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Wooden Bones

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Pino thought that all of his wishes had come true.

Since he changed into a real boy, he has been content with the simple quiet life he leads with his father, Geppetto. But the boy who used to be a wooden puppet doesn't quite fit in with the other villagers. When Pino discovers a terrifying new talent for bringing wood to life, he and Geppetto find themselves fleeing from an angry mob.

On the run with a wounded Geppetto, Pino must face a world full of people who want to use--or misuse--him for his powers. But when Pino discovers that every time he uses his magic, he is slowly transforming into a puppet, he to make the most important choice of his life.

148 pages, Hardcover

First published August 7, 2012

10 people are currently reading
121 people want to read

About the author

Scott William Carter

82 books172 followers
Scott William Carter’s first novel, The Last Great Getaway of the Water Balloon Boys, was hailed by Publishers Weekly as a “touching and impressive debut” and won an Oregon Book Award. Since then, he has published many books and short stories, his fiction spanning a wide variety of genres and styles. His book for younger readers, Wooden Bones, chronicles the untold story of Pinocchio and was singled out for praise by the Junior Library Guild. He is the author of the popular Garrison Gage mystery series set on the Oregon coast, as well as the provocative Myron Vale Investigations, about the private investigator in Portland, Oregon who works for both the living and the dead. He’s also the cartoonist behind the Run of the House comic strip.

If that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, in his “day job” life he works as an Instructional Designer and Digital Production & Publishing Specialist at Western Oregon University, where he manages the Digital Media Center and provides training and expertise to the campus community on a variety of topics, including Web page creation, digital video production, print-on-demand and ebook publishing, and many software applications related to publishing, distribution, and education in all its forms. He also teaches occasional classes for both the English department and the College of Education.

In past lives, he has been an academic technologist, a writing instructor, bookstore owner, the manager of a computer training company, and a ski instructor, though the most important job — and best – he’s ever had is being the father of his two children. He currently lives in Oregon with his wife and two children.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629).
924 reviews40 followers
October 26, 2022
3.75 stars.

What a short wild ride for our favorite puppet, Pinocchio and his papa Geppetto.

The story touches upon the cruel nature of humans, of being true to oneself and the love of a father.

Beautiful at times and quite fantastical.
Profile Image for Summer.
709 reviews26 followers
July 26, 2016
I really do enjoy the premise of this book- what happens after Pinocchio becomes a real boy- but I think this book needed a few more drafts before it came out because a lot of things really don't add up.

Profile Image for Kara.
Author 1 book65 followers
November 22, 2015
This is the story of Pinocchio, now known as Pino, after he becomes a real boy. At times grim and dark, this slim novel is a compelling account of what happens after Pinocchio's wish is granted. I love fairytale retellings, and this one did not disappoint, though I think my favorite aspect was the loving relationship between Pino and Geppetto, his single father. It's a relationship not often explored in children's literature. I also liked how it showed that life isn't perfect, even after getting his wish. The ending resolved things nicely and included a nice message for young readers: don't be afraid to be yourself, even if you're "different" from everyone else; especially if you're different.
Profile Image for Milliebot.
810 reviews22 followers
June 30, 2019
I’ve never been a big fan of Pinocchio, but I like the idea of asking “what happens after?” when it comes to fairy tales.

First, let me say, every time I read Pino’s name I thought of wine. Grigio for me, please!

Anyway. I expected a darker tale. Not that this is lighthearted necessarily. Pino’s talents seem to bring him and Gepetto nothing but trouble, as everyone who learns about Pino’s power goes insane with wanting him to create a puppet of a dead loved one and bring it to life. Naturally, Pino’s powers aren’t that straight forward and each time he uses them, not only does it bring trouble, but it begins to transform him back into a puppet. Yet, I found myself wanting just a bit more…grimness…you know?

The plot points are incredibly repetitive too. Each new situation is essentially the same: They meet people, Pino’s power is discovered, he uses it to try to help, things get worse, they run for their lives. There was a moment where I thought maybe the story would divert from that, but I was disappointed to find that character going insane over the puppet she wanted too.

In all, the story didn’t really grab me. It does have some nice messages suited for younger readers. The back of the book recommends ages 8-12 and I think that’s pretty spot on. This one was a bit too simplistic for me, but it’s a good start for readers ready to tackle a slim chapter book. I’ll be passing this one on to another home.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,100 reviews1 follower
November 22, 2020
A simple tale with the moral, "Be true to yourself".
Profile Image for Samuel.
Author 2 books31 followers
August 17, 2012
No history of writing for children is complete without a mention of Carlo Collodi's book, The Adventures of Pinocchio. Published in its complete form in 1883 after a serial run, and translated into English in 1892, it's one of the early classics of what we think of today as children's lit, and its iconic characters still hold a special place in popular culture.

It's also extremely dark and violent, especially by today's standards. In fact, the story originally ended with the title character's death by hanging (!), and only a public outcry and the requests of Collodi's editor prompted the writing of the second half of the novel, in which Pinocchio is rescued by the Fairy with Turquoise Hair (or "Blue Fairy," if you only know the Disney version).

Scott William Carter's new novel, Wooden Bones, picks up the story after the more familiar ending, the one in which Pinocchio at last becomes a real boy. However, he sticks with the bleak, almost nightmarish tone that pervades Collodi's original, producing something that in its essence is a genuine middle-grade horror novel -- not the cartoony "scares" of R.L. Stine and his followers, but a truly unsettling book.

In Carter's book, Pinocchio -- now going by the less unwieldy moniker of Pino -- discovers that he has the talent to make wood come to life. Although he tries to use this gift to be helpful, starting by animating a figure he has created to look like Gepetto's dead wife, he instead gets himself and Gepetto run out of town by an angry mob. As the pair flee, they encounter more people, many of whom want to use Pino's gift for their own ends. Additionally, Pino discovers that he seems to be slowly turning back into a puppet himself.

Some of the people that try to take advantage of Pino are simply evil, such as Queen Elendrew. But others are just people who want something -- something that in and of itself isn't even necessarily bad -- so much that they're willing to do anything, anything to get it. Desire can destroy even the best people, as the heartbreaking subplot with the disfigured singer Olivia goes to prove. It's a powerful lesson, one that keeps being repeated in new and more disheartening ways.

The places that Carter describes are breathtaking -- a city high in the trees, a scorched and dying forest filled with wolves, a seaside port town with muddy, cruel streets. The world stretches far beyond the confines of the pages, and not everything we see gets a full explanation. Even when something is explained, as when Gepetto figures out what's happening to Pino at the end of the book, the explanations may or may not be reliable. Indeed, the closest comparison to Wooden Bones might be last year's Breadcrumbs, which also took a classic story in a moody, ambivalent direction, setting it in a world full of inexplicable images and half-seen stories.

My favorite J-fiction novel of the year so far.
Profile Image for Leslie.
1,100 reviews35 followers
January 16, 2013
I adore fairy tales, but I am not a fan of Pinnochio (my own childhood issues). So I am not entirely sure why I took this one home from the Library to read other than that jacket copy and it was a slim volume. I’m glad I did. Scott William Carter not only carries the spirit of the characters through, but he holds true to the spirit/feel of the fairy tale.

There are some monstrous creatures and wondrous places. The peril is breathtaking for a juvenile fiction—and carried forth with less ego than Adam Gidwitz’s effort to (re)introduce children to Grimm. The adventure compounds, with a respite that tests the pacing, but Carter merely wants us to believe in the potential of a happy ending. oh, dear.

The story of Pino’s change, of who he is or even why he is, seems to move in the shadows of the survival-adventure, but it is an important thread that contributes to that difficult ending. And by difficult I mean that I was not sure how things were going to go—at all. There is much to do with identity in the vein of: what is meant, how things work out, and no matter how difficult it may be to understand some thing’s should not be changed/reversed—including Pinnochio himself. Loss is a recurrent visitor and an inescapable theme the reader must consider on some level. Wooden Bones has some very rich aspects to it that one can appreciate in the hands of a storyteller rather than a preacher.

The narrative is a third person limited with the odd (and only) “you” address to the readers on page 22, otherwise so smooth. I like how Scott William Carter creates symbols out of objects and haunts the novel with them (must be a short story writer). Understanding how Pino would use wood in descriptive terms is lovely. I adore the misdirections. I loved how completely absorbed I became and how moved by so many of the characters, their dangerous flaws and all. The imagination that Carter is able to translate is worth the while (that woods section, and the scar…) Wooden Bones is a wonderful find and one that not only fans of fairytales will truly appreciate.

recommendations: any and all, but probably above 8, older if sensitive. it does have the classic tale feel/elements so that is something to mind. lovers of tales, adventures, and/or wood [carpenters/carvers will find this read delightful].

L (omphaloskepsis)
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
Profile Image for John.
1,873 reviews60 followers
August 22, 2012
In this confusing but melodramatic sequel to The adventures of Pinocchio young Pino’s discovery that he can bring wood to life leads to a string of flights and deadly threats. With the best of intentions Pino carves a living model of Geppetto’s beloved dead wife Antoinette, a full body suit for a paraplegic Queen, and an unscarred copy of a singer with a ruined face. Not only does each supposed gift lead to violence—Antoinette, for instance, though reduced to a charred hulk in a fire, relentlessly drags herself along behind Pino until, in a disturbing scene, Geppetto shatters her with an axe—[127] but Pino finds himself turning slowly back into wood. The latter predicament disappears with the paradoxical revelation that it’s caused by Pino’s desire to be like other boys rather than accepting himself the way he is, and for the climactic escape Carter suggests that self interest trumps altruism as, with “the greatest amount of love a wood-carver could bring to his work,” [145] Pino slaps together an army of scrap wood attack puppets to rescue himself and Geppetto from the gallows. The themes may not bear close analysis but the general tone, episodic structure, and nonstop pacing are reminiscent of the original.
50 reviews3 followers
August 9, 2012
Pinocchio, the little wooden puppet made by the carpenter Gepetto and brought to life through magic, you would think that would be the end of the story, but Scott William Carter proves that this is only the background to the real story. A story of discovery and strength.

Carter does an amazing job capturing the essence of humanity in Pinocchio, focusing on how a boy who is different from everyone else, a boy altogether more pure and special, would feel and grow in a world fearful of him and his abilities.

Wooden Bones is dark, complex, and full of rich and inviting characters. The author breaths life into a story told time and time again, giving the story depth and making it into something altogether richer.

All in all, I have no trouble recommending Wooden Bones to anyone, and I fully intend to. I was sucked in and couldn’t put it down until the end. I know it’s a small book, and some might wonder if they should buy a book they might finish in a day or so, but believe me when I say that this book is beautifully written, edited to perfection, and is worth every penny it costs. A great book, go buy it now.
80 reviews
October 12, 2012
I purchased the book for the library because I like fractured/twisted fairy tales. I do enjoy the book, from an adult's perspective though. I think it's more of a book for 4th/5th graders and up. I also think it's an easy one to promote in the library. It's a story of self-discovery, courage, with good mix of adventure and creepy fantasy.

The author intended to reveal Pinocchio's life after the "reality" hit; and it was not a happy one. For Pino, his conciousness of his difference and his eagerness of wanting to "fit-in" by not being true to himself threatened his life as a real boy. Meanwhile, Pino's discovery of his "power" or "talent" also put Geppetto and himself in danger.

As the author set the path for Pino to learn to be true to himself and accept who he is, he is also showing him (or us the readers) that many "normal" or "real" human beings (i.e., the town people) are unwilling to be true to themselves, accept who they are, and give up what they lost, be it their loved ones, beauty, or agility.

The more I think about the book, the more I like it. Seriously, what would you do if you know someone who has Pino's talent/power?

Profile Image for Marathon County Public Library.
1,508 reviews52 followers
May 28, 2014

Since changing into a real boy, Pino discovers that being human is much more complicated than he observed when he was a wooden puppet. He loves his quiet life with his father Geppetto in the woodshop, but when carves a wooden puppet replica of Geppetto’s dead wife and discovers that he can magically bring her to life, their lives become irrevocably changed. They are forced to move from town to town to avoid the mad crowds of people who demand that they use (or misuse) their powers to fulfill their demands. This bizarre, interesting twist to the familiar Pinocchio fairytale is a quick, interesting read that tweens and adults will definitely enjoy.

Sharyn H. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
Profile Image for Samantha.
4,985 reviews59 followers
December 1, 2012
Since becoming a real boy all Pino has wanted is to live a quiet life with his papa Gepetto. He lovingly crafts a replica of Gepetto's late wife in puppet form and discovers that he has the gift to bring wood to life. When the villagers discover Pino's talent they want to use him to bring their loved ones back to life so Gepetto and Pino are chased from the village into the great unknown.

Along the way they meet people in different places who are all grieving and wish to reunite with their loved ones through Pino's unique gift, but Pino is finding that acting in ways others desire is causing his limbs to harden back into wood. He must be true to himself if he is to remain a real boy.

Action-packed and well written with a style reminiscent of the Oz novels (at least for me). I love books that take you beyond a well-known fairytale and this book does just that. Memorable characters and a clever plot make this a good book for grades 4-6.
Profile Image for Jean L. .
98 reviews4 followers
January 23, 2013
Short, dark epilogue to "Pinocchio". Not as grim or as well-written as David Henry Wilson's "The Coachman Rat" (alternate view of Cinderella story) but still interesting. I watched the Disney movie as a kid, then read the Carlo Collodi book and remember being surprised by how many terrible things happen to the living puppet, so it isn't surprising that things continue to be hard for Geppetto and son.
Profile Image for Vicky.
12 reviews
January 30, 2013
I quick and elegant read, beautifully paced with a timely message: Be true to yourself. Carter's slim novel takes up where the traditional Pinocchio story ends; what happens after Pinocchio becomes a real boy? Forced to escape their home village due to circumstances involving Pino's gift of bringing life to wood, the boy and his father Gepetto undergo many adventures through woods and villages. Lovely writing makes this a treat to read out loud.
Profile Image for Vicki.
316 reviews7 followers
May 1, 2013
Ever wonder what happened to Pinocchio after he was turned into a real boy? This dark tale continue his story, and when the local villagers discover that Pino has the magic to bring anything wooden to life, they pursue him and Geppetto relentlessly, forcing them to flee for their lives. Everyone wants to exploit Pino for their own ends, but Pino's magic comes at a cost. Every time he uses his magic, a part of him turns to wood again.
161 reviews
May 26, 2013
What do you think of when I say wooden boy? Do you think of the story of Pinocchio? He was a wooden puppet who became a real boy. In this book, Pino also has the gift of turning wood into real life. You see, it wasn't Geppetto's gift, it was Pinocchio who made the life possible. Now, you might think this is a cool thing to do. But it doesn't turn out that way. Everyone wants help bringing their loved ones back to life. On the run, the two are in for many adventures along the way.
Profile Image for Liz.
471 reviews13 followers
May 22, 2014
I found the ending pretty disappointing. I also don't understand how Pino and Gepphetto kept running into selfish and messed up people. They met zero kind and helpful people who didn't have an agenda/weird fetish for puppets of dead people. And the idea of "being true to oneself" doesn't feel that different from the moral of the FIRST Pinocchio "don't be a liar" so I'm not sure what the story was serving.
Profile Image for Leigh.
1,359 reviews31 followers
March 26, 2015
Wow. I think this is the best book I have read all year. There were chapters that made me cry, there were exciting action chapters, the characters seemed real and totally beleivable. This won't win the Newbery and that's a shame because really and truly, this is a fantastic book. But it's dark and grim (although the ending is upbeat) and dark and grim stories rarely win the Newbery.
Profile Image for Jenielle Haynes.
28 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2012
I really enjoyed reading this book. I first picked it up because of the cover, but after reading a few chapters i realized that it is a scary book about a real boy named Pino also known as Pinocio. After becoming a real boy and living with geppetto he realizes his world is not as perfect as he thought.
Profile Image for Sara-Zoe Patterson .
750 reviews9 followers
February 8, 2013
Start to finish adventure, but with a lot of character motive to think about. The story of what happens after happily ever after for Pinocchio and Gepetto, which isn't so happy but a lot more complex. If Gepetto gets to have a real boy, others insist, they should get to have loved ones to. Nice and scary, with more depth (though maybe a little bit less fun) than Tales Dark and Grimm.
Profile Image for Nicholas Elmore.
3 reviews1 follower
September 17, 2013
A great adventure book and partly scary for people who like that kind of genre.
It is the fairy tale pinoccio but threw the book his name is Pino.
He and his grandpa were ran away by wolfs and he tries to figure out why.
Pino was ran away into the forest and finds a city and cant go out of the city.
He finds a girl and she tries to help Pinoescape from the city.
Profile Image for Amy.
15 reviews1 follower
November 2, 2013
The spirit of fairy tales is kept alive! Not a fan of Pinocchio, I read this as a preview of the NH Lady Bug Award nominees. The descriptive language hooked me from the first page. It helps to build the plot that is full of adventure and suspense. This one is just creepy enough to thrill my 5th graders!
Profile Image for Dolores.
3,889 reviews10 followers
February 17, 2013
This book wonders what happened after Pinocchio became real. What would the townspeople think? Would they resent Gepetto's power? Or demand that he use the same power on their behalf. Action, adventure, suspense and magic all wrapped up in one quick little read.
Profile Image for L. Michelle.
62 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2013
Gripping continuation of Pinocchio's story, pushed forward into the concerns and motivations of parenthood and grief. At times the story felt told rather than unfolding on the page, but bare bones, stripped language made it easy to keep reading.
367 reviews1 follower
August 29, 2013
Honestly, with a cover like that, I read it only because it's on the Great Stone Face list. It doesn't deserve that cover. It's a dark, disturbing tale of what happens after Pinocchio becomes a real boy. And it's not really happily ever after at all.
Profile Image for Vicki.
4,952 reviews32 followers
September 25, 2012
A strange and somewhat disturbing story to me. There is much love between father and son in this book,which I loved, but it all seemed a bit creepy to me.
Profile Image for Megan.
192 reviews6 followers
June 14, 2013
Creepy. Strives to recapture the original Pinnochio's sense of episodic adventure and imminent doom, but in the end is just a grab bag of horror film imagery. Full disclosure: didn't finish
Profile Image for Sherry.
137 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2013
Eh, failed to draw me in. It drug on in parts and flew through parts where more detail/exploration would have made it more interesting. Gave it 50 pages and then quit.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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