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Peggy Henderson Adventure #3
Bone Deep
An expedition to investigate an old sunken ship teaches Peggy lessons about herself.
When archaeologists discover a two-hundred-year-old shipwreck, Peggy Henderson decides she’ll do whatever it takes to take part in the expedition. But first she needs to convince her mom to let her go, and to pay for scuba diving lessons. To complicate matters even more, Peggy’s Great Aunt Beatrix comes to stay, and she’s bent on changing Peggy from a twelve-year-old adventure-seeking tomboy to a proper young lady. Help comes in the most unlikely of places when Peggy gets her hands on a copy of the captain’s log from the doomed ship, which holds the key to navigating stormy relationships.
When archaeologists discover a two-hundred-year-old shipwreck, Peggy Henderson decides she’ll do whatever it takes to take part in the expedition. But first she needs to convince her mom to let her go, and to pay for scuba diving lessons. To complicate matters even more, Peggy’s Great Aunt Beatrix comes to stay, and she’s bent on changing Peggy from a twelve-year-old adventure-seeking tomboy to a proper young lady. Help comes in the most unlikely of places when Peggy gets her hands on a copy of the captain’s log from the doomed ship, which holds the key to navigating stormy relationships.
176 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2014
1 person is currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Gina McMurchy-Barber
10 books11 followersGina McMurchy-Barber is an award winning Canadian author. Her books are favourites with teachers and librarians looking for stories that will touch the heart. Her latest book, The Jigsaw Puzzle King, was the winner of the 2021 Silver Birch Award and is nominated for three more awards in 2022. It's the story of 11 year old Warren coming to terms with how society judges his brother who has Down syndrome. Anyone with a family member with any kind of exceptionality will relate.
Gina's archaeology adventure series brings history to life. Themes include First Nations, building the railroad, fur trade, Vikings and more.
Gina's other passions in life include animals (she was a research assistant in Borneo with Birute Galdikas, studying orangutans), archaeology (she earned her degree from Simon Fraser University), writing (she is working on her eighth book for kids), and teaching (she has been a classroom teacher for over twenty years, and writes plays and stories that inspire her students.)
Gina started writing while studying archaeology at university. This led her to study journalism and become a freelance writer. After the birth of her two sons she discovered the amazing world of children's books.
In 2004 Gina received the Governor General's Award for Teaching Excellence in Canadian History. Since then she has been nominated for the Governor General's Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association Book Award, BC Book Prize, Saskatchewan's Willow Awards, the Silver Birch Awards, Hackmatack and various other book awards.
Gina's books incorporate her love of history, archaeology, children and animals. She continues to teach and visit schools to talk about her work.
Gina's archaeology adventure series brings history to life. Themes include First Nations, building the railroad, fur trade, Vikings and more.
Gina's other passions in life include animals (she was a research assistant in Borneo with Birute Galdikas, studying orangutans), archaeology (she earned her degree from Simon Fraser University), writing (she is working on her eighth book for kids), and teaching (she has been a classroom teacher for over twenty years, and writes plays and stories that inspire her students.)
Gina started writing while studying archaeology at university. This led her to study journalism and become a freelance writer. After the birth of her two sons she discovered the amazing world of children's books.
In 2004 Gina received the Governor General's Award for Teaching Excellence in Canadian History. Since then she has been nominated for the Governor General's Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association Book Award, BC Book Prize, Saskatchewan's Willow Awards, the Silver Birch Awards, Hackmatack and various other book awards.
Gina's books incorporate her love of history, archaeology, children and animals. She continues to teach and visit schools to talk about her work.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 30, 2015
Bone Deep by Gina McMurchy-Barber is a middle grade novel, and the third book in the Peggy Henderson adventure series. I have not read the previous books, and while I suspect they offer a broader knowledge of the characters it does not seem absolutely necessary to read the series in order.
When archaeologists discover a two-hundred-year-old shipwreck, Peggy Henderson decides she’ll do whatever it takes to take part in the expedition. But first she needs to convince her mom to let her go, and to pay for scuba diving lessons. To complicate matters even more, Peggy’s Great Aunt Beatrix comes to stay, and she’s bent on changing Peggy from a twelve-year-old adventure-seeking tomboy to a proper young lady. Help comes in the most unlikely of places when Peggy gets her hands on a copy of the captain’s log from the doomed ship, which holds the key to navigating stormy relationships.
Bone Deep is one of those great middle grade novels that are high on adventure and understanding the mind of the young characters while also teaching. Peggy is a tomboy, always wearing her favorite jersey and nonchalant about her hair. she is more interested in hanging out with her best friend and archeology than anything ladylike. so when her great Aunt Beatrix come to stay with them, just as she has engineered an opportunity to take part in an underwater excavation she thinks everything is ruined. Readers get to join Peggy as she conspires to get her SCUBA certification, goes through cl;asses, and dives. We get to read along as she explores the diary of a sea captain and negotiates family relationships and personal responsibility. I felt like Peggy was a very realistic character, and the things she learns and explores throughout her adventure will stick with readers, because you never know what small piece of information would be useful later in the story.
I would recommend Bone Deep for middle grade readers that enjoy adventure, mystery, and/or science. The combination of a head strong main character and real history and science make for an engrossing tale that will have even reluctant readers turning pages happily.
When archaeologists discover a two-hundred-year-old shipwreck, Peggy Henderson decides she’ll do whatever it takes to take part in the expedition. But first she needs to convince her mom to let her go, and to pay for scuba diving lessons. To complicate matters even more, Peggy’s Great Aunt Beatrix comes to stay, and she’s bent on changing Peggy from a twelve-year-old adventure-seeking tomboy to a proper young lady. Help comes in the most unlikely of places when Peggy gets her hands on a copy of the captain’s log from the doomed ship, which holds the key to navigating stormy relationships.
Bone Deep is one of those great middle grade novels that are high on adventure and understanding the mind of the young characters while also teaching. Peggy is a tomboy, always wearing her favorite jersey and nonchalant about her hair. she is more interested in hanging out with her best friend and archeology than anything ladylike. so when her great Aunt Beatrix come to stay with them, just as she has engineered an opportunity to take part in an underwater excavation she thinks everything is ruined. Readers get to join Peggy as she conspires to get her SCUBA certification, goes through cl;asses, and dives. We get to read along as she explores the diary of a sea captain and negotiates family relationships and personal responsibility. I felt like Peggy was a very realistic character, and the things she learns and explores throughout her adventure will stick with readers, because you never know what small piece of information would be useful later in the story.
I would recommend Bone Deep for middle grade readers that enjoy adventure, mystery, and/or science. The combination of a head strong main character and real history and science make for an engrossing tale that will have even reluctant readers turning pages happily.
August 30, 2022
Bone Deep is the third novel of the Peggy Henderson Archaeology series, and to my mind, is the strongest of the three. While the story still has some plot holes, including the whopper of why a thirteen year old is invited to accompany a team of archaeologists to a crucial underwater site (can a 13 year old be PADI certified anyway?) off the coast of Port Hardy, and the characters remain fairly hollow and predictable stereotypes, it does roll along considerably more smoothly than either Reading the Bones or Broken Bones.
A field trip to the Vancouver Maritime Museum in Kitsilano kick-starts Peggy’s interest in underwater archaeology. A phone call to her friend, Dr. Eddy McKay, puts her on the path to an introduction to another SFU Prof, one Dr. Philip Hunter, head of underwater archaeology… and somehow, she’s got an invite to accompany them on a pilot expedition to the northern tip of Vancouver Island on a very exciting and sensitive underwater dig. And that's just because she’s an interested 13 year old archaeology enthusiast. She lies about having SCUBA training to secure the offer.
No. I mean, NO. There’s no way in hell Simon Fraser University is going to be able to get insurance to cover an underage, non-student to go wreck diving in the open ocean (okay, the strait - but there are serious currents up there!) on a whim. Or that a senior prof would even think to invite some unproven, underage stranger along to get in the way of potentially the most exciting project in decades, having met her once for a few minutes in his office. Or to happily squander a place better occupied by any other uni student, even a marine biologist if push came to shove, on the research vessel and tax-payer’s money to do so. They aren’t even shorthanded or desperate for help, either. This is just too much for me. Eddy McKay isn’t even going on the expedition, nor is she involved with the project. If Peggy had been the daughter of the professor who was doing the dive, then through nepotism and the fact that her parent was in charge of all liability… well even that would be a stretch! Can you imagine? A teenage girl, alone on a research ship with a bunch of strangers for weeks? University HR departments exist for many reasons. I can think of six off the top of my head in regards to this proposition alone. No way. So there’s that, and then all the other real-world reasons why this would never fly. Peggy’s schooling, for one. I know you have to suspend disbelief to enjoy fiction and fantasy, but there really should have been a better effort made to make this somewhat more believable. Couldn’t the newly introduced relative du jour have at least been the owner of the trawler or something?! I mean, yeesh. Speaking of which...
There’s a new aunt (one introduced per book, at this rate), a great aunt named Beatrix, who is yet another rigid disciplinarian relation and somewhat comic (I wanted to hate her as a character, but she seemed more real than the others – I’m betting she’s based on a real person). Tornado, the idiotic sailing instructor who “looks like a hot dog”, makes his return as a SCUBA instructor, to similar effect (I think he’s meant to be comic relief?). Thorbert (“TB”), the kid I didn’t see a point to at all in book 1, is back as a forgettable sidekick at home in Crescent Beach (I suppose they’ve moved in somewhat permanently with disagreeable Aunt Margaret and submissive Uncle Stuart?).
There’s a grievous error in the opening pages, referring back to Broken Bones, where it describes Golden, B.C. as being located in Northern British Columbia, which got me well hot under the collar. How did that glaring error get by both author and editor?! It would hardly register as “central” B.C. – even Google refers to it as being located in “South-eastern British Columbia”! Low on the typos in general, however, which I do appreciate. But seriously – not knowing where in Beautiful B.C. Golden is was unforgivable, especially since book two was set there.
The moral of this story, and it did come across as somewhat preachy, was that Peggy’s character mattered, and that human relic that is Great Aunt Beatrix did actually teach her something useful after all (to take care of her conduct, tell the truth, learn from and own up to mistakes, to never quit, etc.). Of course, Peggy’s a total moron, and unfortunately, due to her indiscretion and impulsiveness and general immaturity (she is THIRTEEN years old, after all), makes several errors which negatively impacts the expedition and its crew, the consequences of which range from rendering the ship's toilet facilities inoperative, to tampering with the ship's radio and blabbing to the press. Of course, her spunk then later saves the day, and by the end she’s invited back to next year’s dig.
I liked the historical backstory of the fur traders and crew and compliment of the doomed The Intrepid better than the historical content of the previous book. Taken together, I felt that this was the strongest Peggy Henderson book yet. I still can’t wholeheartedly say I liked it, though.
A field trip to the Vancouver Maritime Museum in Kitsilano kick-starts Peggy’s interest in underwater archaeology. A phone call to her friend, Dr. Eddy McKay, puts her on the path to an introduction to another SFU Prof, one Dr. Philip Hunter, head of underwater archaeology… and somehow, she’s got an invite to accompany them on a pilot expedition to the northern tip of Vancouver Island on a very exciting and sensitive underwater dig. And that's just because she’s an interested 13 year old archaeology enthusiast. She lies about having SCUBA training to secure the offer.
No. I mean, NO. There’s no way in hell Simon Fraser University is going to be able to get insurance to cover an underage, non-student to go wreck diving in the open ocean (okay, the strait - but there are serious currents up there!) on a whim. Or that a senior prof would even think to invite some unproven, underage stranger along to get in the way of potentially the most exciting project in decades, having met her once for a few minutes in his office. Or to happily squander a place better occupied by any other uni student, even a marine biologist if push came to shove, on the research vessel and tax-payer’s money to do so. They aren’t even shorthanded or desperate for help, either. This is just too much for me. Eddy McKay isn’t even going on the expedition, nor is she involved with the project. If Peggy had been the daughter of the professor who was doing the dive, then through nepotism and the fact that her parent was in charge of all liability… well even that would be a stretch! Can you imagine? A teenage girl, alone on a research ship with a bunch of strangers for weeks? University HR departments exist for many reasons. I can think of six off the top of my head in regards to this proposition alone. No way. So there’s that, and then all the other real-world reasons why this would never fly. Peggy’s schooling, for one. I know you have to suspend disbelief to enjoy fiction and fantasy, but there really should have been a better effort made to make this somewhat more believable. Couldn’t the newly introduced relative du jour have at least been the owner of the trawler or something?! I mean, yeesh. Speaking of which...
There’s a new aunt (one introduced per book, at this rate), a great aunt named Beatrix, who is yet another rigid disciplinarian relation and somewhat comic (I wanted to hate her as a character, but she seemed more real than the others – I’m betting she’s based on a real person). Tornado, the idiotic sailing instructor who “looks like a hot dog”, makes his return as a SCUBA instructor, to similar effect (I think he’s meant to be comic relief?). Thorbert (“TB”), the kid I didn’t see a point to at all in book 1, is back as a forgettable sidekick at home in Crescent Beach (I suppose they’ve moved in somewhat permanently with disagreeable Aunt Margaret and submissive Uncle Stuart?).
There’s a grievous error in the opening pages, referring back to Broken Bones, where it describes Golden, B.C. as being located in Northern British Columbia, which got me well hot under the collar. How did that glaring error get by both author and editor?! It would hardly register as “central” B.C. – even Google refers to it as being located in “South-eastern British Columbia”! Low on the typos in general, however, which I do appreciate. But seriously – not knowing where in Beautiful B.C. Golden is was unforgivable, especially since book two was set there.
The moral of this story, and it did come across as somewhat preachy, was that Peggy’s character mattered, and that human relic that is Great Aunt Beatrix did actually teach her something useful after all (to take care of her conduct, tell the truth, learn from and own up to mistakes, to never quit, etc.). Of course, Peggy’s a total moron, and unfortunately, due to her indiscretion and impulsiveness and general immaturity (she is THIRTEEN years old, after all), makes several errors which negatively impacts the expedition and its crew, the consequences of which range from rendering the ship's toilet facilities inoperative, to tampering with the ship's radio and blabbing to the press. Of course, her spunk then later saves the day, and by the end she’s invited back to next year’s dig.
I liked the historical backstory of the fur traders and crew and compliment of the doomed The Intrepid better than the historical content of the previous book. Taken together, I felt that this was the strongest Peggy Henderson book yet. I still can’t wholeheartedly say I liked it, though.
April 2, 2019
It's as if this story really kicked in past page 94. I groaned on that page when I read 'Eddy pulled up to the peer' which should have read pier. Serious errors for a children's book. I stayed the course, much like Peggy's Aunt Bea lectured. Glad I did.
Onwards from page 94 not only does the archeological dig underwater become very interesting but Peggy becomes a different and more likeable girl especially once she got onboard the trawler with the dive team anxious to get busy finding The Inrepid, a ship that sunk in 1812 off the coast of Vancouver Island's northern tip. Still covering up things like busting the head and not fessing up to it, Peggy actually is more respectful of the captain and crew than she is with her own family, and while that is disturbing in itself, she shows signs of maturing, being responsible and considerate of others rather than putting herself first.
The author really shines on historical details, underwater description of marking artifacts for later retrieval and marine life.
Rough first half, much improved second half. The characters lose their stiffness and Peggy's mom, and aunts become more dimensional in the last two chapters. Took a long time for this to happen in only 176 pages.
Onwards from page 94 not only does the archeological dig underwater become very interesting but Peggy becomes a different and more likeable girl especially once she got onboard the trawler with the dive team anxious to get busy finding The Inrepid, a ship that sunk in 1812 off the coast of Vancouver Island's northern tip. Still covering up things like busting the head and not fessing up to it, Peggy actually is more respectful of the captain and crew than she is with her own family, and while that is disturbing in itself, she shows signs of maturing, being responsible and considerate of others rather than putting herself first.
The author really shines on historical details, underwater description of marking artifacts for later retrieval and marine life.
Rough first half, much improved second half. The characters lose their stiffness and Peggy's mom, and aunts become more dimensional in the last two chapters. Took a long time for this to happen in only 176 pages.
January 28, 2015
Bone Deep is the third in the Peggy Henderson adventure series by Gina McMurchy-Barber. Peggy is an enquiring but disrespectful 12 year old who is passionate about archaeology. In this novel, she wangles her way into scuba diving lessons in order to be taken on as crew to help discover a 200 year old shipwreck. Along the way, however, her determination to live her passion gets in the way of the truth. Her lying eventually lands her in trouble.
As in earlier books there is a second story line (my favourite part), set at the time of the people researched, that parallels the present. In this case, it takes the form of excerpts from the captain's log from the doomed 200 year old ship.
Bone Deep is a book for middle grade readers who like history and/or archeology or who just like a fun tale.
As in earlier books there is a second story line (my favourite part), set at the time of the people researched, that parallels the present. In this case, it takes the form of excerpts from the captain's log from the doomed 200 year old ship.
Bone Deep is a book for middle grade readers who like history and/or archeology or who just like a fun tale.
July 2, 2014
i recieved a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
find more of this review and other reviews on my blog at http://thenerdyprincessbookreviews.bl...
I didn’t think I would like this book because of all the history and reading a journal of a captain whose boat sunk. But the author kept the book entertaining and there was always something going on.
Peggy is your average 13 year old girl. I felt bad for her and hanging out with her Aunt B, but also what routing for her to get her lessons and go out and explore with the archaeologists.
I was a little disappointed not knowing if Aunt B got together with the gentleman caller she was after, but all in all a great middle school age book or maybe 5th grade book.
find more of this review and other reviews on my blog at http://thenerdyprincessbookreviews.bl...
I didn’t think I would like this book because of all the history and reading a journal of a captain whose boat sunk. But the author kept the book entertaining and there was always something going on.
Peggy is your average 13 year old girl. I felt bad for her and hanging out with her Aunt B, but also what routing for her to get her lessons and go out and explore with the archaeologists.
I was a little disappointed not knowing if Aunt B got together with the gentleman caller she was after, but all in all a great middle school age book or maybe 5th grade book.
December 8, 2014
'Bone Deep' is an interesting adventure story geared for early teens. Peggy, an aspiring archaeologist, learns that one can become a deep water archaeologist and immediately signs up for Scuba lessons! Throughout the book Peggy pushes back on authority, but also discovers there can be consequences to pushing back. On the whole Peggy is portrayed as a typical thirteen-year old who is inquisitive, eager to learn, and not too keen on working! As an adult reader, I'm a little hit-and-miss on Peggy's behaviour at times; however, I doubt this would be a problem with most young readers.
'Bone Deep' would be a good book to purchase an adventure-loving young reader in your home.
'Bone Deep' would be a good book to purchase an adventure-loving young reader in your home.
January 11, 2015
Awesome book. So refreshing and reminiscent of Nancy Drew.
I enjoyed this book much more than I expected. It's not only a very unique story, focused on marine archaeology and a determined young lady.
I didn't like how she continued to lie instead of coming clean, but at the end that was resolved in a way that made sense. Peggy is a whirlwind, head strong, determined and a breath of fresh air. The writing is fast paced, striking a good balance between diving, ship wrecks, an old captain's log and present day life.
well worth the read and highly recommended.
I enjoyed this book much more than I expected. It's not only a very unique story, focused on marine archaeology and a determined young lady.
I didn't like how she continued to lie instead of coming clean, but at the end that was resolved in a way that made sense. Peggy is a whirlwind, head strong, determined and a breath of fresh air. The writing is fast paced, striking a good balance between diving, ship wrecks, an old captain's log and present day life.
well worth the read and highly recommended.
July 7, 2015
I got this book in a GoodReads giveaway and I'm so happy I did because it was great! This is a perfect book for intermediate students and it would be great for teachers to use in the classroom! It has a great adventure story for reluctant readers and exciting non-fiction components that can be expanded on and researched further. Great book!!!
March 10, 2014
A teenager book about a special teenager. Manages some lire lessons in an unobtrusive way and some interesting history as we'll. lots of fun
May 15, 2014
Spunky teenager Peggy has another exciting adventure -- this one to the rollicking high seas!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews