Title: The Skeleton Tree
Author: Iain Lawrence
Genre: Survival, Adventure
Age: Middle Grade - YA
Rating: 4.3
FULL REVIEW :
The Skeleton Tree, by Iain Lawrence, is a fantasy book for late elementary and on. The book follows two young boys who are stranded on an island together after their ship sank and Uncle Jack down with it. The boys, Chris, who is kindhearted and inexperienced in the world of survival, and Frank, who hates Chris and is familiar with the wild environment, are alone, and Frank's quick temper doesn't help. They find a cabin which once was lived in, and now appears deserted, and decide to stay their. They work to survive the harsh environment, to find fire, and to find compassion for one another. Chris meets a raven, who whispers human words, and shows deep compassion towards him, and helps him through hardships.
I personally ended up loving this book in the end, with the blend of an action beginning, and slowly being revealed the facts, plus being able to make conclusions for yourself before the words being said adds to the effect. The unspoken, silent compassion that the boys show is powerful, and the raven's friendship.
My favorite character is the raven, which Chris names Thursday. Thursday whispers the past, literally and figuratively, and is so fascinating, in the aspect of wondering about the way he thinks and what he's learned by being around humans. At many points, he ends up smarter and quicker than Chris himself, and helps him in many desperate situations. The raven's compassion gives me hope for the people, and for society. Surely, if a raven can hold such human emotions and such pure love along side it, we can to.
I'd give this book a 4.3 stars, since it has such a powerful writing style, and yet I still believe that there are some events that will remain unexplained forever, that will run my brain aground, and down play the whole partial mystery effect.
