Book review: Doll Bones by Holly Black

Full disclosure: my love of reading was founded almost exclusively on R. L. Stine, Jim Davis, and Gary Larson. No literary prodigy was I; without Say Cheese and Die, I'd probably be in the ditch digging business today. Reading Doll Bones by Holly Black was a pleasant return to my scary old stomping grounds.

Zach, Poppy, and Alice are three life-long friends adjusting to the unpleasant realities of middle school. They have a fantasy based role-playing game where they revel in the epic quests of mermaids, knights and pirates. When Zach's dad forces a stop to their beloved game, their very friendship also seems doomed. Then Poppy reveals that she's been having disturbing dreams about one of the characters, a bone-china antique doll who is demanding to be returned to her empty grave in Ohio. Is this another fantastic quest invented by a convincing storyteller, or is the haunted doll using the trio to her own ends?

My takeaway: The plot is a pleasant blend of mysteries both supernatural and historic. Black's writing is direct and focused. I found the second half of the book more intriguing as the backstory came into play. Further character development, especially of Poppy and Alice, would add meaning to their story. Segments from 'the game' were exciting and delightful, a skilled salute to creative role-players everywhere.

Book review: Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Navigating Early stands apart with the enchanting cover art of Alexander Jansson and is visually reminiscent of the author's Newbery Medal-winning title Moon over Manifest. 

This World War II story of tragedy, adventure and friendship is narrated by 13 year old Jack Baker, a recent transplant from the landlocked fields of Kansas to an ocean-side prep school in Maine. The death of his mother has left Jack mired in loss. His father, a naval captain, offers little emotional support as Jack puts on a strong face and attempts to join in the social structure of the academy. He is soon befriended by social outcast Early Auden, but struggles with the social cost of their relationship. Early's obsessions (a fascination with the number Pi, titillating reports of a giant bear, and the mysterious death of his brother) leads both characters on a dangerous quest set in the Maine wilderness.

Strengths: The writing is almost seamless, impressive for historical fiction, and the well-paced plot keeps readers invested until the end. The character of Early Auden exposes readers to an admirable hero with a mental illness.

Not-quite-strengths: The amount of characters and plot twists in the second half of the novel are crowded and may overwhelm the reader. The ongoing saga of Pi reads as a substantially weaker story-within-a-story.