The book begins with an introduction written in first-person by the author explaining her introduction to and then growing fascination with Lady Dai. After this introduction, the text is written in the third person, giving information about the body, the tomb and the life of her family during the Han Dynasty.
The book begins with an introduction explaining the fascination of the story of Lady Dai and then goes back to the time of the excavation and examinations of the tombs of Lady Dai and her family members. From there, the text follows a topical organization, from death and burial rituals, daily life activities of Lady Dai as learned through the scrolls and artifacts kept in her tomb, and even the historical information of the time such as preparing for wars, curing ailments, and libraries of studies. Chapters 2-6 begin with an illustration and a narrated scene that may have occurred in the home of Lady Dai. Throughout the chapters, full color photographs and drawings with captions enhance the information and engage the reader and fact boxes expand on the information presented.
The text is written with middle school readers in mind. The proper names and Chinese words may be difficult for struggling readers (Mawangdui, Xin Zhui, Qin Shihuangdi, feiyi, liubo, etc.), but the glossary includes pronunciation and definitions of many of these words. The subject itself will also be engaging enough for reluctant readers. Many topic specific words such as autopsy, cadaver, dynasty, lacquer, hun and po are used, but most are defined within the text. The glossary includes definitions for many of these words as well.
This text does a great job of giving readers all the information they would need to know in order to enjoy the text, but it may be helpful to have a discussion about cadavers and autopsies prior to reading as the text goes into detail about the process and some students may be sensitive.
The author's purpose in writing this book is to inform students about Ancient China, significance of archeological study and specifically about Lady Dai and the Han Dynasty. Students will find the explicit details both unbelievable and awe inspiring, while also learning about what can be found when looking at bodies during autopsies. Liu-Perkins calls the Mawangdui tombs a time capsule, "every artifact reveals something about life in the early Han Dynasty." She uses this book to reveal the story found in the time capsule.