Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links; if you make a purchase, I may earn commission. Opinions shared are mine.

Yesterday I had the joy of taking two little boys to a trampoline park. If you’ve never done this, I highly encourage you to find a couple of kids to spoil.  Watching them jump, laugh, and play was as fun as hugging a boxful of puppies!  While they enjoyed the adventure, I sat up in the crow’s nest with a book and a Coke.  It was such a pleasant way to spend an afternoon!

I’ve had Bone’s Gift by Angie Smibert on my shelf for a few weeks but hadn’t had time to read it.  I loved the heading — ghosts of ordinary objects — and couldn’t wait to settle down into these pages.  What an extraordinary treat it was!

Laurel “Bone” Phillips is a 12 year old girl in an Appalachian coal mining town.  Big Vein is similar to Walnut Grove in a way, and the characters in this story are similar to Little House on the Prairie, despite the 1940s setting.  In the midst of WWII drafting, Bone’s life is turned upside down when her father goes off to war.  However, Bone is fighting her own internal battles.

The supernatural themes in this story are so well done, especially since this is geared toward middle grade readers.   As Bone’s gift develops, she becomes more confident and self-aware.  The idea of objects holding memories is so beautiful.  Why can’t I find any books like this with adult characters?!

I would love to see a book about Willow and the rest of the Reeds!

Bone is a realistic, precocious character with more than a bit of spunk.  After “meeting” her family, it’s clear that she comes by her sass naturally!  Her curiosity is reminiscent of Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird.   I love that most of the adults in Bone’s family are so supportive of her. It’s the type of book that children will relate to, even without having a paranormal ability.

Author Angie Smibert did a great job of including natural Appalachian history in the story plot.  This setting is the perfect location to find characters who believe in “Gifts” and other superstitions.  If you visit the mountainous area of the Tennessee/North Carolina/Virginia borders, you’re likely to hear some of those tales for yourself!   Storytelling is such a vital part of the heartbeat in this area.  It’s wonderful that some of those stories were actually recorded as part of an effort to save this history.  If you’re interested in reading more fictional books that detail the writers’ project, check out The Sea Keeper’s Daughter by Lisa Wingate.

I can’t wait to read more in this series!