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The Monster's Bones (Young Readers Edition): The Discovery of T. Rex and How It Shook Our World
T. Rex.
One of the most iconic and fearsome creatures to ever walk the Earth. But how did the King of the Dinosaurs come to dominate our culture millennia after its extinction?
In this engaging young readers edition of The Monster’s Bones, David K. Randall journeys from prehistory to present day on a gripping, gritty expedition through the history of one of the world’s greatest scientific discoveries. At its heart are two men from vastly different socialite Henry Fairfield Osborn, the president of the fledgling—and struggling—American Museum of Natural History, and intrepid fossil hunter Barnum Brown, who blazed a path out of his small-town life in Kansas with an uncanny gift for uncovering dinosaur bones. When Brown digs up the first Tyrannosaurus rex in 1902, he sets in motion a ruthless race between millionaires, museums, cowboys, and bounty hunters eager to unearth the most formidable dinosaur in history for themselves. With the nation’s public in a frenzy over the discovery of this colossal creature, Brown and Osborn know that whoever claims the bones of the king first reigns supreme.
Compelling and immersive, The Monster’s Bones reveals how a monster of a bygone era ignited new understanding of our planet’s history and our place within it.
One of the most iconic and fearsome creatures to ever walk the Earth. But how did the King of the Dinosaurs come to dominate our culture millennia after its extinction?
In this engaging young readers edition of The Monster’s Bones, David K. Randall journeys from prehistory to present day on a gripping, gritty expedition through the history of one of the world’s greatest scientific discoveries. At its heart are two men from vastly different socialite Henry Fairfield Osborn, the president of the fledgling—and struggling—American Museum of Natural History, and intrepid fossil hunter Barnum Brown, who blazed a path out of his small-town life in Kansas with an uncanny gift for uncovering dinosaur bones. When Brown digs up the first Tyrannosaurus rex in 1902, he sets in motion a ruthless race between millionaires, museums, cowboys, and bounty hunters eager to unearth the most formidable dinosaur in history for themselves. With the nation’s public in a frenzy over the discovery of this colossal creature, Brown and Osborn know that whoever claims the bones of the king first reigns supreme.
Compelling and immersive, The Monster’s Bones reveals how a monster of a bygone era ignited new understanding of our planet’s history and our place within it.
- GenresNonfiction
Audible Audio
Published October 24, 2023
23 people want to read
About the author
David K. Randall
10 books89 followersDavid K. Randall is a senior reporter at Reuters and has also written for Forbes, the New York Times, and New York magazine. He is an adjunct professor of journalism at New York University and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 6, 2023
“The Monster’s Bones: The Discovery of T-Rex and How it Shook Our World” is David K. Randolph’s brilliantly told story of the golden age in American archeology that led to discovery in Hell Creek, Montana of the fossilized Tyrannosaurus Rex that astonished the world.
It’s a perfect story for young and adult readers as the author tells interesting tales of archeologists vying with each other to make the most astounding discoveries, but the main protagonist is Barnum “Dr. Bones” Brown, a paleontologist sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History who led an expedition in 1902 to Hell Creek where he unearthed T-Rex.
The book includes black-and-white photos of T-Rex and Triceratops skeletons on display, but as it’s intended for young readers, some illustrations imagining T-Rex and Triceratops duking it out in a primordial swamp millions of years ago would have been nice.
I highly recommend at 5 out of 5 stars!
It’s a perfect story for young and adult readers as the author tells interesting tales of archeologists vying with each other to make the most astounding discoveries, but the main protagonist is Barnum “Dr. Bones” Brown, a paleontologist sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History who led an expedition in 1902 to Hell Creek where he unearthed T-Rex.
The book includes black-and-white photos of T-Rex and Triceratops skeletons on display, but as it’s intended for young readers, some illustrations imagining T-Rex and Triceratops duking it out in a primordial swamp millions of years ago would have been nice.
I highly recommend at 5 out of 5 stars!
October 29, 2024
A comprehensive overview of the quest to uncover dinosaur fossils in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
While several parts of the text were highly intresting and fascinating to learn about, younger readers may be confused by the jumbled narrative. While Barnum Brown is the main historical figure tracked throughout this book, his life story and timeline are interrupted at several points with detailed historical backgrounds and the thoughts/ actions of other people influential in the pursuit of collecting dinosaurs.
Readers just reading for information about the discovery of the T. Rex might want to consider just skipping to the end, since there's a few decades worth of history covered before the tyrant lizard king makes its debut.
A solid next read for the middle or high school student passionate about the history of bone-collecting in your life.
While several parts of the text were highly intresting and fascinating to learn about, younger readers may be confused by the jumbled narrative. While Barnum Brown is the main historical figure tracked throughout this book, his life story and timeline are interrupted at several points with detailed historical backgrounds and the thoughts/ actions of other people influential in the pursuit of collecting dinosaurs.
Readers just reading for information about the discovery of the T. Rex might want to consider just skipping to the end, since there's a few decades worth of history covered before the tyrant lizard king makes its debut.
A solid next read for the middle or high school student passionate about the history of bone-collecting in your life.
January 1, 2024
This is an abridged version, adapted for younger readers, and is a great read for anyone with a serious interest in dinosaurs and the history of fossil-hunting and one of its leaders, Barnum Brown. It briefly covers the "Bone Wars" and the fierce competition among fossil hunters, collectors, and museums.
May 3, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss
This is a deep dive into the life of scientists who worked to uncover dinosaur artifacts and would be great for readers who want a LOT Of details.
This is a deep dive into the life of scientists who worked to uncover dinosaur artifacts and would be great for readers who want a LOT Of details.
June 2, 2025
Great story.
April 30, 2023
There's quite a bit of really interesting and educational information in The Monster's Bones. I found it kind of neat, but my kids? Not so much.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews