House of Rain

February 15, 2007
Childs ("The Secret Knowledge of Water") guides readers on an enthralling journey across ancient trailways to the ruins of the Anasazi peoples, whose civilization spanned the Southwestern American desert from the 11th through the 13th centuries. Beginning at the monumental cultural center of Chaco Canyon, where the Anasazi flourished, Childs's quest to understand their apparent disappearance leads him to the numerous great houses of New Mexico, such as Pueblo Bonito, to the Four Corners area of northeastern Arizona, southern Colorado and Utah, and beyond to northern Mexico. In these places, he identifies features that had not appeared prior to the apparent abandonment of Chaco (thus implying that the Anasazi migrated to these areas). Childs vividly weaves his personal narrative, imbued with a deep respect for the geography and cultural landscape, with scientific research and numerous interactions with foremost scholars. Black-and-white photos and an extensive bibliography increase the book's value. Recommended for all collections in Southwestern and Native American studies.Michelle Mittrach Garcia, San Diego State Univ. Lib. & Information Access, CA

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2007
Although less well known than the Mayans, the Anasazi, who flourished in the region now known as New Mexico, also vanished without a trace. Now, eight centuries after their thriving, 2,000-year-old civilization disappeared as though it had never existed, naturalist and adventurer Childs undertakes to find out where the Anasazi went and why. But discovering the fate of an entire race of people, 800 years after the fact, is not like tracking down a missing person. Childs' investigation relies heavily on scholarly literature, oral tradition, and lots of reading between the lines of history. There are no definitive answers here, but Childs ask plenty of tantalizing questions. The book is finally not so much about what happened to the Anasazi as it is about our own fascination with lost civilizations.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)