In the summer of 2005, near Albany, New York, workers on a
sewer project uncovered something fascinating. The metal jaws of
their machinery had been digging, steadily and obliviously, over
the site of a slave cemetery. The project came to a halt while
research was done, and the site was excavated. This would be only
the third slave cemetery to have ever been discovered in the North,
an amazing find!

Thirteen bodies were recovered, taken to a lab for examination,
and their details recorded. This work was done both to learn what
life was like for slaves in the North and also to provide recognition
and dignity to these particular bodies. Some were even brought to
life, in a way, by a facial reconstructionist. It was awesome, yet melancholy, to see the faces of those found. They are not just old bones. They were once real people.

I have just a couple of minor issues. For instance, in a junior nonfiction work, I think the author could have avoided averaging the ages, something which could cause confusion to the reader who doesn't necessarily understand that many of the people lived beyond that age.

Also, as in most nonfiction for children, it bothers me when the pictures interrupt the flow of the story. Place them at the end of a section or chapter...even a paragraph...instead. It's even more pointless for that interruption to be cause by nothing more than an upcoming quote written in a larger font inside a box.

For those who want to learn a bit more, there is a glossary and mention of a book written by a woman who stayed on the old farm in New York when she was a child and her father served in the military. Even though the slaves she spoke of, and named, are most likely different than those found in the cemetery, it was a learning experience to hear first-hand what it was like from her point of view.

For the most part, Forgotten Bones by Lois Miner Huey is an extremely well done book. It broaches a sensitive subject and teaches young readers some important historical lessons.

An accessible nonfiction title focused around archaeology and the history of New York state when slavery was in existence. Filled with information through photos and diagrams, this book's backmatter will help to fill in any gaps in this slight book. A fascinating look at history that many kids won't expect - slavery in a northern state.