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The Bone Dragon
The Bone Dragon by Alexia Casale is a stunning literary debut that explores the fragile boundaries between real life and fantasy. .
Evie's shattered ribs have been a secret for the last four years. Now she has found the strength to tell her adoptive parents, and the physical traces of her past are fixed - the only remaining signs a scar on her side and a fragment of bone taken home from the hospital, which her uncle Ben helps her to carve into a dragon as a sign of her strength.
Soon this ivory talisman begins to come to life at night, offering wisdom and encouragement in roaming dreams of smoke and moonlight that come to feel ever more real.
As Evie grows stronger there remains one problem her new parents can't fix for a revenge that must be taken. And it seems that the Dragon is the one to take it.
This subtly unsettling novel is told from the viewpoint of a fourteen-year-old girl damaged by a past she can't talk about, in a hypnotic narrative that, while giving increasing insight, also becomes increasingly unreliable.
A blend of psychological thriller and fairy tale, The Bone Dragon explores the fragile boundaries between real life and fantasy, and the darkest corners of the human mind.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2013
21 people are currently reading
1080 people want to read
About the author
Alexia Casale
12 books176 followersShortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. Longlisted for The Branford Boase Award. A Book of the Year 2013 for the Financial Times and Independent.
A British-American citizen of Italian heritage, Alexia is an author, editor and writing consultant. She also teaches English Literature and Writing.
After an MA in Social & Political Sciences (Psychology major) then MPhil in Educational Psychology & Technology, both at Cambridge University, she took a break from academia and moved to New York. There she worked on a Tony-award-winning Broadway show before returning to England to complete a PhD and teaching qualification. In between, she worked as a West End script-critic, box-office manager for a music festival and executive editor of a human rights journal.
She’s not sure which side of the family her dyslexia comes from, but is resigned to the fact that madness runs in both. She loves cats, collects glass animals and interesting knives, and has always wanted a dragon.
Alexia is represented by Claire Wilson of Rogers, Coleridge & White.
Her debut novel, The Bone Dragon, is published in English by Faber & Faber, and in German by Carlsen.
A British-American citizen of Italian heritage, Alexia is an author, editor and writing consultant. She also teaches English Literature and Writing.
After an MA in Social & Political Sciences (Psychology major) then MPhil in Educational Psychology & Technology, both at Cambridge University, she took a break from academia and moved to New York. There she worked on a Tony-award-winning Broadway show before returning to England to complete a PhD and teaching qualification. In between, she worked as a West End script-critic, box-office manager for a music festival and executive editor of a human rights journal.
She’s not sure which side of the family her dyslexia comes from, but is resigned to the fact that madness runs in both. She loves cats, collects glass animals and interesting knives, and has always wanted a dragon.
Alexia is represented by Claire Wilson of Rogers, Coleridge & White.
Her debut novel, The Bone Dragon, is published in English by Faber & Faber, and in German by Carlsen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
September 11, 2013
maybe 1,5 ....at the most. Being VERY generous.
What can I say about "The Bone Dragon"? It should be called "The Boring Dragon" or something like that.
Maybe this review contains spoilers...I don´t even care. Nothing happens in this book anyway.
It´s about Evie. a 14 y/o girl who somehow does not have a character at all. She just has a OMGWTF history (which you will not hear anything important about really) and is such a poor, poor baby.
She just had one of her ribs removed in surgery and that rib gets carved into a dragon. get it? The BONE DRAGON! DUN DUN DUUUUN!
Evie's social contacts (family & friends) are just one dimensional empty shells who are just there to pamper Evie or say something about Evie. The characters do not seem to exist for any other purpose than for Evie and lack any personality apart from "Evie's mom" or "Evie's nemesis".
Nothing happens throughout the book. No BS. Evie goes to school, is at home, talks to her dummies about banalities. She acts funny at times but receives nothing but deep and loving understanding, getting called "love" and "sweetheart" all the time. There is simply no development whatsoever.
But WAIT! There is more! Lets not forget about the dragon which comes to life at night! That sounds exciting, right? RIGHT?....NO!!
The dragon urges Evie to go out at night. Through her window. And then she walks a while and stands somewhere - maybe at a little pond - and....yeah...thats it. The dragon then babbles about planning something and does not make any sense until Evie returns home. SO MAGICAL!
But don´t get me wrong. There obviously is happening stuff in this story. The book just does not tell it. None of it. Imagine Harry Potter, without the Dursleys, without Voldemort, from the point of view of Hermiones second cousin Gertrude (muggle, of course). You may get to know that there is a magical school of witchcraft and wizardry somewhere, but, oh, look! Gertrude is eating brownies with her aunt Merideth while playing scrabble! Charming!
But I get it. Evie does not tell anyone anything important, so the book does not tell the reader anything important. So clever. And so boring.
I also almost went insane because of the style. The story is written well but what is it with all those repetitions?
"I ease forwards. slowly, slowly, slowly."
Two sentences later:
"I raise my hand slowly, slowly, slowly. His nose is like velvet, so softly stubbled and textured with fine,fine hair."
Now try not to rage at this!
No, I did not like this book. Yes, I saw the ending coming. I just imagined it to be kind of clever but it was not.
What can I say about "The Bone Dragon"? It should be called "The Boring Dragon" or something like that.
Maybe this review contains spoilers...I don´t even care. Nothing happens in this book anyway.
It´s about Evie. a 14 y/o girl who somehow does not have a character at all. She just has a OMGWTF history (which you will not hear anything important about really) and is such a poor, poor baby.
She just had one of her ribs removed in surgery and that rib gets carved into a dragon. get it? The BONE DRAGON! DUN DUN DUUUUN!
Evie's social contacts (family & friends) are just one dimensional empty shells who are just there to pamper Evie or say something about Evie. The characters do not seem to exist for any other purpose than for Evie and lack any personality apart from "Evie's mom" or "Evie's nemesis".
Nothing happens throughout the book. No BS. Evie goes to school, is at home, talks to her dummies about banalities. She acts funny at times but receives nothing but deep and loving understanding, getting called "love" and "sweetheart" all the time. There is simply no development whatsoever.
But WAIT! There is more! Lets not forget about the dragon which comes to life at night! That sounds exciting, right? RIGHT?....NO!!
The dragon urges Evie to go out at night. Through her window. And then she walks a while and stands somewhere - maybe at a little pond - and....yeah...thats it. The dragon then babbles about planning something and does not make any sense until Evie returns home. SO MAGICAL!
But don´t get me wrong. There obviously is happening stuff in this story. The book just does not tell it. None of it. Imagine Harry Potter, without the Dursleys, without Voldemort, from the point of view of Hermiones second cousin Gertrude (muggle, of course). You may get to know that there is a magical school of witchcraft and wizardry somewhere, but, oh, look! Gertrude is eating brownies with her aunt Merideth while playing scrabble! Charming!
But I get it. Evie does not tell anyone anything important, so the book does not tell the reader anything important. So clever. And so boring.
I also almost went insane because of the style. The story is written well but what is it with all those repetitions?
"I ease forwards. slowly, slowly, slowly."
Two sentences later:
"I raise my hand slowly, slowly, slowly. His nose is like velvet, so softly stubbled and textured with fine,fine hair."
Now try not to rage at this!
No, I did not like this book. Yes, I saw the ending coming. I just imagined it to be kind of clever but it was not.
May 10, 2013
Rating: 7/10
For four years, 14-year-old Evie has been living with broken ribs after being abused by her grandparents. Although she was adopted by Amy and Paul, who proved to be loving, devoted parents, it took three years before she trusted them enough to tell them about the pain and what it meant. When the novel opens she wakes up in hospital after her operation. As a memento, the doctor gives her the piece of rib that they removed. When she goes home to recover, Evie’s Uncle Ben suggests she make something out of the piece of rib, and she decides on a dragon – her ideal pet. Uncle Ben carves the bone into shape and Evie spends her recovery time etching scales and other details into the bone.
She only wishes her dragon could be real: “my chest was tight with longing. If I had a dragon, I’d never be powerless again”. And, inexplicably, Evie’s desperate wish comes true – the dragon comes to life at night and becomes her tiny but powerful guardian. Under the dragon’s direction, Evie sneaks out of the house at night and roams the almost mystical marshland of her neighbourhood. It is the dragon’s way of helping her heal and come to terms with the abuse and neglect she has suffered. But the dragon has a mysterious plan too, and he’s guiding Evie in the preparations for it. There is unfinished business that Evie cannot handle on her own, and that Paul, Amy and Ben could never handle for her.
At first glance, The Bone Dragon looks like a fantasy novel, but in truth it’s more a psychological drama that walks a fine line between fantasy and realism. At the borderline is the dragon – we never know if it really comes to life or if it’s only a product of Evie’s imagination and desperation. Initially it seems real, and indeed the simplest interpretation of this story is that the dragon comes to life. But as the story progresses you realise that Evie isn’t doing anything that she couldn’t do by herself. The dragon is certainly real to her in some way, but it might simply be a psychological tool, a means of pushing herself do dangerous, daring things, or another persona that does things the original Evie can’t or won’t. Whether she’s conscious of this psychological split is debatable; both possibilities are equally unsettling.
It does however, make The Bone Dragon one of the most sophisticated and psychologically compelling YA novels I’ve encountered. As I read, and then as I went through my review notes and re-considered the story, I was increasingly impressed by the psychology of Evie’s character. Some of the flaws that had bothered me actually became less significant as I admired the novel’s strengths.
Read the full review on my blog Violin in a Void
For four years, 14-year-old Evie has been living with broken ribs after being abused by her grandparents. Although she was adopted by Amy and Paul, who proved to be loving, devoted parents, it took three years before she trusted them enough to tell them about the pain and what it meant. When the novel opens she wakes up in hospital after her operation. As a memento, the doctor gives her the piece of rib that they removed. When she goes home to recover, Evie’s Uncle Ben suggests she make something out of the piece of rib, and she decides on a dragon – her ideal pet. Uncle Ben carves the bone into shape and Evie spends her recovery time etching scales and other details into the bone.
She only wishes her dragon could be real: “my chest was tight with longing. If I had a dragon, I’d never be powerless again”. And, inexplicably, Evie’s desperate wish comes true – the dragon comes to life at night and becomes her tiny but powerful guardian. Under the dragon’s direction, Evie sneaks out of the house at night and roams the almost mystical marshland of her neighbourhood. It is the dragon’s way of helping her heal and come to terms with the abuse and neglect she has suffered. But the dragon has a mysterious plan too, and he’s guiding Evie in the preparations for it. There is unfinished business that Evie cannot handle on her own, and that Paul, Amy and Ben could never handle for her.
At first glance, The Bone Dragon looks like a fantasy novel, but in truth it’s more a psychological drama that walks a fine line between fantasy and realism. At the borderline is the dragon – we never know if it really comes to life or if it’s only a product of Evie’s imagination and desperation. Initially it seems real, and indeed the simplest interpretation of this story is that the dragon comes to life. But as the story progresses you realise that Evie isn’t doing anything that she couldn’t do by herself. The dragon is certainly real to her in some way, but it might simply be a psychological tool, a means of pushing herself do dangerous, daring things, or another persona that does things the original Evie can’t or won’t. Whether she’s conscious of this psychological split is debatable; both possibilities are equally unsettling.
It does however, make The Bone Dragon one of the most sophisticated and psychologically compelling YA novels I’ve encountered. As I read, and then as I went through my review notes and re-considered the story, I was increasingly impressed by the psychology of Evie’s character. Some of the flaws that had bothered me actually became less significant as I admired the novel’s strengths.
Read the full review on my blog Violin in a Void
May 3, 2018
I enjoyed the first 100 pages or so, but then I was just bored throughout the rest of the book.
July 16, 2015
This book just wasn't my cup of tea.
I was put off almost straight away by the seemingly slow and very confusing beginning. It took me a long long time to get into this book and by the time I did get in to it I just wasn't feeling it any more.
It's a quirky idea, the bone dragon, and it did work. But the trickle of information about Evie's past was just too slow for me, too patchy. I found myself flicking back a lot to jog my memory.
I think I'll give this book another go in a few months time. It was good, but just not for me, not right now.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
I was put off almost straight away by the seemingly slow and very confusing beginning. It took me a long long time to get into this book and by the time I did get in to it I just wasn't feeling it any more.
It's a quirky idea, the bone dragon, and it did work. But the trickle of information about Evie's past was just too slow for me, too patchy. I found myself flicking back a lot to jog my memory.
I think I'll give this book another go in a few months time. It was good, but just not for me, not right now.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
October 10, 2017
I found this dark, angry dreamlike tale enthralling from start to finish. Evie' s past was dripfed to the reader, without outlining what happened completely. To start with I found this infuriating, but having thought about it, I feel that this would be how Evie would have preferred it.
However, what I think I'll really take away from this book is just how nice everyone was and just how refreshing it was to read love being written about without any ulterior motive. Oh, and just how adorable Uncle Ben was.
However, what I think I'll really take away from this book is just how nice everyone was and just how refreshing it was to read love being written about without any ulterior motive. Oh, and just how adorable Uncle Ben was.
April 15, 2013
The Bone Dragon is such a powerful debut novel. I’ve wanted to read this novel for a while, the synopsis intrigued me straight away and then the cover fully hooked me, after all it’s gorgeous. To be honest I’m not really sure what I was expecting when I picked up this novel. I wasn’t expecting such a raw and powerful story with such a strong main character. Alexia Casale has shown that she is a talented writer who can pack such an emotional punch in her prose. The Bone Dragon left me wanting more, I couldn’t believe when it ended, I wanted the novel to continue so I could learn so much more about Evie. It’s an emotional ride that’s mixed with mystic and magic, set against the vivid backdrop of the fens.
The novel begins when Evie wakes up in hospital after her operation. The only thing left over from the terrible past is a piece of rib bone that she carves into a dragon with her Uncle Ben. Evie is in a lot of pain after the operation and one night she wishes on this dragon. She soon begins to have dragon dreams where the dragon comes alive and helps Evie gain back her strength. It’s there to protect her and the dragon has a plan. In her dragon dreams, it takes her out into the fens to explore as he plots the steps of this plan, but he doesn’t let Evie know the ultimate goal. Evie’s life has been tough and things finally begin to look up, except there is one thing that will never go away and it’s that she’s most scared of.
Poor Evie has been through a hell of a lot. She is a damaged child and that of course has affected her mind and well-being. She’s very cautious about things and will never tell anyone the truth about her injuries, except her adoptive parents. She’s fragile but she has the life of a normal teenager. She still goes to school and has best friends who have girly days out together. She has some very caring protective parents and an awesome uncle. These people have welcomed her into their home and for once she feels like she belongs and can trust them with the harsh truth of her past. I loved the way Casale has dealt with such a troubled character and made her so interesting and engaging to the reader. She has many past problems and it was interesting to see how it was dealt with in the novel and seeing small snippets of her past coming back to her. Evie cannot remember everything from her past as it was so disturbing and even now she wishes she could forget. Despite this there is some strength to the character, she is determined to go on and fit in with her new family. The Dragon seems to symbolise the inner strength that Evie has even if it is buried deep inside under all the hurt and pain. It is and will always be there if you dig hard enough. In a way it shows hope too, hope that in the future things will get better. I am still surprised at the sheer depth to the character and how real she felt. It really feels like I know Evie after reading this book. She is an unforgettable character and one that will stay with me for a while yet.
Weaving into Evie’s story is that of her adoptive parents and their dead son. I also found it really interesting learning about their loss and how Evie has helped them not to combat it, but to accept it. She isn’t a replacement; she’s another addition to the family. I liked the contrast between the two different types of pain and loss, with Evie’s past and Amy and Paul’s loss. Alexia has shown that there is a variety of pain in the world and neither will be the same. There’s this underlining hope that together they can heal, it’s touching and very emotional to watch.
The Bone Dragon is… There are so many ways I can start this sentence but none of them seem to fully fit the emotion and power this novel has hidden in its pages. You have some incredible characters that are all so realistic, each with their own little flaw. I particularly liked how Evie could tell by certain things that her adoptive parents were lying. It’s these small details that add to the depth of the storytelling and make it even better. If you’re looking for a promising new writer, then Alexia Casale is the one you want. The Bone Dragon has the correct mix of mystery, pain, adventure, happiness and of course an enchanted dragon. It’s a book that, not only will you enjoy, but it will also stay with you for a long while. So there you have it, I don’t even want to say goodbye but this review is already long. The Bone Dragon is simply a book that you should all read.
The novel begins when Evie wakes up in hospital after her operation. The only thing left over from the terrible past is a piece of rib bone that she carves into a dragon with her Uncle Ben. Evie is in a lot of pain after the operation and one night she wishes on this dragon. She soon begins to have dragon dreams where the dragon comes alive and helps Evie gain back her strength. It’s there to protect her and the dragon has a plan. In her dragon dreams, it takes her out into the fens to explore as he plots the steps of this plan, but he doesn’t let Evie know the ultimate goal. Evie’s life has been tough and things finally begin to look up, except there is one thing that will never go away and it’s that she’s most scared of.
Poor Evie has been through a hell of a lot. She is a damaged child and that of course has affected her mind and well-being. She’s very cautious about things and will never tell anyone the truth about her injuries, except her adoptive parents. She’s fragile but she has the life of a normal teenager. She still goes to school and has best friends who have girly days out together. She has some very caring protective parents and an awesome uncle. These people have welcomed her into their home and for once she feels like she belongs and can trust them with the harsh truth of her past. I loved the way Casale has dealt with such a troubled character and made her so interesting and engaging to the reader. She has many past problems and it was interesting to see how it was dealt with in the novel and seeing small snippets of her past coming back to her. Evie cannot remember everything from her past as it was so disturbing and even now she wishes she could forget. Despite this there is some strength to the character, she is determined to go on and fit in with her new family. The Dragon seems to symbolise the inner strength that Evie has even if it is buried deep inside under all the hurt and pain. It is and will always be there if you dig hard enough. In a way it shows hope too, hope that in the future things will get better. I am still surprised at the sheer depth to the character and how real she felt. It really feels like I know Evie after reading this book. She is an unforgettable character and one that will stay with me for a while yet.
Weaving into Evie’s story is that of her adoptive parents and their dead son. I also found it really interesting learning about their loss and how Evie has helped them not to combat it, but to accept it. She isn’t a replacement; she’s another addition to the family. I liked the contrast between the two different types of pain and loss, with Evie’s past and Amy and Paul’s loss. Alexia has shown that there is a variety of pain in the world and neither will be the same. There’s this underlining hope that together they can heal, it’s touching and very emotional to watch.
The Bone Dragon is… There are so many ways I can start this sentence but none of them seem to fully fit the emotion and power this novel has hidden in its pages. You have some incredible characters that are all so realistic, each with their own little flaw. I particularly liked how Evie could tell by certain things that her adoptive parents were lying. It’s these small details that add to the depth of the storytelling and make it even better. If you’re looking for a promising new writer, then Alexia Casale is the one you want. The Bone Dragon has the correct mix of mystery, pain, adventure, happiness and of course an enchanted dragon. It’s a book that, not only will you enjoy, but it will also stay with you for a long while. So there you have it, I don’t even want to say goodbye but this review is already long. The Bone Dragon is simply a book that you should all read.
October 23, 2013
Honestly I was extremely disappointed in this book. The protagonist, (named Evie) is a girl with a dark past that leads her to have rib surgery. After the operation she begins to heal with the help of a dragon. This dragon was carved from the rib that was removed from her body. She wishes for the dragon to come alive and so it does. The two begin to have midnight adventures and so I was pretty excited at the start of it. However the book went downhill from there. Evie whines about her life and the people in it while she also refuses to take the dragon's advice. Furthermore the entire reason why she had the rib surgery is extremely vague and never really explained. There are lots of different people in her life, her foster or adoptive parents Amy and Paul, someone named Fiona and "Fiona's Parents" as they are referred to the entire time. What really killed it for me was the fact that I couldn't even enjoy the story because I was too confused trying to figure out the subtle abstract hints to this weird traumatic event that Evie experienced before the book starts. The author tries to be poetic and descriptive which is admirable but it is to a fault where it is so surreal that it makes no sense and you as the reader have no idea what things you are supposed to be understanding and what things you are supposed to be figured out. It robbed the book of its essence, the characters were one dimensional. There is hardly any thought for a setting. The dragon is never fully explained or fleshed out. This book was off to a great start but it was a real let down.
April 27, 2014
I picked up The Bone Dragon in my library not knowing anything about the book or it’s author. It was in the young adult section, I liked the cover, there were good reviews quoted (although none from any major newspapers) and I thought the blurb was interesting:
"Dreams are the fire that warms the soul. Evie refuses to talk about why she needed an operation. Saying it out loud would hurt too much.
Instead, she focuses on carving the piece of her rib that the doctors removed into a tiny dragon – a dragon that comes to life at night, helping her to heal. Finally, she can feel safe again.
But Evie’s dragon-dreams are becoming more and more powerful, and soon the dragon is calling for revenge…"
Evie is a complex protagonist and her story is gradually unraveled through her thoughts and conversations – and through her interactions with the dragon created from her rib (known only as Dragon throughout). It is her search for justice and peace in her family, that is at the heart of this book for me. While the scenes of nature, when Evie is out exploring with Dragon, are beautifully described, my favourite are the everyday features that are slightly different for Evie because of her background. The ending has been quite controversial, and I certainly didn’t expect it, but it was very satisfying, and I was left thinking about it for a while afterwards.
Indeed the book was so good that I had to immediately tweet my reaction to it (‘absolutely BRILLIANT, gripping novel’) and then search around the internet to see what other people thought (and squeak slightly when the author replied on Twitter). To my gratified surprise, whilst this book is Alexia Casale’s debut, there are numerous reviews, including the Guardian, all – as far as I can see – positive.
What confused me about the book, and initially put me off, but is it’s advantage in hindsight, is the dragon element. It is this which makes it transcend boundaries from fantasy to psychological thriller, and back and forth and back and forth. Yes, the book is dark (I haven’t gone into details because I don’t want to give spoilers in my reviews, but a quick search will inform you), yes Evie is less of a flowers, honesty and goodness, sort of YA heroine – you can’t really call her a heroine – but that’s all for the better. We need more complex, mixed up, female (and male) characters in young adult books, fantasy or not. Because they’re true to life – and the stories are therefore much more interesting.
"Dreams are the fire that warms the soul. Evie refuses to talk about why she needed an operation. Saying it out loud would hurt too much.
Instead, she focuses on carving the piece of her rib that the doctors removed into a tiny dragon – a dragon that comes to life at night, helping her to heal. Finally, she can feel safe again.
But Evie’s dragon-dreams are becoming more and more powerful, and soon the dragon is calling for revenge…"
Evie is a complex protagonist and her story is gradually unraveled through her thoughts and conversations – and through her interactions with the dragon created from her rib (known only as Dragon throughout). It is her search for justice and peace in her family, that is at the heart of this book for me. While the scenes of nature, when Evie is out exploring with Dragon, are beautifully described, my favourite are the everyday features that are slightly different for Evie because of her background. The ending has been quite controversial, and I certainly didn’t expect it, but it was very satisfying, and I was left thinking about it for a while afterwards.
Indeed the book was so good that I had to immediately tweet my reaction to it (‘absolutely BRILLIANT, gripping novel’) and then search around the internet to see what other people thought (and squeak slightly when the author replied on Twitter). To my gratified surprise, whilst this book is Alexia Casale’s debut, there are numerous reviews, including the Guardian, all – as far as I can see – positive.
What confused me about the book, and initially put me off, but is it’s advantage in hindsight, is the dragon element. It is this which makes it transcend boundaries from fantasy to psychological thriller, and back and forth and back and forth. Yes, the book is dark (I haven’t gone into details because I don’t want to give spoilers in my reviews, but a quick search will inform you), yes Evie is less of a flowers, honesty and goodness, sort of YA heroine – you can’t really call her a heroine – but that’s all for the better. We need more complex, mixed up, female (and male) characters in young adult books, fantasy or not. Because they’re true to life – and the stories are therefore much more interesting.
August 9, 2013
If you like a slower, more subdued read, then The Bone Dragon might be a good choice for you. There are a lot of tough issues addressed in this book, and they were often subtly and carefully explored. Evie’s traumatic past and delicate relationships with her foster family are handled very well. I could feel her grief, understand her desire for secrecy, and empathize with her feelings of wanting to be loved. The other characters were pretty well rounded out, and I really appreciated the way the relationships between so many of them were examined — and grew — throughout the story.
Where I had trouble with The Bone Dragon was in the pace. Despite the mysteries developing and problems that arise, it felt like it took a long time for things to happen. I wanted to see a lot more of the dragon, but it seemed to be a pretty minor character overall. The ending was also quite a surprise, and one that I’m still not sure I’m really happy with. I won’t spoil anything, but I was left feeling kind of let down instead of fascinated (as I had hoped I would be).
Only stupid people think innocence is some weird state of not-knowing that children grow out of once they start to understand innuendo. Or maybe it’s not that they’re stupid: maybe it’s just that in some weird grown-up way they are still innocent. Because otherwise they’d know better: they’d understand, even if they couldn’t really explain it, that innocence is so much bigger. It’s every aspect of life you have before you know how precious and wonderful it is to be ignorant. It’s all the time you spend rushing, rushing to know, never expecting to find grief waiting beside knowledge.
Where I had trouble with The Bone Dragon was in the pace. Despite the mysteries developing and problems that arise, it felt like it took a long time for things to happen. I wanted to see a lot more of the dragon, but it seemed to be a pretty minor character overall. The ending was also quite a surprise, and one that I’m still not sure I’m really happy with. I won’t spoil anything, but I was left feeling kind of let down instead of fascinated (as I had hoped I would be).
July 19, 2020
Honesty one of the most boring books I've ever read. There is no story--which is an incredible shame because it felt like the possibility for an exciting one is presented at the beginning. When Evie has a piece of her ribcage removed and carved into a dragon that comes alive at night, I was genuinely thinking that the book might go for a theme of these nightly escapades, that Evie uses to deal with her traumatic past, which in the end the reader is left to decide whether they were real or some kind of dream or imagination of Evie's. That would have been SO cool!
So of course we don't get that.
Instead the whole book feels like a pity party for Evie, who's traumatic past isn't fully even delved into. And I'm not against dwelling on dark events--heck, that's what makes it feel emphatic and real for the characters. But it just never stops. By the end it feels like all the characters have just devolved from actual people into petty, bitter moaners. Genuinely there's no plot, and I felt thoroughly exhausted by the end--completely numb and unable to sympathise with the characters since the tone hadn't shifted almost at all.
Won't be revisiting this one.
So of course we don't get that.
Instead the whole book feels like a pity party for Evie, who's traumatic past isn't fully even delved into. And I'm not against dwelling on dark events--heck, that's what makes it feel emphatic and real for the characters. But it just never stops. By the end it feels like all the characters have just devolved from actual people into petty, bitter moaners. Genuinely there's no plot, and I felt thoroughly exhausted by the end--completely numb and unable to sympathise with the characters since the tone hadn't shifted almost at all.
Won't be revisiting this one.
November 15, 2018
The Bone Dragon follows the story of 14-year-old girl Evie after an operation involving a broken rib. She has not told anyone of the truth of how she broke her rib, instead opting to tell them she was in a car crash. This is far from the truth, though, as her adoptive parents Amy and Paul should know.
After the operation, the doctors give her the detached rib as a keepsake. Like any normal girl, she asks her Uncle Ben to help her carve this bone into a majestic dragon since unicorns would be no use to her. With his help, the titular Bone Dragon is created, acting as her means of relaxing when times are rough.
One night, Evie wishes on the stars above, hoping her dragon would come to life. To her surprise, it does, taking form as a midnight blue reptile that shines brilliantly in the night. From the wish, the Dragon is obligated to follow a contract to help Evie out with her life.
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Let me say this right now, this book is extremely well-written. Alexia Casale is very skilled with her words, creating paintings through dream-like descriptions. I can imagine almost every scene in the book as if I was watching a movie, the words popping into images in my head.
Other than the descriptive quality of the story itself, the characters are surprisingly likable. Evie herself is more than just the stereotypical edgy teenager, as she isn't moody or glum all the time. She experiences joy, contentment, love, and warmth. However, she knows she is different, as the pain she had gone through before the start of the book has changed her in such a way that it becomes hard for her to relate to others her age. As such, her struggle in the story feels raw and real, and so is her character.
Amy, Paul, and Uncle Ben, her adoptive family, are also strong and well-written characters. All three of them had gone through a similar, yet different, struggle of losing what they once had. Their character throughout the book would make the story incomplete and emotionless without them.
The Dragon is the most mysterious character in the story, and as such, its character suffers a bit, especially nearing the end. It is snarky and wise, preferring to withdraw information from Evie until she is ready. It is proud and powerful, but that's about it in terms of personality. For such an important piece of the story, the Dragon is rather one-dimensional.
Despite this, The Bone Dragon's story managed to keep me interested throughout the entire book, with scenes that simply surprised me from how unexpected they were. The ending was a bit predictable, but the payoff to the end of Evie's character arc was truly worth it.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy more slow-paced stories with a slice of life aspect thrown into it. The Bone Dragon is for a more casual, slow, laid-back read more than a fast-paced adventure. For those who enjoy more fast-paced literature, this might not be the book for you.
Overall, The Bone Dragon gets 9 matchboxes out of 10.
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"But facts don't change people; it's understanding how the facts feel that does."
- Evie, The Bone Dragon
After the operation, the doctors give her the detached rib as a keepsake. Like any normal girl, she asks her Uncle Ben to help her carve this bone into a majestic dragon since unicorns would be no use to her. With his help, the titular Bone Dragon is created, acting as her means of relaxing when times are rough.
One night, Evie wishes on the stars above, hoping her dragon would come to life. To her surprise, it does, taking form as a midnight blue reptile that shines brilliantly in the night. From the wish, the Dragon is obligated to follow a contract to help Evie out with her life.
----------------------------------------------
Let me say this right now, this book is extremely well-written. Alexia Casale is very skilled with her words, creating paintings through dream-like descriptions. I can imagine almost every scene in the book as if I was watching a movie, the words popping into images in my head.
Other than the descriptive quality of the story itself, the characters are surprisingly likable. Evie herself is more than just the stereotypical edgy teenager, as she isn't moody or glum all the time. She experiences joy, contentment, love, and warmth. However, she knows she is different, as the pain she had gone through before the start of the book has changed her in such a way that it becomes hard for her to relate to others her age. As such, her struggle in the story feels raw and real, and so is her character.
Amy, Paul, and Uncle Ben, her adoptive family, are also strong and well-written characters. All three of them had gone through a similar, yet different, struggle of losing what they once had. Their character throughout the book would make the story incomplete and emotionless without them.
The Dragon is the most mysterious character in the story, and as such, its character suffers a bit, especially nearing the end. It is snarky and wise, preferring to withdraw information from Evie until she is ready. It is proud and powerful, but that's about it in terms of personality. For such an important piece of the story, the Dragon is rather one-dimensional.
Despite this, The Bone Dragon's story managed to keep me interested throughout the entire book, with scenes that simply surprised me from how unexpected they were. The ending was a bit predictable, but the payoff to the end of Evie's character arc was truly worth it.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy more slow-paced stories with a slice of life aspect thrown into it. The Bone Dragon is for a more casual, slow, laid-back read more than a fast-paced adventure. For those who enjoy more fast-paced literature, this might not be the book for you.
Overall, The Bone Dragon gets 9 matchboxes out of 10.
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"But facts don't change people; it's understanding how the facts feel that does."
- Evie, The Bone Dragon
Read
December 15, 20130/5 stars
The cover was too nice for this book. It was obvious from the start that the bone dragon wasn't alive at all - it was just Evie making everything up. There are even hints. The universe the writer builds does not seem able to support the 'magic' of the bone dragon, unless you count all of the flowery flower descriptions that make no sense to non-gardeners and people living outside England. Hooray, she's such a hormonal, virginal girl. I find that the people around her also spoil her too much. Thank god Evie is not really a whining brat, or I would have thrown the book out of the window. However, she is a very malicious girl, and tries to pretend her evil half away by being the perfect little daughter for her adoptive parents. In short, she is a sickening character. It would have been better stylistically if the author had chosen to write this book from third-person perspective, because Evie is an unreliable narrator. She conveniently omits or plays down the parts where she is violent to other people, and tries to portray herself as a beautiful soul who is oh-so-pitiful and oh-so-sensitive and artsy that she is so good in English and ooh, she got top marks in History! What a little genius! No, she isn't really. Girl, you don't understand Hamlet because you've I'm so sorry. I just can't stand the way she's making herself into such a tragic-hero character. If not tragedy, then where is the heroism? I think she wants to believe in that make-believe so much that she often deletes her memories as well.
"This magical book will leave you thunderstruck." Yes, thunderstruck that there was no real magic and that I spent a few hours of my life reading such trash. Also, an entry I read in a writing competition is EXTREMELY similar to the opening of this book. It would be exciting if plagiarism was involved - two mediocre people would get into a catfight. It would be so amusing.
Anyway, there didn't seem to be a proper resolution to the book. Even the characters said themselves, they didn't really have to do anything, and instead of seeking true healing by letting Evie move on the author allows Evie an outlet for her hate and spite. It is interesting to see that such behaviour is considered acceptable in that perfectly, overly-British setting where all the adults are madly deluded that they're doing the right thing but in reality are only saying and doing things that will make themselves feel better, in their selfish and self-important British fashion. Aww, it's so nice that they're trying to be kind. This book is so full of British clichés and British slang in awkward places that I'm surprised the author didn't go the whole hog and put "innit" in it. (see what I did there?)
Ms Winters is a horrible person as a counselor. Evie writes good things about her but the dialogue and her actions say otherwise. Supposedly, she is 'different' from all the 'stupid' counselors. No, she is not. Uncle Ben is too good for that woman. I would have slapped that witch long ago for being so presumptuous. How Evie treats her as a 'friend', I have no idea. Speaking of Uncle Ben, he has a love for Evie that reminds me of Humbert Humbert's 'love' for Lolita. Amy is nice, if a little foolish, and Paul is not a bad person either, though he engages in childish activities with Uncle Ben. I feel bad that they have to deal with Evie's drama.
The only part that left me aching in the book was such a small part, and it sucks to think that something as monumental as *gasp* can be totally blown away by one little detail. Unfortunately, that single moment, even with the beautiful book cover, is not enough to earn ONE measly star for this...book.
In summary, I don't hate this book. I just feel sorry that such books exist. The noble dragon certainly deserves a much better book to star in. I adore the majesty of dragons, and this Muggle (i.e. non-magical) book has in no way satisfied my quest for tales of glorious dragon adventures. Evie, and definitely none of the other characters (even the dragon itself) do NOT deserve a dragon, and they will never, EVER deserve a Chinese dragon.
November 11, 2022
Good twist! Comfortable writing style. Very enjoyable but not mind blowing. :)
June 15, 2013
I got this book free from NetGalley, many thanks to the publishers at Faber and Faber. When we first meet Evie in this novel she is recovering from an operation to mend her ribs, damaged in a horrifying way. The doctors let her take home a fragment of one of her bones that had to be removed, with which the help of her Uncle Ben, she carves into a beautiful dragon. Although at the start a lot of information is not provided, the reader can deduce that Evie is a profoundly unhappy little girl, who has been through a traumatic time, but is now loved completely and unconditionally by her adoptive parents, Amy and Paul who have had a sad loss of their own – their little boy, who died in a car accident along with their brothers wife.
Evie wishes upon a star that her dragon becomes real (because how cool would it be to have a dragon for a pet?!), and her wish comes true. The dragon (who has no name) takes her out of her own sad situation metaphorically and literally and she begins to view the beauty in the environment around her. The dragon becomes her strength and her shoulder to cry on, and imparts useful words of wisdom along the way. But there is a darker side to this tale…. not only is Evie’s past so tragic that it fills the reader full of emotion for her, but the dragon becomes a useful means of exacting revenge on those who deserve it.
This was a stunning, gripping piece of work that I couldn’t believe fell into the realms of YA, as it’s been a while since I’ve read a YA book with such passion and beauty. The magical undertone I’m always a bit of a sucker for, but it was the style of writing and the blend of both the information you are given and that which you have to work out yourself, that had me hook, line and sinker. My favourite characters were Evie, her Uncle Ben and the Dragon (obviously!) which were beautifully realised and completely compelling. I got slightly annoyed by Evie’s adoptive mother Amy at times, as her over-protectiveness got slightly grating, but this was something so slight, it’s hardly worth mentioning. The only other thing is that the copy I received had words stuck together on every single page, which made reading a bit laborious at times, but is not the fault of the author, and did not spoil my enjoyment of this rich and captivating tale.
Please see my full review at http://www.bibliobeth.wordpress.com
Evie wishes upon a star that her dragon becomes real (because how cool would it be to have a dragon for a pet?!), and her wish comes true. The dragon (who has no name) takes her out of her own sad situation metaphorically and literally and she begins to view the beauty in the environment around her. The dragon becomes her strength and her shoulder to cry on, and imparts useful words of wisdom along the way. But there is a darker side to this tale…. not only is Evie’s past so tragic that it fills the reader full of emotion for her, but the dragon becomes a useful means of exacting revenge on those who deserve it.
This was a stunning, gripping piece of work that I couldn’t believe fell into the realms of YA, as it’s been a while since I’ve read a YA book with such passion and beauty. The magical undertone I’m always a bit of a sucker for, but it was the style of writing and the blend of both the information you are given and that which you have to work out yourself, that had me hook, line and sinker. My favourite characters were Evie, her Uncle Ben and the Dragon (obviously!) which were beautifully realised and completely compelling. I got slightly annoyed by Evie’s adoptive mother Amy at times, as her over-protectiveness got slightly grating, but this was something so slight, it’s hardly worth mentioning. The only other thing is that the copy I received had words stuck together on every single page, which made reading a bit laborious at times, but is not the fault of the author, and did not spoil my enjoyment of this rich and captivating tale.
Please see my full review at http://www.bibliobeth.wordpress.com
July 9, 2016
wow wow this was lovely. i'm docking one star (more like half a star, if we could do half-stars) because i do think the ending was a bit abrupt and neat, but it's not totally uncalled for given that this is a story about a dragon helping a child abuse victim cope.
this is not abuse/trauma recovery porn and i think that's important. it would be so easy to do that with this type of story -- Evie is a young teen who was given up after some horrible abuse, and adopted by truly kind parents who had lost their son in a tragic accident. while there are snippets of memories that give some insight to what happened to Evie, there is no full gruesome reveal. instead, it's a story about Evie learning to accept that people can love her -- her friends, her parents -- and fitting completely into their lives, with a bit of magical realism and healing from a dragon. i'm not gonna lie, i definitely got misty-eyed at a few parts but it's because the emotions are REAL.
absolutely worth the read!
Don't ask me about unicorns.
"I don't want to," I say. "They only go to the pure. Those who are chaste."
You have no need of a unicorn, the Dragon tells me firmly. It would be of no use to you. It is well that you wished for a dragon. You have need of me.
this is not abuse/trauma recovery porn and i think that's important. it would be so easy to do that with this type of story -- Evie is a young teen who was given up after some horrible abuse, and adopted by truly kind parents who had lost their son in a tragic accident. while there are snippets of memories that give some insight to what happened to Evie, there is no full gruesome reveal. instead, it's a story about Evie learning to accept that people can love her -- her friends, her parents -- and fitting completely into their lives, with a bit of magical realism and healing from a dragon. i'm not gonna lie, i definitely got misty-eyed at a few parts but it's because the emotions are REAL.
The only thing next is the staples coming out and going back to school and the world going on. Because it always does. Even when it shouldn't possibly be able to because no one should have to keep on living when it's beyond unbearable. But the world doesn't care about that. And somehow hearts don't stop, even though it isn't possible they should keep on beating. And people don't just stop breathing. Instead they find out there are infinite places beyond unbearable.
absolutely worth the read!
July 9, 2013
Review by Beth
My review of this novel begins with WOW. I was not expecting anything special, especially when I read the title and synopsis but I always like being proven wrong. The Bone Dragon is brilliant. Not a quick read like some of the others recently, I took my time and savoured every bit of action and twist in the plot.
Evie has been broken, literally to bits but is slowly being mended in no small part due to her adoptive parents and new family. She’s lived through abuse and her new life surrounded by people who genuinely care is hard to slot into, but she’s trying. Her Dragon charm seems to be the one thing to help her make a change, it’s a symbol of where she can go not where she’s been and although the Dragon and scenes featuring him are very much fantasy it didn’t put me off at all. I was hooked to Evie’s story and completely loved her character.
This novel is incredibly dark, even the lighter moments, where Evie tries to spend time with her friends and get on with school like a ‘normal’ pupil there’s always a sense that she can’t overcome her differentness. All the small nuances from her fiery hatred of the school bully to her adoptive mother’s obsessive worrying make the whole novel more complete and believable. Casale blends fantasy with all the features of a fantastic psychological thriller and it’s an extremely powerful debut which leaves me wanting more from the author.
I want to know what happens to Evie and knowing that I can’t is so annoying. It does show that Casale creates pretty awesome characters.
My review of this novel begins with WOW. I was not expecting anything special, especially when I read the title and synopsis but I always like being proven wrong. The Bone Dragon is brilliant. Not a quick read like some of the others recently, I took my time and savoured every bit of action and twist in the plot.
Evie has been broken, literally to bits but is slowly being mended in no small part due to her adoptive parents and new family. She’s lived through abuse and her new life surrounded by people who genuinely care is hard to slot into, but she’s trying. Her Dragon charm seems to be the one thing to help her make a change, it’s a symbol of where she can go not where she’s been and although the Dragon and scenes featuring him are very much fantasy it didn’t put me off at all. I was hooked to Evie’s story and completely loved her character.
This novel is incredibly dark, even the lighter moments, where Evie tries to spend time with her friends and get on with school like a ‘normal’ pupil there’s always a sense that she can’t overcome her differentness. All the small nuances from her fiery hatred of the school bully to her adoptive mother’s obsessive worrying make the whole novel more complete and believable. Casale blends fantasy with all the features of a fantastic psychological thriller and it’s an extremely powerful debut which leaves me wanting more from the author.
I want to know what happens to Evie and knowing that I can’t is so annoying. It does show that Casale creates pretty awesome characters.
September 1, 2013
This should have got a fourth star, it was written well and the story was an interesting one, unfortunately there were just too many niggly bits about it to make me not like it THAT much.
Although it tells you on the blurb how old or character is,I had this on the kindle, and had to guess, I'd figured somewhere right by the time the book mentioned it.
It was too vague, in terms of what happened in the abuse, and what happened to make Fiona decide to give her away, and what had happened to Paul and Amy's family.
Tried too hard to be mysterious about the activities of Ben and Paul, which aren't that big a deal.
Too much hot chocolate (I know an being picky now, but still).
I still can't decide if the Dragon was real, or someone was losing their mind...
Never the less, it was far paced, and the right amount of creepy and sinister....
Although it tells you on the blurb how old or character is,I had this on the kindle, and had to guess, I'd figured somewhere right by the time the book mentioned it.
It was too vague, in terms of what happened in the abuse, and what happened to make Fiona decide to give her away, and what had happened to Paul and Amy's family.
Tried too hard to be mysterious about the activities of Ben and Paul, which aren't that big a deal.
Too much hot chocolate (I know an being picky now, but still).
I still can't decide if the Dragon was real, or someone was losing their mind...
Never the less, it was far paced, and the right amount of creepy and sinister....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2018
Can I just start off by saying that the ending made me laugh by how sudden and completely ridiculous it was! 😂😍
Okay, so I don't know what I expected from The Bone Dragon but I was pleasantly surprised by its thoughtful and quite beautiful telling. I'm finding it difficult to explain exactly what this book is but it had a dragon (who may or may not be real) and a sensitive subject that is very sensitively spoken about and dealt with.
Parts of it made me feel happy inside and I only got angry once at our main character, Evie (ngl, I expected more anger but she's actually a decent character). There was no romance for Evie (which is a good thing, she's 14, she really doesn't need it) but her family's relationships are remarkably lovely and I am all cute-d out.
Overall, a lovely contemporary book that didn't disappoint unless you were expecting huge, fire-breathing dragons 😊
Okay, so I don't know what I expected from The Bone Dragon but I was pleasantly surprised by its thoughtful and quite beautiful telling. I'm finding it difficult to explain exactly what this book is but it had a dragon (who may or may not be real) and a sensitive subject that is very sensitively spoken about and dealt with.
Parts of it made me feel happy inside and I only got angry once at our main character, Evie (ngl, I expected more anger but she's actually a decent character). There was no romance for Evie (which is a good thing, she's 14, she really doesn't need it) but her family's relationships are remarkably lovely and I am all cute-d out.
Overall, a lovely contemporary book that didn't disappoint unless you were expecting huge, fire-breathing dragons 😊
December 16, 2014
I was given this by another patient when I was in a psychiatric hospital. I never really read before I was in there, however, when I started the book I gained a huge passion for an evening read with a cup of raspberry tea. The book captivated me and took me out of the reality I was in, being the hospital, and into her world where adventure was taking over her troubled past. I loved how the book was split up into smaller sections, it made my racing mind able to keep up with the book. I finished the book the night before I was discharged from hospital and it's now on my shelf at home with me. 9/10 - more detail could have been added about what exactly happened to her and about the adventures with the dragon.
August 24, 2014
Well, um, wow. Review later. 3.5
May 8, 2022
great cover but boring
May 23, 2020
BORING
June 7, 2021
Usually I'm fine with and even enjoy magical realism. This time, I would quite have liked to know if the Dragon was real or only the fragment of a semi-fractured mind.
August 10, 2020
I don’t even know what to say about this book. I went in thinking it would be a magical middlegrade story about trauma & recovery & a magical dragon helping a child to heal, & thus an important book for children who have experienced child abuse... but, I have absolutely no idea what I ended up reading. I do know it’s not a middlegrade book though, & it definitely isn’t a good book for child abuse survivors (in my opinion at least*) & there wasn’t even that much magic either. I‘m so confused about the inclusion of the Dragon because I don’t feel like he featured enough to be crucial to the story (or, to be the focus of the title) & the book ended in a way that left me feeling disappointed, uncomfortable & with a lot of unanswered questions.
The reason I didn’t stop reading this book is because I wanted to know more about what happened to Evie & after around 60% we got to really learn about her experiences & how she’s healing after her traumatic childhood. I loved that the author included dark thoughts as part of Evie’s narrative because it made her more real & I feel like it would help children dealing with the struggles Evie had, but the ending has just made me angry because it sends out a dangerous & irresponsible message & I’m just SO annoyed. I don’t know what more I can say. Disappointed isn’t a strong enough word for how I’m feeling.
*I am not personally a survivor of child abuse, however I am studying Advanced Child Protection for my master’s degree & I can say with complete certainty that I would never recommend this book to any child I may work with in the future who has survived child abuse.
⚠️ References to an operation, memories/discussions of violent child abuse, discussions of having a child & other family members die in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, drowning & a house fire ⚠️
The reason I didn’t stop reading this book is because I wanted to know more about what happened to Evie & after around 60% we got to really learn about her experiences & how she’s healing after her traumatic childhood. I loved that the author included dark thoughts as part of Evie’s narrative because it made her more real & I feel like it would help children dealing with the struggles Evie had, but the ending has just made me angry because it sends out a dangerous & irresponsible message & I’m just SO annoyed. I don’t know what more I can say. Disappointed isn’t a strong enough word for how I’m feeling.
*I am not personally a survivor of child abuse, however I am studying Advanced Child Protection for my master’s degree & I can say with complete certainty that I would never recommend this book to any child I may work with in the future who has survived child abuse.
⚠️ References to an operation, memories/discussions of violent child abuse, discussions of having a child & other family members die in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, drowning & a house fire ⚠️
April 3, 2022
I wouldn’t use this book for primary school children but I think it’s definitely a great book for young adults and mature new teens to read. It deals with some really sensitive issues in a great way that some young people, particularly those that have experienced abuse and the foster care/adoption system, would see themselves reflected in.
Whilst I loved the characters in this book, I felt like the plot just dragged. I found myself getting quite bored with the extended descriptions, internal dialogue and lack of anything happening. The plot wasn’t quite thrilling and unputdownable as such and I wasn’t engaged the whole way through.
Having said that, in the first few ‘chapters’, the information given was drip-fed in a way that was engaging (before it became a little boring). The opening pages were really captivating and set the scene well. I also thought the main character’s development was great and I admire her bravery and strength.
The plot of this book had SO much potential especially with the strong opening pages but I feel like it fell a little flat. It’s such an important topic and the basic idea was amazing but I wasn’t sold by the execution.
Whilst I loved the characters in this book, I felt like the plot just dragged. I found myself getting quite bored with the extended descriptions, internal dialogue and lack of anything happening. The plot wasn’t quite thrilling and unputdownable as such and I wasn’t engaged the whole way through.
Having said that, in the first few ‘chapters’, the information given was drip-fed in a way that was engaging (before it became a little boring). The opening pages were really captivating and set the scene well. I also thought the main character’s development was great and I admire her bravery and strength.
The plot of this book had SO much potential especially with the strong opening pages but I feel like it fell a little flat. It’s such an important topic and the basic idea was amazing but I wasn’t sold by the execution.
August 21, 2023
"Sometimes it is no great shame to give in, even to despair, provided that it is just for a little while. Sometimes a little surrender is good for the soul"
An unusual story with the narrator being a 14-year-old girl with an abusive past which is never fully revealed (frustratingly). Evie is young and at times naïve, yet also angry with definite PTSD traits. The story is slowly drip-fed by the protagonist, which at times I found too slow, as not a lot happens.
The adoptive parents were slightly annoying, particularly the helicopter mother who did not notice Evie sneaking out at night, returning with wet/dirty clothes even though she acted like her shadow. The constant darling and sweetheart comments were very OTT and gag worthy.
Clearly the dragon is not real and therefore Evie is potentially a psychopath in the making. Her attitude and actions toward Sonny Rawlins, who was not the evil child he was made out to be, were extreme and the ending was a red-flag event. What I found worrying is that this is a YA and could easily give other impressionable young people the idea that sever revenge is acceptable…
An unusual story with the narrator being a 14-year-old girl with an abusive past which is never fully revealed (frustratingly). Evie is young and at times naïve, yet also angry with definite PTSD traits. The story is slowly drip-fed by the protagonist, which at times I found too slow, as not a lot happens.
The adoptive parents were slightly annoying, particularly the helicopter mother who did not notice Evie sneaking out at night, returning with wet/dirty clothes even though she acted like her shadow. The constant darling and sweetheart comments were very OTT and gag worthy.
Clearly the dragon is not real and therefore Evie is potentially a psychopath in the making. Her attitude and actions toward Sonny Rawlins, who was not the evil child he was made out to be, were extreme and the ending was a red-flag event. What I found worrying is that this is a YA and could easily give other impressionable young people the idea that sever revenge is acceptable…
November 3, 2018
Evie has obviously been through something horrific but at first it's not quite clear what. Gradually snippets of information come through memories and conversations. Now Evie has been adopted by a wonderful, loving couple though she still has to remind herself of this fact and often has flashbacks to the suffering she experienced. After an operation to fix the broken ribs she lived with for many years, Evie is given a fragment of her bone to keep. Her uncle helps her carve it into a dragon which she feels will help to protect her. When it comes to life at night, Dragon takes her on many journeys and possibly helps her with the revenge which is in her heart.
The book is full of touching, emotional moments. Even when you think you understand, there always seems to be a little more to the story. I liked the way the author revealed the story.
Apart from the end which I think is deliberately vague, I feel like there were quite a few strands from the story which were left unfinished. I liked the slightly indefinite ending, but felt like I still needed some answers on other sections.
The book is full of touching, emotional moments. Even when you think you understand, there always seems to be a little more to the story. I liked the way the author revealed the story.
Apart from the end which I think is deliberately vague, I feel like there were quite a few strands from the story which were left unfinished. I liked the slightly indefinite ending, but felt like I still needed some answers on other sections.
June 26, 2020
Psychologie-Fiktion ist wohl der passendste Begriff für diese Geschichte!
Es geht um Evie, ein junges Mädchen, dass sich endlich ihren Adoptiveltern öffnet und ihnen von ihrere alten Rippenverletzung erzählt. Das Stück Rippe, dass ihr daraufhin entnommen werden muss, verwandelt sie mit ihrem Onkel in ein Drachenglücksbringer. Des Nachts erwacht ihr Drache plötzlich und gemeinsam begehen sie einen Pfad der Gerechtigkeit.
Das Buch beschreibt die Reise, die Evie teils selbstständig, teils mit Hilfe geht um ihre traumata aus der Kindheit zu verarbeiten. Es ist so authentisch geschrieben! Man fühlt sich plötzlich selbst wieder wie ein in ihrem Alter, man bemerkt wieder, wie viel man damals schon mitbekommen hat, gedacht hat, nicht sagen wollte, es hat mich einfach umgehauen.
Ich weiß nicht, ob ich in letzter Zeit zu viel Medical Detectives gesehen habe, aber ich hatte von Anfang an so meine Ahnungen und das Ende hat mir einfach eine Gänsehaut über den gesamten Rücken verpasst!
Ich bin tief beeindruckt und habe das Buch sehr genossen!
Es geht um Evie, ein junges Mädchen, dass sich endlich ihren Adoptiveltern öffnet und ihnen von ihrere alten Rippenverletzung erzählt. Das Stück Rippe, dass ihr daraufhin entnommen werden muss, verwandelt sie mit ihrem Onkel in ein Drachenglücksbringer. Des Nachts erwacht ihr Drache plötzlich und gemeinsam begehen sie einen Pfad der Gerechtigkeit.
Das Buch beschreibt die Reise, die Evie teils selbstständig, teils mit Hilfe geht um ihre traumata aus der Kindheit zu verarbeiten. Es ist so authentisch geschrieben! Man fühlt sich plötzlich selbst wieder wie ein in ihrem Alter, man bemerkt wieder, wie viel man damals schon mitbekommen hat, gedacht hat, nicht sagen wollte, es hat mich einfach umgehauen.
Ich weiß nicht, ob ich in letzter Zeit zu viel Medical Detectives gesehen habe, aber ich hatte von Anfang an so meine Ahnungen und das Ende hat mir einfach eine Gänsehaut über den gesamten Rücken verpasst!
Ich bin tief beeindruckt und habe das Buch sehr genossen!
July 21, 2020
This is a story about a girl in her new life with her adoptive parents. The story opens with our heroine in hospital after an operation to remove a rib. She saves the rib and has it carved out as a dragon.
The story alternates between her interaction with her new family and her interaction with the dragon rib. As the story progresses, we pick up snippets about her past as well as how her new family came to be.
From the writing point of view, it kept me reading, wondering where this will end up. I could not figure out if the dragon is real or just a figment of her imagination. I also liked how slowly and imperceptibly, I got to know her new family and the dynamics. Our heroine is fourteen years old and looking ahead to GCSE exams and university. However the tone of the writing is very much middle-grade. From this point of view, this would fit into a tween book category.
The read is sedentary. If you are looking for a book to calm you down at the end of a hectic day, this would be an option. I am not sure I liked the ending, so perhaps a rating of 2.5* is fair.
The story alternates between her interaction with her new family and her interaction with the dragon rib. As the story progresses, we pick up snippets about her past as well as how her new family came to be.
From the writing point of view, it kept me reading, wondering where this will end up. I could not figure out if the dragon is real or just a figment of her imagination. I also liked how slowly and imperceptibly, I got to know her new family and the dynamics. Our heroine is fourteen years old and looking ahead to GCSE exams and university. However the tone of the writing is very much middle-grade. From this point of view, this would fit into a tween book category.
The read is sedentary. If you are looking for a book to calm you down at the end of a hectic day, this would be an option. I am not sure I liked the ending, so perhaps a rating of 2.5* is fair.
March 1, 2023
I think this book deals with its topic of mental health and trauma fairly well (maybe not with its ill-advised ending and other plot threads near the end) and is far more psychological than a fantasy novel. The fantasy element is a lot less than the cover and blurb allude to, but all the rest is interesting enough I think.
The balance of certain elements could be tightened up, and the writing style is overloaded with an ellipsis. However, there are gorgeous descriptions in the dragon sequences and the characters are written fairly well. The central idea of carving the leftover rib into the shape of a dragon is brilliant.
Certain clues to interpretations of the novel may be too obvious but may be appropriate for its YA target audience. What with all the bones I had to pick with it out of the way, I have to say it was a mostly compelling novel, and I got through the last 160 pages in one night, returning to it again and again, which doesn't happen for me with every book. It had certain sparks.
The balance of certain elements could be tightened up, and the writing style is overloaded with an ellipsis. However, there are gorgeous descriptions in the dragon sequences and the characters are written fairly well. The central idea of carving the leftover rib into the shape of a dragon is brilliant.
Certain clues to interpretations of the novel may be too obvious but may be appropriate for its YA target audience. What with all the bones I had to pick with it out of the way, I have to say it was a mostly compelling novel, and I got through the last 160 pages in one night, returning to it again and again, which doesn't happen for me with every book. It had certain sparks.
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