets closer and closer to discovering the killers identity, she puts her life in danger. The forensic details are intriguing and will definitely attract all of the CSI fans out there. The author doesnt shy away from the gorier details, and she seems to have done her homework about the ins and outs of being a county coroner. Reluctant readers looking for a mystery will enjoy the fast pace and page-turning suspense.–
Read this review from School Library Journal:
Cameryn Mahoney, the teenaged forensic detective from The Christopher Killer (Viking, 2006), continues her adventures as assistant to her father, the county coroner of Silverton, CO. Her latest case involves the death of a favorite teacher, whose body is found by her classmate Kyle. Brad Oakes has seemingly been burned, but there are no signs of fire in his bedroom. Cammie is also dealing with an upcoming visit from her mother, who left long ago. On top of that, she finds herself attracted to Kyle and Deputy Justin. As she gets closer and closer to discovering the killers identity, she puts her life in danger. The forensic details are intriguing and will definitely attract all of the CSI fans out there. The author doesnt shy away from the gorier details, and she seems to have done her homework about the ins and outs of being a county coroner. Reluctant readers looking for a mystery will enjoy the fast pace and page-turning suspense.–
Monday, February 05, 2007
Friday, February 02, 2007
Forensic Science
To learn more about forensic science, click here to read an article from Wikipedia.
learn about the author
Alane Ferguson is the author of this month's book. She is the author of at least one other book in this series. Click here to learn more about her.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Next Month's Book
February starts tomorrow and with that comes a new book to the book blog. We will be discussing The Christopher Killer by Alane Ferguson. The Christopher Killer is a forensic mystery starring Cameryn Mahoney, a 17 year old coroner's assistant. It is the first in a series and makes for really interesting reading. If you would like to read this book, you can place a hold on it by calling the library or visiting our website (which you should all know by this time).
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Sorry for the lack of posting
I seem to have misplaced my list of intended posts. I have spent the week frantically searching for this list, but to no avail. I promise to get back on track on Monday. In the meantime, what is everyone reading right now?
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
a movie you might enjoy
if you are interested in ghosts and/or enjoy the films of Tim Burton, be sure to check out Beetlejuice!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
another book you might enjoy
Death's Acre by William Bass
Read this review, from Publisher's Weekly
In this memoir, Bass, a premier forensic anthropologist, recounts how a life spent studying dead bodies led to the creation of "The Anthropolgy Research Facility" (aka the Body Farm), a plot of land near the University of Tennessee Medical Center where Bass and his colleagues monitor the decomposition of human corpses in various environments. The book is structured around the 1981 creation of the Body Farm, and the early chapters focus on some of Bass's trickier cases to demonstrate his need for more information about the science of forensics. The later chapters take a closer look at how the scientific analysis of Body Farm corpses has helped Bass and other anthropologists solve some of the toughest and most bizarre cases of their distinguished careers. Though professional and conscientious when describing the medical facts of each case, Bass, writing with journalist Jefferson, proves to be a witty storyteller with a welcome sense of humor. He also does a nice job balancing accounts of death and decomposition with decidedly not-so-morbid tidbits from his personal life. Furthermore, the poignancy of how he reacts to the deaths of his first two wives reflects the compassion he feels for the dead and their surviving family members he encounters in his working life. Bass may deal with the dead, but he has a lust for life that comes across in his writing. While the grisly details may not make this a must-read for everyone, those who do pick it up might just be pleasantly surprised by how Bass brings death to life.
Read this review, from Publisher's Weekly
In this memoir, Bass, a premier forensic anthropologist, recounts how a life spent studying dead bodies led to the creation of "The Anthropolgy Research Facility" (aka the Body Farm), a plot of land near the University of Tennessee Medical Center where Bass and his colleagues monitor the decomposition of human corpses in various environments. The book is structured around the 1981 creation of the Body Farm, and the early chapters focus on some of Bass's trickier cases to demonstrate his need for more information about the science of forensics. The later chapters take a closer look at how the scientific analysis of Body Farm corpses has helped Bass and other anthropologists solve some of the toughest and most bizarre cases of their distinguished careers. Though professional and conscientious when describing the medical facts of each case, Bass, writing with journalist Jefferson, proves to be a witty storyteller with a welcome sense of humor. He also does a nice job balancing accounts of death and decomposition with decidedly not-so-morbid tidbits from his personal life. Furthermore, the poignancy of how he reacts to the deaths of his first two wives reflects the compassion he feels for the dead and their surviving family members he encounters in his working life. Bass may deal with the dead, but he has a lust for life that comes across in his writing. While the grisly details may not make this a must-read for everyone, those who do pick it up might just be pleasantly surprised by how Bass brings death to life.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
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