Reading the Bones: Homo Naledi and the Mysteries of Human Evolution
Hardcover
Publisher Price: $20.99
ISBN13: 9780374392314
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
Published: Aug 4 2026
Pages: 192
Weight: 0.65
Height: 0.80 Width: 6.30 Depth: 7.90
Language: English
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
High-stakes adventure meets cutting-edge anthropology in this true account of the groundbreaking discovery of Homo naledi, which shocked the world of evolutionary science and redefined what it means to be human, written for young readers by a Sibert Medalist and a nationally-recognized educator. Are you brave enough? That's what anthropologist Keneiloe Molopyane texted one of her graduate students, inviting her to join a dangerous underground search for a mysterious new human ancestor, Homo naledi. Would she dare to slide through the tight spaces and sheer drops of the Rising Star cave in South Africa's Cradle of Humankind, to help unlock the secrets of a tiny chamber filled with literally hundreds of fossilized bones? Join us as we follow the exciting explorations of Dr. Molopyane, along with six female excavators known as the Underground Astronauts, the dynamic, controversial leader Dr. Lee Berger, and others as they puzzle over the remains of this strange new species with much smaller brains than ours who may have buried their dead, made tools, used fire, and left markings on rocks. Guided by Sibert Medal-winner author Marc Aronson and teacher John S. Mead, whose sixth-grade science class followed many stages of the exploration as it happened, Reading the Bones: Homo naledi and the Mysteries of Human Evolution is real science in real time. Packed with drawings, maps, and a variety of resources, this is a thrilling introduction to scientific explorers on the front lines of the hunt for connections between humans and our primate relatives and ancestors. Are you ready to join the quest?1 different editions
Also available
Reading the Bones: Homo Naledi and the Mysteries of Human Evolution
Aronson, Marc
Mead, John S.
Hardcover
Also from
Aronson, Marc
Bite by Bite: American History Through Feasts, Foods, and Side Dishes
Opie, Frederick Douglass
Aronson, Marc
Freedman, Paul
Hardcover
Poisoned Water: How the Citizens of Flint, Michigan, Fought for Their Lives and Warned the Nation
Cooper, Candy J.
Aronson, Marc
Hardcover
Taking Aim: Power and Pain, Teens and Guns (Large Print Edition)
Aronson, Marc
Averett, Edward
Cart, Michael
Paperback
Ain't Nothing But a Man: My Quest to Find The Real John Henry (16pt Large Print Edition) (Large Print Edition)
Nelson, Scott Reynolds
Aronson, Marc
Paperback
Reading the Bones: Homo Naledi and the Mysteries of Human Evolution
Aronson, Marc
Mead, John S.
Hardcover
Bite by Bite: American History Through Feasts, Foods, and Side Dishes
Aronson, Marc
Freedman, Paul
Opie, Frederick Douglass
Hardcover
Witch Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials
Aronson, Marc
Audio Book
The Griffin and the Dinosaur: How Adrienne Mayor Discovered a Fascinating Link Between Myth and Science
Mayor, Adrienne
Aronson, Marc
Audio Book
The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World
Glenn, John W.
Aronson, Marc
Audio Book
Also in
History
Disgustingly Delicious: The Surprising, Weird and Wonderful Food of the World
Mariño, Soledad Romero
Hardcover
Top Secret Files: World War II, Spies, Secret Missions, and Hidden Facts from World War II
Bearce, Stephanie
Paperback
Courage Under Fire: True Stories of Bravery from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines
Miller, Adam
Otfinoski, Steven
Gunderson, Jessica
Other
Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette
Castrovilla, Selene
Hardcover
20th Century African American History for Kids: The Major Events That Shaped the Past and Present
Weston, Margeaux
Paperback
Bones and Berserkers (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #13): 13 True Tales of Terror from American History
Hale, Nathan
Hardcover
Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp
Gutiérrez, Jolene
Tonai, Minoru
Hardcover
Terrifying True Tales: Haunting Histories, Creepy Cryptids, and Scary Stories from Around the World
Towler, Paige
Hardcover
Weird But True! Usa: Expanded Edition: 350 Fascinating Facts about the Fifty States
National Geographic Kids
Paperback
A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, a Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out
Day, Nicholas
Hardcover
Greeking Out Tales from the Underworld: Ghostly Myths from Around the Globe
Curtis, Kenny
Hughes, Jillian
Hardcover
Weird But True! Usa: Expanded Edition: 350 Fascinating Facts about the Fifty States
National Geographic Kids
Hardcover
Red, White, Blue and Uncle Who?: The Stories Behind Some of America's Patriotic Symbols
Bateman, Teresa
Hardcover
Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters
Napoli, Donna Jo
National Geographic Kids
Hardcover
America Celebrates: The Most Incredible and Influential People, Places & Events of the Last 250 Years
Andrus, Aubre
Hardcover
Follow the Water: The Unbelievable True Story of a Teenager's Survival in the Amazon
Cochrane, Ellen
Hardcover
Cryptids: Uncover the Secrets Behind the World's Most Baffling Beasts and Curious Creatures
MacFarlane, Tamara
Hardcover
My Bicentennial Summer: True Adventures from the Most Epic Family Road Trip of All Time
Neri, G.
Hardcover
When Paul Revere Rode: Voices from the First Night of the American Revolution
Thomson, Sarah L.
Hardcover
The Web of War (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #14): A World War II Tale Volume 14
Hale, Nathan
Hardcover
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity
Day, Nicholas
Paperback
Witches and Wizards: Explore the World of Magic, Witchcraft, and Sorcery
Neon Squid
Puca, Angela
Hardcover
America as It Happened: A Moment-By-Moment Journey Through Time, from Prehistory to the Present Day
What on Earth!
The Washington Post
Hardcover
The Extraordinary History of the Fae: Fairies, Spirits, and Other Magical Beings
Atkinson, Hazel
Hardcover
Baseball's Shining Season: America's Pastime on the Brink of War
Sandler, Craig
Sandler, Martin W.
Hardcover
Glass: Looking In, Looking Out: (A Nonfiction Book about the Science, History, and Everyday Uses of Glass for Ages 7-10)
Theule, Larissa
Hardcover
My Latin America and the Caribbean: A Celebration: (An Educational Nonfiction Picture Book about Cultures, Landscapes, and Biodiversity for Kids Ages
Goldin Marcovich, Gabriela
Hardcover
The Big Book of Birthdays: How Birthdays Are Celebrated Around the World
Feunekes, Anna Lena
Hardcover
Marvel's Captain America Across the Country (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 2)
Berne, Emma
National Geographic Kids
Hardcover
How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers): Remembering Slavery and How It Shaped America
Smith, Clint
Hardcover
Beasts from Before the Dinosaurs: Extraordinary Forgotten Creatures from 250 Million Years Ago
Lerwill, Ben
Hardcover
Above the Trenches (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #12): A World War I Flying Ace Tale
Hale, Nathan
Hardcover
What Ended the Golden Age of Airships? the Hindenburg Disaster: A Who HQ Graphic Novel
Who Hq
Kindred, Chris
Hardcover
Wow in the World: Dinosaurs Are Wow!: A Roaring Thunder of Prehistoric Wonder
Raz, Guy
Thomas, Mindy
Hardcover
Get Connected!: The Story of Communication from Hieroglyphics to Body Language
Barnham, Kay
Hardcover
Blades of Freedom (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #10): A Tale of Haiti, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase
Hale, Nathan
Hardcover
Big Bad Ironclad! (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #2): A Civil War Tale Volume 2
Hale, Nathan
Hardcover
Fight for the Right to Read: Samuel Wilbert Tucker and the 1939 Sit-Down Strike for Library Reading Equality
Gottesfeld, Jeff
Green, Michelle Y.
Hardcover
Native American Stories for Kids: 12 Traditional Stories from Indigenous Tribes Across North America
Weso, Tom Pecore
Paperback
A Supreme Friendship: The Unlikely Bond Between Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia
Murphy, Debbie Rovin
Hardcover
An Epic History of Failure: A Blundering Book Full of Fun Facts and Mindless Mishaps
Neon Squid
Younger, Natalie
Hardcover
Weird But True! Dinosaurs: 300 Dino-Mite Facts to Sink Your Teeth Into
National Geographic Kids
Paperback
Teaching for Change: How Septima Clark Led the Civil Rights Movement to Voting Justice
Clark-Robinson, Monica
Clark-Rhines, Yvonne
Hardcover
Explore the National Parks with Dr. Seuss's Lorax: A Dr. Seuss's the Lorax Nonfiction
Worth, Bonnie
Hardcover
The Greatest Mistakes in History: Bloopers, Blunders, and Other Mishaps from History
Abbott, Simon
Paperback
The Patriots and the Pox: George Washington's Battle to Save the Continental Army
Anderson, Beth
Hardcover
Raid of No Return (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #7): A World War II Tale of the Doolittle Raid
Hale, Nathan
Hardcover
Did You Hear What Happened at the Alamo?: The Texas Revolution of 1835-36 Volume 2
Kennedy, Katie
Hardcover
The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II (Scholastic Focus)
Fleming, Candace
Hardcover
Friedel and Gina: A True Story of Sisterhood and Survival During the Holocaust
Dronfield, Jeremy
Hardcover
Donner Dinner Party (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #3): A Pioneer Tale Volume 3
Hale, Nathan
Hardcover
Everything You Need to Ace World History in One Big Fat Notebook, 2nd Edition: The Complete Middle School Study Guide
Workman Publishing
Paperback
