Description
Description
In this riveting middle-grade fantasy, New York Times bestselling author David Elliott and E.M. Elliott tell the story of a forest-dwelling boy forced to confront the mysteries of his life. Trapped in a dark forest with his cold-hearted parents, Bonebag leads a cruel and isolated existence. However, he feels deep in his bones that things weren't always this way: he has known happiness before. Why does it feel like it was in a past life? When Bonebag discovers a locket that burns him to the touch, and a ghostly girl beckons him into the deep woods, he must grapple with the riddle of where he came from and how he came to be. Only then can he begin to rewrite his fate. From New York Times bestselling author David Elliott and his son, E.M. Elliott, this powerful middle-grade fantasy will take readers on a quest that tackles the mystery of belonging with high-octane twists and turns along the way.
About the Author
About the Author
David Elliott is a New York Times bestselling author with over 35 published or soon-to-be published books to his name. These include his provocative novels-in-verse Bull, which received 6 starred reviews; Voices, which was a finalist for the American Library in Paris Book Prize, a Wall Street Best Book of the Year, and an NCTE Notable Verse Novel; the picture book Baabwa and Wooliam, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, which was a Cybils Award finalist, JLG selection, and the PW Best Book of the Year; three picture books in the This Orq series, which was published in more than eight foreign editions; and the critically acclaimed, award-winning poetry books On the Farm, In the Wild and, most recently, In the Woods. E. M. Elliott studied film and creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College and Media Studies at The New School in New York. He previously worked as a script reader for two production houses in Los Angeles, and currently lives in Philadelphia with his wife, dog, and cat. This is his first book.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
★ "David Elliott (Bull, 2017) and his son E. M. Elliott combine their talents to tell a dark, immersive tale that never loses its sense of hope. Friendship and family emerge as themes as plot threads come together in surprising ways, but the visceral descriptions, entertaining pickpocket parlance, and original folklore are what make the story unforgettable."--Booklist, starred review ★ "Genuinely scary, deliciously dark, and full of unexpected turns, this work about standing up for what you know is right, even when the stakes couldn't be higher, impresses and delights with its rich worldbuilding and invigoratingly inventive language... Darkly thrilling; will keep readers turning pages until every riddle has been solved."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review ""Compelling... best for readers who enjoy darker, more unusual fiction and don't mind being patient with the narrative."--School Library Journal "In this middle grade dark fantasy, we meet a young man who is isolated in the forest. His story is layers upon layers of mystery... While written for young readers, the story can be quite scary but worth sticking with to the end."--Aunt Pat's DBA Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS "The unique character perspective and world building in this novel set it apart. The creatures in this landscape send it into an entirely chilling other level... Don't despair when the times get dark; there are moments of happiness and triumph here, too. This novel will stick with readers far longer than it takes to devour the pages."--Flat Rock Middle School, Flat Rock, NC
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Astra Young Readers
Pub date:
2026-05-26
Length:
320 pages
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