Overview

A grieving girl stumbles into a magical dilemma that may just set her on the path to healing in this exquisite debut novel in verse about loss, friendship, and the power of imagination to help us find our way. Since the death of her younger brother, eleven-year-old Bones has spent most of her time drawing animal skeletons and foraging for dead things to add to her collection. She's drifted away from her friends and doesn't want to make new ones--not even with the sociable non-binary kid, Tenny, who's moved in next door. One night, under the light and magic of the full moon, Bones inadvertently brings a baby bird skeleton back to life. The creature doesn't like its new state of being, so Bones must work out how to reverse her accidental curse. But over time, Bones grows attached to her skeleton friend and has to decide whether she can let the baby bird go even though she doesn't want to say goodbye.

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9781665985086

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Reviews

Fifth-grader Bones is mourning her little brother Nico, who died nearly a year ago. When she finds a bird skeleton, she wishes it were still alive under the light of the full moon, which, much to her astonishment, makes the wish come true. The little bird can talk (sounding an awful lot like her brother, whose voice she also hears in her head), but the wish is really a curse since the poor animal is living a half-life it didn't ask for. With the help of a new neighbor pal, Bones learns that the only way to undo the curse is to return the bird to the place where it died and reverse the wish at the next full moon, a task that feels impossible, both because she'll have to revisit where her brother died and because it means she'll have to say another permanent goodbye to a beloved friend. The poems in this verse novel delicately balance a prose-like storytelling with imagistic language. While the fantastical conjuring in this story is presented as real, the true magic lies in Bones' acceptance of the need to close the Bird/Nico conduit, fighting through her grief (""Dark branches / shifting shadows / Nico laughing / Nico falling"") and realizing that the bird she sends back to the afterlife is the same bird Nico died trying to return to its nest. The human relationships are beautiful, with the multi-generational neighbors in Bones' public housing complex taking care of each other in myriad ways with no judgment or pretense. This is a tender reminder that the painful memories of a passed loved one can still bring deep joy, and that despite their absence, those we lose can still remain an important character in our stories. CBR--BCCB ""March 2026 Issue"" Since the death of her younger brother, Bones has withdrawn. To compound this self-isolation, her mother is working far away from home, and her once-close friend has replaced her. Now living with her grandmother, the 11-year-old spends most of her time scouring the ground for dead treasures and drawing the small animal bones, insect shells, and feathers kept in her collection. Then, under a full moon, Bones accidentally wishes a bird skeleton back to life. This secret is immediately discovered by the new nonbinary neighbor, Tenny, who is determined to bring Bones out of her shell. The trio become hesitant friends, but Bird is unhappy in his new state of being, so the tweens try to discover how to reverse his curse--which means Bones must navigate letting go once again. Told in verse, the magic of this story translates easily to the page. Bones is struggling with complex emotions--loss, guilt, loneliness--but her feelings are clearly articulated in the expressive language forming the short chapters. Her new relationships force her to confront her feelings and, in the process, lower her defenses, taking readers along on her journey. In addition to themes of grief, friendship, and hope, the work touches on the healing power of community, nature, and recycling. Small grayscale illustrations of Bones's collection, reminiscent of her own drawings, can be found throughout. Bones is described as having brown skin. VERDICT Though the main character has surrounded herself with death, this is a must-read work filled with life.--School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW ""1/30/26"" Sometimes magic happens in the most unexpected ways. The Italian Australian tween protagonist, nicknamed ""Bones"" by class mean girl Edie because of her collection of found skeletal remains, narrates her tale: It's the end of term, and she and her classmates will be transitioning to middle school in the autumn. Bones will be going to the local middle school, but Edie, along with Bones' former friend, Aiko, who's fallen in with Edie, will be going to ""the posh school for girls / on the other side of town."" Bones has lived in an apartment with Nonna Frankie since Mum went north to a mining town to find better employment. Her departure may also have been partially fueled by grief; Bones' younger brother, Nico, died tragically less than a year ago, and each family member feels his loss keenly. While exploring one day, Bones comes across a bird skeleton, and her wish to bring it back to life has unexpected results. The skeleton reanimates--and can talk--and it's up to Bones and new neighbor Tenny, who's nonbinary, to discover how. This novel in verse explores themes of isolation, friendship, and grief. Striving and reluctant readers will find it particularly accessible; the economical poems written in conversational language offer an ideal introduction to deeper topics and ideas. Teow's delicate spot art illustrations adorn the text, showcasing Bones' collection of nature finds. A poignant exploration of healing and growth.--Kirkus ""March 1, 2026""

Author Information

Sandy Bigna is a writer of children's stories, a former children's librarian, and a mum of three from Canberra, Australia. She is also a passionate advocate for children's books and literacy and reviews kid's books on her social media accounts (most frequently on Instagram @Aussie_Kids_Books). Her writing has been shortlisted for awards and published in anthologies. Her debut book is Little Bones, a novel in verse for middle grade readers.

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