Bone Gap

Book Cover

Justification

I chose Bone Gap for my fantasy selection for this blog. The book weaves together elements of the ordinary and supernatural throughout the text. Bone Gap won the Printz award in 2016 and was also a finalist for the National Book Award in the same year. The novel received loud praise from many reviewing journals including a starred review from Booklist and a glowing write up in the New York Times. I was curious about this novel because of the blending of ordinary and extraordinary. A seemingly non-descript town in Illinois that hides a magical secret and a terrifying predator.

Evaluation

The first remarkable thing about Bone Gap are the characters. The structure of the novel is told in different voices from the residents of the town. The narrative is primarily told from Finn’s and Roza’s perspectives. Finn and his older brother Sean are navigating life on their own after their mother left them for an orthodontist in Oregon; when one day a young Polish woman named Roza appears in their barn and changes their lives. As readers, our hearts go out to these two boys who are trying to forge their way in the world without a parent to guide them. Sean is the consummate hero; fixing broken people and things to hide his own feelings of brokenness. Finn is a beautiful wanderer; unfocused and often referred to as SpaceMan because of his tendency to stare out in space. Roza is a mysterious figure in the story. She appears out of nowhere and vanishes from the town just as sudden a manner. Roza is the victim of a kidnapping and Finn is the only one who witnesses her abduction. Sean shuts down completely after her disappearance, while Finn is determined to figure out who took her and bring her home. Another fascinating character in the story is Petey. She is the beekeeper’s daughter and Finn’s love interest. Everyone is surprised when beautiful Finn takes up with unusual looking Petey. But she is strong willed and determined. The characters of the novel drive the plot line as Finn seeks to woe Petey and get to the bottom of what happened to Roza in this peculiar landscape that serves as the backdrop of this novel.

The next element of high caliber writing that can be seen in this novel is the creation of the setting. Bone Gap, Illinois is an interesting paradox. On one hand, it’s a typical agriculturally driven small town in rural Illinois. On the other, it is home to whispering corn, gaps in the fabric of the universe, and animals with almost human qualities. Bone Gap as a town serves as a metaphor for the seen and the unseen, the ordinary and the supernatural. Throughout the narrative, the use of bees and beehives are used as a symbol for the town. The people of Bone Gap are like the drone bees. Busying themselves in the work of the hive. When Roza disappears, like a beehive without a Queen, the town begins to wither. The crops inexplicably won’t grow, and the people are on edge waiting to see if their Queen will return.

Finally, the novel is full of rich themes. One of these is the theme of what it means to truly be seen. Roza is an undeniably beautiful young woman. She has had many suitors and admirers, but they are consumed with her beauty and not who she is as a person. This changes when she meets Sean. Sean sees her for who she is. He respects her, listens when she talks, asks thoughtful questions, and accepts her help when offered. It is the first time she has ever really been seen and known by a man in a real way. We see this exhibited in Finn and Petey’s relationship as well. Petey has unusual features that make boys unsure of her appearance. They are interested in her young adult body, but not in her personality or face. When a boy like Finn begins to show his feelings for her, she is guarded and defensive. Ironically it is this boy with face-blindness who actually sees her for the first time. The first boy who appreciates her for the strong and independent woman she is.

Response

(B) One thing that Bone Gap addressed was the strength of women. Both Roza and Petey are examples of strong women who are not being seen for their strength, but just their outward appearance. Too often in our culture, women are judged on their beauty. Their value in society directly corresponds to how beautiful they are. This book challenged that world view. It showed the way that these women could pave their own way despite their outward appearances. (E) Largely, the writing of this novel was excellently crafted. The text is rich in imagery and allusion. Ruby creates a world within the small town of Bone Gap. Some parts of the novel however felt like she was trying too hard. Trying to pack too many themes and images inside the text. Also, I felt that parts of the narrative were rushed. Finn’s altercation with the Scare Crow was so hurried. The novel had been building to this point, only to have it over in a span of a few pages. (F) Overall, this book kept me engaged. The characters were well crafted, and the elements of fantasy woven through the story was well done. Despite the rushed feeling at the end of the novel, I enjoyed reading this book.

Conclusion

Bone Gap is a genre defying work of young adult fiction. The character development and unique setting are sure to leave readers engaged in the narrative. Elements of fantasy and mythical undertones are present in the narrative and add to the mood of the writing. Strong female characters and themes of what it means to truly be seen run throughout the book. This novel would be best suited for high school age students. More mature scenes with language and sexual content are present in the novel and may not be appropriate for younger readers.

APA Citation

Ruby, L. (2015). Bone Gap. New York: Balzer + Bray.