Fiction, Fantasy & YA: Bone Gap

Bone Gap
By Laura Ruby

Ruby, Laura. Bone Gap. New York, NY: Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2015. 9780062317605

Plot Summary

Finn O'Sullivan and his older brother Sean live alone on their farm in Bone Gap. They used to have Roza before she disappeared. The people of Bone Gap claim that she left, just like their mother did, but Finn knows the truth. Roza was taken and Finn has been taken by grief. No one believes him. No one understands his description of the man who looks like everyone and "moves like a cornstalk in the wind". No one, except Priscilla "Petey" Willis. One night, when searching for his pregnant cat Calamity Jane, Finn discovers a beautiful black mare in his old leaning barn. He jumps on the mare, and the mare takes him to Petey's house. As they form a friendship that soon blossoms into something stronger, Roza wakes up in a mysterious place where everything feels too perfect and finds herself imprisoned by the man that Finn saw. This man is determined that Roza will learn to love him, coming each day to ask her, "Do you love me yet?" Roza can only ask him why and he always replies "You are the most beautiful." Finn, still searching for signs of Roza, and Petey, still wondering how Finn could love someone like her, stumble across a mystical feeling when riding the mare one night. The earth widened and the air shimmered and it felt as if another world had invaded their own. As time goes on, Finn begins to suspect that the shimmering gap, from which Bone Gap gets its name, must be a gap in the universe and Roza must be trapped inside. He travels into the gap to save her, but she in turn saves him and they walk free together. Finn had learned to love and live with his disabilities, Petey had learned to let someone love her, Roza had learned how to fight for herself, and Sean had learned how to let his guard down as each of their stories come together in a happy ending. 

Analysis

Bone Gap is full of hope and despair, love and forgiveness. Laura Ruby skillfully reveals pieces of the story as the characters make revelations about themselves and their situations. Each character has a unique voice and perspective, which is shown in the varying chapters that switch between Finn, Roza, Petey, and Sean. Switching between characters has allowed Ruby to show sides to the story that might not have been possible if it were told only form Finn's perspective. Readers can relate to Finn's struggle with his identity and his own self-loathing at what he thinks is his fault. He blames himself for Roza's disappearance, not realizing that there is a reason that it happened. In the story, Petey reveals that Finn must have face blindness, which explains how he had tried to describe the man who took Roza. It also causes Petey to feel like Finn only likes her because she is ugly and he can recognize her face. Readers who have ever experienced heartbreak will feel their hearts breaking along with Petey and Finn as they struggle to work out the problems that they face. Roza's determination to survive despite her terrible circumstances is inspiring and her character is more complex than it is first thought. Even Finn realizes that there is more to her than he thinks, that she saved his life by going with the man when she was taken. Each character is strong in their own way and vivid, but also flawed. This creates a realistic setting that readers can relate to and strive to be a part of. This book is captivating and intriguing, and hard to put down. The theme of the story is to keep your heart and your eyes open to yourself and others, and remember that beauty is found within.

Sammie Steward, wrote for the School Librarian saying "Part magical realism, part coming-of-age and part mystery, this is a consistently inventive and constantly surprising story which ultimately revolves around a simple but powerful message: beauty is never just skin deep."

Awards

Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

Connections

This book was recommended as an audiobook, though it was difficult to find an available copy. Readers would delight in the narration of this story, as Ruby wrote each character to be conversational and expressive. (This book is highly recommended by myself, though it is difficult to succinctly explain why).

For other fantastical adventures with strong characters:

Goss, Theodora: The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter. 9781534409637

Beaty, Erin: The Traitor's Kiss. 9781250117946

Roux, Madeleine: House of Furies. 9780062498618