Human Migration

July 11, 2016
“The story of human migration is an old tale, far older than the written world,” explains Cummings in this exploration of the global movements of people throughout history, part of the Inquire and Investigate series. Alongside playful comic strip entries from Casteel, Cummings looks at migratory patterns that include early Homo sapiens leaving Africa, scientific debate over how humans traveled from Asia to Australia, and the colonization of the New World. Throughout, Cummings notes how archaeological finds shed light on people’s patterns of movement and highlights the motivations behind migration, whether forced or voluntary. Sidebars, reader-directed questions, and activity ideas offer additional ways for readers to consider how recent instances of migration from countries like Syria compare to those from centuries past. A timely and useful resource. Ages 12–15.

July 1, 2016

Gr 7-10-An ambitious look at human migration from prehistory through the current Syrian refugee crisis. Throughout seven chapters, four of which cover prehistoric times, the author presents facts and theories about how the first humans made it to each continent and how and why they have migrated since. In addition to the main narrative, sidebars (some with embedded QR codes) are also included. Each chapter concludes with suggested hands-on activities, a vocabulary review, and thought-provoking questions. The supplemental links provided in the QR codes enhance the text; a YouTube clip of a man from the San people group speaking his language is engaging and relevant. All of the links are provided in the back matter. Regrettably, awkward transitions within and between chapters make it difficult to focus on the topics discussed. Though meant to bring levity to a weighty subject, the cartoon illustrations are juvenile in contrast to most of the text, and the lack of references for statistical data and personal interviews hinders students wanting to do further research. VERDICT Even with the captivating links provided by the author, the absence of source attribution and the uneven writing limit the book's appeal.-Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY

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