Randall, David K. The Monster’s Bones: The Discovery of T. Rex and How It Shook Our World. Norton Young Readers, 2023. 978-1-324-06453-4. 192 p. $19.95. Grades 7-12.

This captivating read reveals the birth of American paleontology, the dogged determination behind the discovery of the first T. Rex fossil, and the making of a modern American museum. The title is a bit misleading; while T. Rex is included in all its glory, the real focus here is on the young scientist, enthusiast, and adventurer Barnum Brown.  How did a young man born & raised on a Kansas farm and coal mine become an unstoppable world explorer? How did a centuries old fossil, admittedly large, come to capture the imagination of Americans and revolutionize history, science, literature, film and more? Randall succeeds in providing a detailed account of Brown’s life and his surprising skill at locating dinosaur bones. When in 1902 he dug up the first Tyrannosaurus Rex, the world noticed. Put on display in the struggling American Museum of Natural History, led by the wealthy Henry Fairfield Osborn, the colossal one-of-a-kind fossil ignited the public and ushered in support for the fledgling field of paleontology, and a race for who would find the next fossil as well. Brown never stopped and became the undisputed expert on dinosaur fossils. His energy seeps through every page of this book.

THOUGHTS: This young readers’ edition of Randall’s The Monster’s Bones (2022) will draw in readers interested in dinosaurs, American history, and excellent narrative nonfiction. This is a must-purchase for all middle and high school collections.

973 American History