Review
"The heart of this book is surprisingly dark, intricate and thought-provoking...Impressive!--Lucy Banks, author of the Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural series"The plot is well-developed, full of twists and turns, and keeps the reader interested. Readers who like mystery, historical fiction, and horror will enjoy reading this book."--Jessica, Goodreads review"This story recounts some fairly heavy aspects of life in the 19th century: what those without money must do to survive, the restrictions on those of color. It also introduces one which kids have probably never heard of, grave robbing. These themes are woven together with the mystery in a way that made this story really very interesting."--Amazon review"This is going to be a perfect addition to my classroom! It's written at a middle school reading level but includes plenty of gruesome and fantastic details to keep the reader intrigued. It's historic and addresses an aspect of 19th-century history that isn't often shown in young adult fiction. My kids will love reading this one."--Amazon review
"The Grave Digger by Rebecca Bischoff is one middle grade historical novel I would recommend for families without hesitation...Cap's family relationships, friendships, and talents give him a depth of character that is relatable for young readers who find their world becoming increasingly complicated. The book is also just scary enough for those young readers who love to be kept on the edge of their seat.--B. Williams, Amazon review
"The Grave Digger by Rebecca Bischoff is an awesome middle grade book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This is such a good book...There is suspense, great mysteries, action, hope, despair, friendship, and just a dash of paranormal!--Montzalee Wittman, NetGalley review"The Grave Digger lands precisely on the right tone. It is scary without descending into the demonic. It feels historically accurate without becoming pedantic. The Grave Digger deftly touches on the role of women and African-Americans in post-Civil War society."--Adam Christiansen, NetGalley review
"The grave digger is a rich, moving historical novel. Rebecca does a fantastic job with Cap - his voice is clear, and he has a real depth to his character as he learns and grows. Rebecca's research into historical elements adds depth to the setting and the characters."--Spring, Amazon review
"Rebecca Bischoff does a fantastic of weaving this story so that you feel like you are back in time and right there next to Cap. With every revelation that Cap discovered, my heart froze and I gasped out loud. The scare factor was very high and the anticipation of what would happen next was out the roof. I loved everything about this story and I cannot wait to get several copies of this in my library."--Laurie, Goodreads review
From the Author
I had so much fun doing research for this book. I learned some fascinating and rather dark details about American history, including the fact that stealing bodies from graves, or "body snatching," was a fairly common occurrence in the Eastern United States before and after the Civil War era, even up to the early 1900's. Students who attended medical schools needed fresh cadavers to dissect in order to pass their anatomy classes, and sometimes schools actually required their students to find a way to obtain the bodies on their own! The people who stole bodies from graves to sell to medical schools were called "resurrectionists" and they made what was considered to be very good money. Of course, such sales were done in secret. It was a common fear that a recently departed loved one would end up stolen and sold to medical schools, so many people kept vigil over the graves for several days until the danger of body snatching was past. (Bodies needed to be fresh, of course, for dissection and research). In Ohio, a watchmaker named Thomas Howell actually invented a "grave torpedo," a device designed to foil would-be robbers from stealing a body. It's advertised in an 1879 newspaper, as are other devices such as "snatcher-proof" iron coffins. For interesting facts about resurrectionists in the United States, read "Body Snatching" by Suzanne M. Shultz. Also try checking out newspaper archives from the 1800's. Chances are you'll find references to incidents of body snatching, especially in cities where medical schools were located.
From the Back Cover
In 1875 Ohio, twelve-year-old Cap Cooper is an aspiring inventor--and a reluctant graverobber--enlisted by his father to help pay for his mother's medical expenses. When one of the dead returns to life at his touch, Cap unearths a world of dark secrets that someone at the local medical school wants to keep buried. He'll have to use every ounce of cunning he has to protect those he loves most and save his own skin.
About the Author
Rebecca Bischoff is the author of five books including: "The French Impressionist," a contemporary YA novel, "The Grave Digger," a middle grade historical fiction mystery set in the Civil War era, "Hole in the Rock," a humorous middle grade novel, and "Streets of Shadow," a historical YA mystery set in 17th century Scotland. Both "The Grave Digger" and "Hole in the Rock" were honored as finalists in the Best Book Awards for 2019 and 2021, respectively. "Streets of Shadow" was recently honored with a silver medal in the Reader's Choice Awards of 2023. A new historical middle grade novel, "The Summer of Mud," is being released in May, 2024. Rebecca is an avid reader, Netflix binge-watcher and chocolate eater. She lives in Idaho with her family.
