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Summary
Summary
"Set in the rural South, the syrup-soaked, rich imagery is a sensory delight. Gabe's voice is distinct, and the evolution of his conflict reinforces the humanity amid the magic. A heck of a good read about the bright side of some durn bad luck." -Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewGabe knows it was foolish to save that chicken. On the roof. In the middle of a storm. Yet Gabe also knows that his guardian, Ms. Cleo, loves the chicken more than him. After falling off the roof, Gabe wakes up to find his neighbors staring at him tearfully. To his confusion, none of them seem to hear Gabe speak. It's almost as if they think he's dead. But Gabe's NOT dead. He feels fine! So why does everyone scream in terror when he shows up to his own funeral? Gabe flees with his dog, Ollie, the only creature who doesn't tremble at the sight of him. So when a mysterious girl named Wynne offers to let Gabe stay at her cozy house in a misty clearing, he gratefully accepts. Yet Wynne disappears from Bone Hollow for long stretches of time, and when a suspicious Gabe follows her, he makes a mind-blowing discovery. Wynne is Death and has been for thousands of years. Even more shocking . . . she's convinced that Gabe is destined to replace her.
Author Notes
Kim Ventrella spends her days searching for whimsy and wonder, even in the darkest of times. She is the author of Bone Hollow and Skeleton Tree , which Kirkus Reviews called an "emotional roller coaster tempered by a touch of magic." She lives in Oklahoma City, where her favorite activities include writing stories, working at a haunted house, and racing her dog in the rain.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-While trying to save a chicken on the roof, orphan Gabe falls, is impaled on a weather vane, and dies. However, he's not entirely dead, and finds himself still wandering around town, joined by his loyal dog Ollie, until he is ostracized by his neighbors and forced to flee. While on the run, Gabe and Ollie meet a mysterious girl named Wynne who invites them into her home, only for Gabe to discover that she is a grim reaper of sorts, helping the dead pass on from the living world into the afterlife. She hopes to train Gabe to follow in her footsteps. Although not a direct sequel to Ventrella's debut middle grade novel Skeleton Tree, many of the same themes, particularly those revolving around death and grief, are reprised in her sophomore effort. Gabe, although a little bland, is likable, and his attitude regarding death evolves over the course of the story from bitterness about the death of his parents and, even more so, the death of his grandfather, to an acceptance that death is a natural part of life. While the pace is a little sluggish and the topic will likely not appeal to every child, this offbeat novel may bring comfort to young readers trying to better understand death and loss. -VERDICT Purchase where Ventrella's Skeleton Tree is popular.-Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Accompanied by his loyal dog, an orphaned boy confronts the afterlife in this middle-grade exploration of the meaning of death and family. Gabe is impaled by a weathervane while trying to rescue his guardians prized chickens from a tornado. When he regains consciousness, he assumes nothing has changed, and doesnt understand why the neighbors are ignoring him. Gradually Gabe realizes that he died in the accident, and his dog Ollie is the only one who still sees him. Gabe ends up in the misty valley of Bone Hollow under the protection of a shapeshifting girl named Wynne. Wynnes job is to help dying people transition to the afterlife, and after more than a century of being undead, she is exhausted and ready to train Gabe to take her place. He is terrified at first but eventually comes to terms with death as a natural part of living and learns the value of being supportive to people going through any unsettling change. Ventrellas (Skeleton Tree, rev. 11/17) writing is vivid, and although the story could be tighter (Gabes fate is obvious to the reader, so his ongoing confusion grows repetitive), the novel stands up as an unsentimental look at loss. sarah rettger January/February 2019 p 106(c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
An orphaned kid with a biography of misfortune must die to see that home and happiness live in the strangest places.Gabe is no stranger to death. His parents are dead. His grandfather is dead. And after an unfortunate encounter with a weather vane, so is he. He thinks it's all a misunderstanding until his uncaring caretaker turns himand the gaping hole in his abdomenaway. The town echoes her revulsion by revolting against walking-dead Gabe with rocks, fists, and angry cries. His solace in his new, mysterious existence is his unflappably loyal dog and a strange girl (initially resembling an old friend named Niko) who rescues him from the mob. Not-Niko eventually reveals herself as Wynne, a long-dead girl who inherited the role of Death and wants to hand Gabe the baton. It's a fate Gabe refusesno matter how much he finds himself enjoying the company of Death. Set in the rural South, the novel has syrup-soaked, rich imagery that's a sensory delight. Gabe's voice is distinct, and his countrified vernacular layers heart and humor onto a sensitive premise. And the evolution of his conflictembracing friendship with Wynne while avoiding the responsibilityreinforces the humanity amid the magic. Gabe is white, as is most of the community. Niko is Bangladeshi (represented only in memory), and Wynne is black; racism is not a driving plot point, but its mention underscores ever present small-minded reality.A heck of a good read about the bright side of some durn bad luck. (Paranormal adventure. 10-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
"You see, Bone Hollow isn't like other places. The world is different here. More . . . wobbly. This is where Gabe and his constant canine companion, Ollie, go after Gabe dies. While attempting to retrieve his guardian Ms. Cleo's pet chicken during a tornado, Gabe slipped and fell from the roof. He watches as his small Michigan town mourns his death and readies his body for burial. They finally notice him, but fear what he has become. Cruel neighbor children chase Gabe and Ollie into the woods, where he meets Wynne. She is Death, ferrying the dying to their next destination. But her time as Death is almost over, and Gabe might be the next candidate. Ventrella (Skeleton Tree, 2017) fearlessly tackles the sensitive subject of death for a middle-grade audience, though there are shocking scenes of violence perpetrated against both Gabe and Ollie that will be difficult for any reader. Ultimately, this is a quiet, insightful book, and middle-grade readers should be prepared for the weight of its subject matter.--Caitlin Kling Copyright 2018 Booklist
