On the front cover, prolific YA author E. Lockhart describes
this book as ‘Magical realism at its most magical’. I couldn’t agree more and
was quite taken with this unfamiliar term ‘Magical Realism’. I believe it
describes my very favourite genre.
Last year I blogged about the book A Corner of White by
Jaclyn Moriarty. This became my favourite YA book of the year. I recommend it
to students regularly but find it hard to describe its style. Since reading of
the term in relation to Bone Gap, I can see that A Corner of White is perfectly
Magical Realism!
Why do I love the genre? I love its exploration into the
idea that in the realities of life there just might be something a little bit
magical going on. That, in some of life’s most dreary and downright depressing
moments, if we look a little bit deeper - lean in a little closer - something
mystical may also be happening in that moment. I love the thought that in the
swishing of the tall yellow corn there may be a message to be heard or that out
in large open fields it might be possible to hear the prairies calling out your
name.
Of course, works of fiction have the licence to take this to
wonderfully extravagant levels. But in real life there can also be the
opportunity to see beauty in very tragic spaces, especially when we allow
ourselves time to pause, look deeper and absorb something bigger than ourselves.
Idealistic much? Yep, that’s
me.
Bone Gap is the name of a small rural town surrounded in
corn fields. Nothing much happens there but every now and then people
unexpectedly leave and do not return. This happened to Roza, the beautiful migrant
girl who had made a home with the O’Sullivan boys. Years before, the O’Sullivans’
mother had also left the boys behind - to begin life with a new partner -
leaving older brother, Sean, to care for young Finn and the family farm. Love
and trust have long been missing from their world.
Finn is the main protagonist of the story. He is known for
being weird and quirky and often finds himself in the path of the local bullies,
who harass and beat him up. Finn believes he knows what happened to Roza, but
his inability to describe her abductor or the events around her disappearance
make him an unreliable witness and moreover, a potential suspect.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the corn, parallel worlds
seem to be converging. It appears that Roza may be trapped out there beyond the
corn. Stray animals, including a goat, some kittens and a black horse make an
appearance - each has a part to play in directing Finn on his journey.
Finn’s search for answers leads him to the beekeeper’s house
where he gets to know the reclusive Petey. Petey has also been ostracised by
the community who refer to her as ‘ugly’. Petey and Finn begin to fall in love,
connected through their pain and rejection.
The mysteries begin to mount and suspense builds as Finn
tries to connect the links between all he
is sensing.
You’ll find the need to turn the pages in flurry now! This is
wonderful story telling. Highly compelling and recommended for older teens as
there is some sexual content.
Five stars ✷✷✷✷✷
