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cuppasbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
retiredlibrarylady's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting read about a family struggling with several issues. Mom is working at Walgreen's since Dad left. Big brother Stanly is trying to keep anger, fear, and pain contained with the zombie monster in his brain, and mostly succeeding. The younger sister Miren is struggling with a breathing disorder, that is never diagnosed. Stanly discovers a finger bone coming out of the ground in their yard, and it grows into an actual skeleton that only children and Ms. Francine, from Kyrgyzstan, can see. Friend Jaxon's research turns up the possibility that he, Princy as Miren calls him, is actually the grim reaper. Sure enough, Miren dies.
The thing is, as her sickness progresses, Princy is the only thing that can cheer her up. As death approaches, he seems to be inviting her to join him in a happy place. Furthermore, she appears to Stanly and finally Mom after her death to let them know she is, indeed, in a happy place.
The thing is, as her sickness progresses, Princy is the only thing that can cheer her up. As death approaches, he seems to be inviting her to join him in a happy place. Furthermore, she appears to Stanly and finally Mom after her death to let them know she is, indeed, in a happy place.
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
3.0
While this book didn't have the gravitas that I crave in middle grade books ([b:Forget Me Not|29102841|Forget Me Not|Ellie Terry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494949296l/29102841._SY75_.jpg|45761468], [b:The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise|39280558|The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise|Dan Gemeinhart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535034048l/39280558._SY75_.jpg|57956893], [b:Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster|37811512|Sweep The Story of a Girl and Her Monster|Jonathan Auxier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1536675436l/37811512._SX50_.jpg|59489664] etc.), it did make me tear up toward the end, which I was not expecting, especially given the light-hearted tone that pervaded the rest of the book (naming a main character Stanley Stanwright should ring a bell).
I liked the relationship between Stanley and his best friend and Stanley and his caregiver. I didn't like Stanley's younger sister. I thought she was irritating and spoiled. And I thought Stanley's mother relied entirely too much on his to help raise his sister, which was too big of a responsibility for a child his age (not to mention not his job!).
I thought this was a creative and carefree story but ultimately not one that will stay with me in memory.
I liked the relationship between Stanley and his best friend and Stanley and his caregiver. I didn't like Stanley's younger sister. I thought she was irritating and spoiled. And I thought Stanley's mother relied entirely too much on his to help raise his sister, which was too big of a responsibility for a child his age (not to mention not his job!).
I thought this was a creative and carefree story but ultimately not one that will stay with me in memory.
nyx89's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC from ALA Annual.
This was a very sweet, poignant story about death and dying, about the love of siblings and about the strength of a family. I'm very impressed with Ms. Ventrella, because this is her debut novel. I think she handled the heavy themes in this novel with a subtle, gentle hand. Her characters all seem very real and relatable. Although I knew what was going to happen very early on, the ending still made me tear up. I think this is a great contribution to children's fiction. Children don't need to be handled with kid gloves when it comes to the subject of death, but this novel isn't too heavy or depressing in any way. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone, and I look forward to Ms. Ventrella's future books.
This was a very sweet, poignant story about death and dying, about the love of siblings and about the strength of a family. I'm very impressed with Ms. Ventrella, because this is her debut novel. I think she handled the heavy themes in this novel with a subtle, gentle hand. Her characters all seem very real and relatable. Although I knew what was going to happen very early on, the ending still made me tear up. I think this is a great contribution to children's fiction. Children don't need to be handled with kid gloves when it comes to the subject of death, but this novel isn't too heavy or depressing in any way. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone, and I look forward to Ms. Ventrella's future books.
3mangos's review against another edition
4.0
Check out The Seventh Seal, a movie by Ingmar Bergman. Very influential film. Lots of death tropes in movies/books were inspired by this movie. Several aspects of this story reminded me on the movie.
molly_dettmann's review against another edition
3.0
I was intrigued about the premise of a boy finding a finger bone in his backyard, and got a lot more in this bittersweet story about love and loss. I enjoyed it, but in a heart wrenching way. I highly recommend this for upper elementary/middle school readers and anyone who loves a quirky story with heart.
pandacat42's review against another edition
***I received an ARC from Edelweiss for an honest review***
I feel like books like this can give children unrealistic ideas about death. This book wasn't for me to say the least. It did kind of have the same feel as "Ghosts" by Raina Telgemeier, which I wasn't a huge fan of for the same reason.
I feel like books like this can give children unrealistic ideas about death. This book wasn't for me to say the least. It did kind of have the same feel as "Ghosts" by Raina Telgemeier, which I wasn't a huge fan of for the same reason.
tracybabler's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange for the review copy of this book. As always, all opinions are my own.
Whew! I just finished SKELETON TREE, and this one is not for the faint of heart. SKELETON TREE is a suspenseful and heart-wrenching middle grade novel about coming to peace with the end of life.
Even as I started to understand how the plot of SKELETON TREE was developing, I resisted the idea. And yet as the skeleton became more animated, my interest in the book also grew. This is very heavy subject matter for middle grade, and yet author Kim Ventrella wrote an age-appropriate book about letting go of the ones we love most. It’s unique and courageous, and gives you plenty of time to prepare for what’s to come.
My one quibble with the book is that Miren’s character acts much younger than her age. She was a perfect five-year-old character, and yet she celebrates her eighth birthday in the book. I chose to think of her more like a five-year-old, which helped me enjoy the novel for its clever ad heart-breaking story.
I would recommend this book for mature middle grade readers who can unravel a mystery, accept an untidy ending, and deal with some spooky scenes along the way.
Whew! I just finished SKELETON TREE, and this one is not for the faint of heart. SKELETON TREE is a suspenseful and heart-wrenching middle grade novel about coming to peace with the end of life.
Even as I started to understand how the plot of SKELETON TREE was developing, I resisted the idea. And yet as the skeleton became more animated, my interest in the book also grew. This is very heavy subject matter for middle grade, and yet author Kim Ventrella wrote an age-appropriate book about letting go of the ones we love most. It’s unique and courageous, and gives you plenty of time to prepare for what’s to come.
My one quibble with the book is that Miren’s character acts much younger than her age. She was a perfect five-year-old character, and yet she celebrates her eighth birthday in the book. I chose to think of her more like a five-year-old, which helped me enjoy the novel for its clever ad heart-breaking story.
I would recommend this book for mature middle grade readers who can unravel a mystery, accept an untidy ending, and deal with some spooky scenes along the way.
pagesofpins's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure what to do with this one. The book's strengths are that it's more honest and unflinching about the day to day of life with an ill family member than most books for this age level, and that it interestingly portrays death as a part of life rather than something scary.
I'm not sure why children are the only people who can see The Grim Reaper. They face things more matter of factly?
The contest evolved into a distraction that I just wanted resolved.
I really liked Ms. Francine's character, my favorite by far.
I'm not sure why children are the only people who can see The Grim Reaper. They face things more matter of factly?
The contest evolved into a distraction that I just wanted resolved.
I really liked Ms. Francine's character, my favorite by far.
lovegirl30's review against another edition
3.0
“I was little, so I didn’t know that death always had to be sad and terrible and something to fight against.”
In this book Stanley’s is difficult, his father has moved out and his mother is trying hard to make it in the world. She is just a clerk at Walgreens. Stanly and his sister Miren don’t have much but they are fortunate to have Ms. Francine, who is from Kyrgyzstan, babysit for them. His sister Miren is sick with some sort of respiratory problem. She is quite ill.
When Stanley finds a bone growing in the yard. It looks like a skeleton, which is confirmed when the bone does grow into a full skeleton. While only the children can see the skeleton, Ms. Francine does seem to believe the children’s story.
"When Dad was here everything felt balanced. Like how a seesaw needs someone on both sides to keep it upright. Now it was him and Mom and Miren on one side and inch by inch they were sinking into the ground.”
With the help of his friend Jaxon, young Stanley hopes that he can submit a picture to the Young Discoverers competition. He wants to win the prize money. Strange things happen when they try to photograph the skeleton.
As Miren's illness worsens, Stanley must deal with the issue of what is happening to his sister. He comes to the startling conclusion that the skeleton might not be the best thing. With the help of wonderful Ms. Francine, he will come to terms with what is happening.
Overall while this book deals with grief it was surprisingly enjoyable. I really liked the topics and themes in this book. I am glad I picked it up from the library.
In this book Stanley’s is difficult, his father has moved out and his mother is trying hard to make it in the world. She is just a clerk at Walgreens. Stanly and his sister Miren don’t have much but they are fortunate to have Ms. Francine, who is from Kyrgyzstan, babysit for them. His sister Miren is sick with some sort of respiratory problem. She is quite ill.
When Stanley finds a bone growing in the yard. It looks like a skeleton, which is confirmed when the bone does grow into a full skeleton. While only the children can see the skeleton, Ms. Francine does seem to believe the children’s story.
"When Dad was here everything felt balanced. Like how a seesaw needs someone on both sides to keep it upright. Now it was him and Mom and Miren on one side and inch by inch they were sinking into the ground.”
With the help of his friend Jaxon, young Stanley hopes that he can submit a picture to the Young Discoverers competition. He wants to win the prize money. Strange things happen when they try to photograph the skeleton.
As Miren's illness worsens, Stanley must deal with the issue of what is happening to his sister. He comes to the startling conclusion that the skeleton might not be the best thing. With the help of wonderful Ms. Francine, he will come to terms with what is happening.
Overall while this book deals with grief it was surprisingly enjoyable. I really liked the topics and themes in this book. I am glad I picked it up from the library.