Claire Carter, Bone Detective: The Mystery of Skull Lake

The adventure continues in the second book in this series for young readers by forensic anthropologist Mary H. Manhein. Inspired by real cases, Claire Carter, Bone Detective: The Mystery of Skull Lake takes Claire and her niece, Penelope, to the small town of Zwolle, Louisiana, to investigate the discovery of strange bones along the water's edge.

The series features Claire and her 11 year-old niece and bone-detective-in-training, Penelope Charbonnet. Original black and white illustrations by Leah Wood Jewett serve as visual puzzles that enhance the story. The books are geared toward readers aged 10 to 14 years old. Through the series, young readers will be introduced to the skeleton and what can be learned from both human and non-human bones, such as: the impact of disease and trauma; determination of age, sex and ancestry; and differentiation of species. Readers will also learn about the diverse people of Louisiana, local folklore, historic burials, and the abundant and unique flora and fauna of our state.