Bone Dry - Hardcover

Karr, Kathleen

3.78

23 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786807768 ISBN 13: 9780786807765

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH, 2002

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It is said that the Sahara Desert swallows the past. For Matthew Morrissey and his mentor, the eminent phrenologist Dr. Asa B. Cornwall, there's also the danger of its swallowing their present. In their search for the skull of Alexander the Great, Matthew and Dr. ABC journey across the Great Sand Sea in a camel caravan unaware of the perils-both human and otherworldly-that await them. Overtaken by slave traders, Matthew and the doctor must call upon all of their knowledge and wit to save themselves and some unfortunate others from disaster.

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From School Library Journal:

Grade 5-8-In this sequel to Skullduggery (Hyperion, 2000), Matthew and Dr. Asa B. Cornwall are off on an adventure to find the skull of Alexander the Great. The time period is the early 1840s. Dr. Cornwall is a phrenologist who needs the skulls of men in history to confirm his theories about head shape and personality traits. As they travel across the Sahara in a camel caravan, they are taken prisoner by a band of Tuaregs who deal in slaves. Soon afterward, the boy and his mentor come upon an Arab caravan that is actually transporting slaves on foot to Tripoli. By the very last page, almost everything is satisfactorily resolved; however, the door is left open for another sequel. This is historical fiction that goes down very easily. Matthew rivals Indiana Jones for getting himself into and out of trouble. There is a great deal of desert lore, information on the slave trade, and even a cameo appearance by the famous magician Robert-Houdin. Unfortunately, the book does not stand alone. It merely takes up where Skullduggery left off, and too many allusions to the earlier story pepper the book. Also, there is no author's note to explain phrenology or its historical significance. Still, this is a terrific adventure story for fans of the first title, and readers will enjoy the excitement engendered by a larger-than-life hero and a great supporting cast.
Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:

The sequel to Skullduggery, which PW called "part 19th-century history lesson and all entertainment," Bone Dry by Kathleen Karr chronicles the further adventures of Matthew Morrissey, young apprentice to phrenologist Dr. ABC (aka Asa B. Cornwall). Here, the duo travels to 1840s Africa in search of the skull of Alexander the Great. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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