Uncovering Mummies: an Isabel Soto Archaeology Adventure (Graphic Expeditions)

Description

Explore history without the confines of time or distance. Dr. Isabel Soto is an archaeologist and world explorer with the skills to go wherever and whenever she needs to research history, solve a mystery, or rescue colleagues in trouble. Readers join Izzy on her journeys and gain knowledge about historical places, eras, and cultures on the way.

Agnieszka Biskup is a writer and editor based in Chicago. She is a former science editor at the Boston Globe as well as a Knight Fellow at MIT, where she studied science journalism. She served as managing editor of the children's magazine Muse and has written numerous children's books in addition to many articles for newspapers, magazines, and websites. Her books have received awards from Learning magazine, the Association of Educational Publishers, the Society of School Librarians International, and have been chosen as Junior Library Guild selections. She is also a winner of the 2015 American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award in the Writing for Children category.

Although written and illustrated by different people, each of these graphic novels has a similar look and storyline. Each adventure features Isabel who, with the help of a time travel portal, investigates, explores, and often rescues others. The adventure part of the story happens in current time. Factual information is dispensed by being embedded in speech bubbles making the dialogue choppy and forced, or as narrative throughout the pages. There are also fact boxes which provide related information. In many cases, Isabel travels back to research a historical event as it happened. "More About..." gives additional information about each book's subject, and the same "biography" of Isabel, who is a great role model for young girls. Young readers will enjoy these graphic novels for the adventures, while teachers can use them as introduction to various units. Bibliography. Glossary. Websites. Table of Contents. Index. Recommended.-- "Library Media Connection" Books written in graphic format are favorites of mine. They are perfect for students who are reluctant readers and never seem to finish a book on their own. It is also a wonderful way to introduce nonfiction books to young people. Young adults who want to read anything they can get their hands on will enjoy the graphics, exhilarating story, and fast paced text. The full-color graphics make an enormous impact on the story. The author includes a box on many pages that includes narration giving extra information to the reader to help with comprehension. Vocabulary has been well selected and this book is an excellent resource that could be used for writing a summary, a book report, or a source for research.-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database Newsletter" Isabel learns that Dr. Powers has been kidnapped, while he was studying a mummy. The ransom note says he will be returned if the Amulet of Fire is given to the kidnappers. In order to find out what has happened to him, she must go to ancient Egypt to learn more about mummies. After learning all she can, she returns to present day Egypt and goes to the British Museum where she learns how modern day scientists study mummies. She then goes to many countries to learn as much as she can about the Amulet of Fire and the connection to mummies. She learns some very surprising things. The story has a very satisfying ending too. Books written in graphic format are favorites of mine. They are perfect for students who are reluctant readers and never seem to finish a book on their own. It is also a wonderful way to introduce nonfiction books to young people. Young adults who want to read anything they can get their hands on will enjoy the graphics, exhilarating story, and fast paced text. The full-color graphics make an enormous impact on the story. The author includes a box on many pages that includes narration giving extra information to the reader to help with comprehension. Vocabulary has been well selected and this book is an excellent resource that could be used for writing a summary, a book report, or a source for research. 2010-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database Newsletter" Isabel Soto is a swashbuckling archaeologist who time-travels through history to solve mysteries. This volume of the Graphic Library: Graphic Expeditions series finds her in Central America when a message alerts her to the abduction of Dr. Powers, a friend being held in exchange for information about "the mummy's amulet of fire." Izzy transports to Egypt only to find out no one has ever heard of the amulet--cue research! The cartoon art is no revelation but ably illustrates Izzy's travel to ancient Egypt and modern-day London, South America, Italy, Denmark, and D.C. The magic portal device is initially disorienting--there is no explanation of who Izzy is or why she can teleport (oddly, that info is supplied in the back matter). Furthermore, it's a wonder that the stylishly clad adventurer isn't feared, murdered, or worshiped the moment the ancient Egyptians see her. Thankfully, the excitement never feels like pandering. Boxed inserts, some with photos, supply informational footnotes, and savvy readers will recognize all the real-life mummies who make cameos.-- "Booklist Online"