Mysteries of the Mummy Kids by Kelly Milner Halls

Mysteries of the Mummy Kids
Written by Kelly Milner Halls
Darby Creek Publishing, $18.95
72 pp.; ISBN 1-58196-059-X

Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews

With informative and thoughtful prose that balances curiosity with respect, Kelly Milner Halls' Mysteries of the Mummy Kids is sure to please children who are fascinated with mummies. Milner Halls' exploration how and why child mummies came to be spans thousands of years and diverse societies around the world, even including the recent 2005 discovery of the mummified remains of a Civil War era teenager in Washington, D.C.

What makes Milner Halls' work especially appropriate for younger readers is that she never strays from treating her subject matter with the utmost respect. She shares her own first experience with mummies, a picture postcard of a mummy from a friend who'd visited Mesa Verde National Park, in Colorado, and why it piqued her interest: who was this person and how did he become a mummy? Ever mindful of the fact that mummies were once people who lived, loved, and enjoyed many of the same activities we all do, from playing, enjoying meals with family and friends, etc., and therefore not scary, just people, she shares that perspective with her readers.

Detailed case studies involve color photography and first-person interviews with scientists who've discovered mummies. The various natural causes of mummification are explained, as are man-made processes like those used in ancient Egypt. In addition, the cutting-edge technology that's used to investigate the how and why of these mummified children is explored, highlighting the differences between exploration of today and that of many years ago that tended to damage mummies due to hasty excavation and investigation.

Milner Halls is candid in what we know and don't know about mummies. She does not shy away from some of the more difficult cases, like the Yde Girl who'd been violently strangled before being submerged and later mummified in a bog in what's now the Netherlands. She also has a gentle touch with the Incan child mummies who, scientists believe, were selected as human sacrifices. She reassures readers that these children were loved and missed by their parents, and in their culture, these parents believed their children had been chosen for a special honor, and that they'd be rewarded with a better life among the gods.

A comprehensive bibliography includes articles, books, and websites, giving young readers a head start on further reading and research. Milner Halls' interview with one young scientist includes the schooling and work experience that's brought him to this career, giving career-minded readers a glimpse of the work and education needed to become scientists and researchers themselves.

Haunting photography and no-holds-barred content may make some young readers uncomfortable and the author acknowledges this in her conclusion -- she says that some may want to read more and some may want to put the book down. It would have been great if she'd put that in her introduction instead of her conclusion, though. Milner Halls' inclusion of the recent discovery in Washington, D.C. spotlights how the field is still exciting and current, with new discoveries taking place every day. Mysteries of the Mummy Kids is easy to read; Milner Halls doesn't dumb down the science but explains things clearly and in simple terms for elementary school aged readers, and exploring mummies from the angle of child mummies makes it even more interesting for kids.