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Bone Gap

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'Bone Gap' by Laura Ruby is a young adult novel that weaves together elements of mystery, magical realism, and romance. The story follows Finn, an outsider in a small town, who witnesses the kidnapping of his friend Roza but struggles to describe the assailant due to his difficulty with facial recognition. As Finn tries to unravel the mystery of Roza's disappearance, the narrative shifts between different characters' perspectives, revealing the impact on the community and exploring themes of love, loss, and self-acceptance. With lyrical prose and a touch of fantasy, 'Bone Gap' takes readers on a journey through a world where reality and magic intertwine, leaving them questioning beauty, identity, and the blurred lines between the seen and unseen.

Laura Ruby's writing style in 'Bone Gap' has been praised for its beautiful prose, engaging storytelling, and use of magical realism. The novel is described as a coming-of-age tale, a surreal fairy tale, and a blend of mystery and romance, offering readers a unique and captivating reading experience. Through the vivid characterization of Finn, Roza, and other inhabitants of Bone Gap, Ruby crafts a narrative that explores the complexities of relationships, the power of perception, and the mysteries that lie within the gaps of memory and reality.

Characters:

The characters are complex, with Finn as a sensitive outsider, Roza as a resilient beauty facing adversity, and Sean as the responsible older brother. Petey adds depth as an unattractive yet strong female character.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by lyrical and poetic prose, rich imagery, and intricate character development, effectively blending whimsical and somber tones.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot intricately weaves magical realism with a kidnapping mystery, showcasing various perspectives to enrich the narrative. It explores themes of perception, beauty, and personal struggle through Finn and Roza's intertwined stories.

Setting:

The setting is a rural, small-town America, notably Bone Gap, which is known for its peculiar gaps that play a significant role in the narrative, highlighting contrasts between the magical and mundane.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow, gradually building tension and engagement as mysteries unfold through alternating viewpoints, though some readers found the flow disjointed.
It had been a warm winter and a balmy spring in Bone Gap, so everyone with a field and a taste for corn had plowed and planted earlier than they’d ever dared before. On the last day of his junior year...

Notes:

Bone Gap is set in a small town in rural Illinois where everyone knows each other.
Finn, one of the main characters, has prosopagnosia, an inability to recognize faces.
Roza, a beautiful Polish girl, mysteriously appears in the barn of Finn and his brother Sean and later goes missing.
The story deals with themes of beauty, love, and identity, often exploring how individuals see each other and themselves.
The plot is inspired by the myth of Persephone, weaving in elements of magical realism.
Finn witnesses the abduction of Roza but struggles to provide a clear description of her kidnapper, leading to doubt from others.
The narrative is told from multiple points of view, including Finn, Roza, and Petey, which adds depth to the storytelling.
The town of Bone Gap is characterized by its 'gaps' — metaphysical spaces that represent escape and concealment.
Finn develops a romantic relationship with a fellow outcast named Petey, challenging the town's norms about beauty.
The book has received several accolades, including the 2016 Michael L. Printz Award and being a National Book Award finalist.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of psychological trauma, kidnapping, and instances of bullying.

Has Romance?

There is a medium presence of romance, focusing on Finn's relationships with Roza and Petey.

From The Publisher:

Michael L. Printz Award

ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults

National Book Award Finalist

National Book Award Finalist * Printz Award Winner for Best Young Adult Book of the Year

"Ruby's novel deserves to be read and reread. It is powerful, beautiful, extraordinary."-School Library Journal

Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps.

So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren't surprised. But Finn knows what really happened to Roza. He knows she was kidnapped by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember.

As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap, acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a tale of the ways in which the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.

Ratings (7)

Incredible (4)
Loved It (2)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (20):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (11)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (1)

1 comment(s)

Did Not Like
5 months

It tried to be whimsical and I was interested at first but then it got boring and confusing. But I liked some of the commentaries and Roza was an interesting character to read from

 
 
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