Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

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, thap, pt’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 h betweene 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 ✷✷✷✷✷