Review: Creepy and True: Mummies Exposed!

When you hear the word Mummies, are you thinking dusty, boring museums littered with coffins, preferably gold ones with bodies covered in old bandages? Some of that is correct, but this book is so much more.
 

Children of all ages, including adults will find this book captivating. You will discover the mysteries that have created myths such as Tutankhamen’s curse which people still believe today, the best way to mummify a body and the tricks of the trade when it comes to archaeology and anthropology.

As the title suggests, these stories are creepy and true. For instance, there are the European mummies that were discovered in China thousands of miles from what should have been their home. 

It then took nearly 20 years of negotiating with the Chinese government for advanced DNA testing to be conducted and for us to learn that these mummies were nearly 10,000 years old and had Asian heritage. 

There are the forgotten mummies of Vac, Hungary which were buried over 300 years ago. The traditions at the time meant people from the community were baptized, married and buried in the same church. With one Roman Catholic Church, loved ones were buried underneath the Church tiled floor. Their final resting place was very ornate, with gold coffins, people dressed in their finery and personal touches to accompany them. This practice was in place from 1738 until 1831, with hundreds of people being laid to rest there.

Eventually doctors made the connection to the spreading of recent disease and the burial place of all these people below the Church floor – the space was promptly sealed off and forgotten. That is until there were Church renovations in 1994. Modern day doctors discovered the majority of these people died from Tuberculosis – could this have been spread from the very first people to have been buried there?

Throughout this book, there are factlets that give the reader an insight into different religions, interesting facts such as a recipe book that lists caterpillar fungus as a food, technology and other historical facts.

Comprising of several chapters this book can be read in any order or by whatever story grabs your interest. Combined with a glossary, an index and numerous photographs this well researched book is great for doing a project or just reading for fun.

 

Title: Creepy And True: Mummies Exposed!
Author: Kerrie Logan Hollihan

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, $24.99
Publication Date: 7 May 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781419731679
For ages: 10 - 14
Type: Non Fiction