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Little Bones

by Sandy Bigna

Grief, friendship, and an unexpected act of magic

Regular price $16.47 USD
Regular price $27.45 USD Sale price $16.47 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    School Library Journal starred review

    Starred review; the review calls the book “a must-read work filled with life.”

AlbakiReads Editorial

Grief, friendship, and an unexpected act of magic

Told in verse, *Little Bones* brings together a child’s fascination with animal skeletons and a magical problem she never meant to create. Eleven-year-old Bones has withdrawn after her younger brother’s death; a new neighbor, Tenny, and a baby bird brought back to life complicate her solitude. The story’s central dilemma turns on attachment and parting: Bones must consider what it means to care for a creature that may not want to remain alive. Grief, friendship, imagination, and the difficulty of saying goodbye shape this middle-grade novel.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Young readers interested in verse novels and stories about grief.
  • Readers who enjoy magical elements woven into a contemporary child’s life.
  • Readers interested in friendship and caring for animals or unusual creatures.

Themes

Grief and lossFriendshipImagination and magicAttachment and letting go

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

A grieving girl stumbles into a magical dilemma that may just set her on the path to healing in this debut novel in verse that's a "a must-read work filled with life" (School Library Journal, starred review) about loss, friendship, and the power of imagination to help us find our way.

Since the death of her younger brother, eleven-year-old Bones has spent most of her time drawing animal skeletons and foraging for dead things to add to her collection. She's drifted away from her friends and doesn't want to make new ones--not even with the sociable non-binary kid, Tenny, who's moved in next door.

One night, under the light and magic of the full moon, Bones inadvertently brings a baby bird skeleton back to life. The creature doesn't like its new state of being, so Bones must work out how to reverse her accidental curse.

But over time, Bones grows attached to her skeleton friend and has to decide whether she can let the baby bird go even though she doesn't want to say goodbye.
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