Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing: : Adventures in Discovering News-Making Connections, Unexpected Ancestors, and Long-Hidden Secrets, and Solving Historical Puzzles

You've heard of the Dog Whisperer? Meet the Ancestor Rescuer. Part forensic scientist, part master sleuth, Megan Smolenyak has solved some of America's oldest and most fascinating genealogical mysteries. You've read the headlines; now get the inside story as the "Indiana Jones of genealogy" reveals how she cracked her news-making cases, became the face of this increasingly popular field--and redefined history along the way. How did Smolenyak discover Barack Obama's Irish ancestry--and his relation to Brad Pitt? Or the journey of Michelle Obama's family from slavery to the White House? Or the startling links between outspoken politicians Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond? And why is Smolenyak's name squared? Test your own skills as she shares her exciting secrets. Whether she's scouring websites to uncover the surprising connections between famous figures or using cutting-edge DNA tests to locate family members of fallen soldiers dating back to the Civil War, Smolenyak's historical sleuthing is as provocative, richly layered, and exciting as America itself. "Thank you for taking the time to lay out our family map. . . You're practically family. You certainly know more about us than we do." –Stephen Colbert "Megan is a genealogist's dream, a forensic investigator who can also tell a great story." –Sam Roberts, The New York Times "Megan is a blessing to cold case detectives and a master genealogist." –Julie M. Haney, special agent, NCIS Cold Case Homicide Unit "The Indiana Jones of genealogy. . . Megan Smolenyak is a national treasure." –Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree "In this breezy narrative, Smolenyak allows us to look over the shoulder of a relentless genealogist as she works the puzzle pieces of her craft. Whether unearthing evidence from Internet databases, newspaper offices, court houses, libraries and cemeteries, consulting translators, historians or her vast network of fellow genealogists, pioneering the use of genealogical DNA testing, solving the mystery or occasionally hitting a brick wall, Smolenyak remains wholly committed, curious and cheery, eager to share her methods and excitement. Bottom-up history from a top-shelf researcher."-Kirkus Review Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Citadel; Original edition (February 1, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 080653446X ISBN-13: 978-0806534466 You've heard of the Dog Whisperer? Meet the Ancestor Rescuer. Part forensic scientist, part master sleuth, Megan Smolenyak has solved some of America's oldest and most fascinating genealogical mysteries. You've read the headlines; now get the inside story as the "Indiana Jones of genealogy" reveals how she cracked her news-making cases, became the face of this increasingly popular field?and redefined history along the way. How did Smolenyak discover Barack Obama's Irish ancestry?and his relation to Brad Pitt? Or the journey of Michelle Obama's family from slavery to the White House? Or the startling links between outspoken politicians Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond? And why is Smolenyak's name squared? Test your own skills as she shares her exciting secrets. Whether she's scouring websites to uncover the surprising connections between famous figures or using cutting-edge DNA tests to locate family members of fallen soldiers dating back to the Civil War, Smolenyak's historical sleuthing is as provocative, richly layered, and exciting as America itself. "Thank you for taking the time to lay out our family map. . . You're practically family. You certainly know more about us than we do." ?Stephen Colbert "Megan is a genealogist's dream, a forensic investigator who can also tell a great story." ?Sam Roberts, The New York Times "Megan is a blessing to cold case detectives and a master genealogist." ?Julie M. Haney, special agent, NCIS Cold Case Homicide Unit "The Indiana Jones of genealogy. . . Megan Smolenyak is a national treasure." ?Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree "In this breezy narrative, Smolenyak allows us to look over the shoulder of a relentless genealogist as she works the puzzle pieces of her craft. Whether unearthing evidence from Internet databases, newspaper offices, court houses, libraries and cemeteries, consulting translators, historians or her vast network of fellow genealogists, pioneering the use of genealogical DNA testing, solving the mystery or occasionally hitting a brick wall, Smolenyak remains wholly committed, curious and cheery, eager to share her methods and excitement. Bottom-up history from a top-shelf researcher."-Kirkus Review Megan Smolenyak is an incurable genealogist who loves solving mysteries, making unexpected discoveries, and pushing the boundaries of conventional genealogy. A popular writer, speaker, and TV guest, she does all she can to get the g-word out there and inspire others in their quest for roots. She has appeared on Good Morning America, the Today show, CNN, NPR, and the BBC, and consulted on shows ranging from Who Do You Think You Are? to Top Chef. Megan is the author of six books (including Who Do You Think You Are? The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History, companion guide to the NBC series), a Huffington Post contributor, and former chief family historian and spokesperson for Ancestry.com. She lives in southern New Jersey with her husband and lots of research tools

You've heard of the Dog Whisperer? Meet the Ancestor Rescuer.

Part forensic scientist, part master sleuth, Megan Smolenyak2 has solved some of America's oldest and most fascinating genealogical mysteries. You've read the headlines; now get the inside story as the Indiana Jones of genealogy reveals how she cracked her news-making cases, became the face of this increasingly popular field-and redefined history along the way.

How did Smolenyak2 discover Barack Obama's Irish ancestry-and his relation to Brad Pitt? Or the journey of Michelle Obama's family from slavery to the White House? Or the startling links between outspoken politicians Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond? And why is Smolenyak2's name squared? Test your own skills as she shares her exciting secrets.

Whether she's scouring websites to uncover the surprising connections between famous figures or using cutting-edge DNA tests to locate family members of fallen soldiers dating back to the Civil War, Smolenyak2's historical sleuthing is as provocative, richly layered, and exciting as America itself.

Thank you for taking the time to lay out our family map. . . You're practically family. You certainly know more about us than we do. -Stephen Colbert

Megan is a genealogist's dream, a forensic investigator who can also tell a great story. -Sam Roberts, The New York Times

Megan is a blessing to cold case detectives and a master genealogist. -Julie M. Haney, special agent, NCIS Cold Case Homicide Unit

The Indiana Jones of genealogy. . . Megan Smolenyak is a national treasure. -Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree

Megan Smolenyak2 is an incurable genealogist who loves solving mysteries, making unexpected discoveries, and pushing the boundaries of conventional genealogy. A popular writer, speaker, and TV guest, she does all she can to get the g-word out there and inspire others in their quest for roots. She has appeared on Good Morning America, the Today show, CNN, NPR, and the BBC, and consulted on shows ranging from Who Do You Think You Are? to Top Chef.

Megan is the author of six books (including Who Do You Think You Are? The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History, companion guide to the NBC series), a Huffington Post contributor, and former chief family historian and spokesperson for Ancestry.com. She lives in southern New Jersey with her husband and lots of research tools.

The acclaimed genealogist and New York Times –bestselling author reveals how she solved some of the most fascinating mysteries of family lineage. Part forensic scientist, part master sleuth, Megan Smolenyak has a unique way of digging up our historical roots. She discovered Barack Obama's Irish ancestry—and his relation to Brad Pitt. She revealed the true story of Ellis Island's first immigrant, Annie Moore. And she shed light on a startling link between politicians Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond. In Hey America, Your Roots Are Showing , the "Indiana Jones of genealogy" reveals how she cracked these and other news-making cases. Along the way, she shares her own story of becoming genealogy's celebrity face. She even explains why her name is squared (Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree ). Whether she's scouring websites to uncover the surprising connections between famous figures or using cutting-edge DNA tests to locate family members of fallen soldiers dating back to the Civil War, Smolenyak's historical sleuthing is as provocative, richly layered, and exciting as America itself. "Megan is a genealogist's dream, a forensic investigator who can also tell a great story." —Sam Roberts, The New York Times No man left behind (for real) Famous cousins Serial centenarians Alex Haley was Scottish? Egyptian roots in a hurry A house divided, a Bible shared There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama Unclaimed persons Adventures in TV land Finding Melvina, Michelle Obama's great-great-great-grandmother The road to a First Lady's roots King of America Skeletons in the turret Anatomy of an adoption search The slave who rescued freedom No, your name wasn't changed at Ellis Island Paralyzed prostitute Half a negro boy A lonely tombstone on the sidewalks of Manhattan Grandma stepped out The call me Yak-yak Annie Moore, Ellis Island's first. Hit shows like "Who Do You Think You Are?" and "History Detectives" demonstrate that people are fascinated by family origins. Here, America's top genealogist reveals how she's made headlines solving genealogical puzzles with entertaining, revealing, and controversial candor. A noted genealogist reveals what it is like to be a history detective using twenty-first-century techniques and technology, and discusses some of the cases she has solved, including the families of celebrities and work for the Army and the FBI. A noted geneaologist reveals what it is like to be a history detective using twenty-first-century techniques and technology, and discusses some of the cases she has solved, including the families of celebrities and work for the Army and the FBI