Bones Picked Clean

by Jen Poteet

Wanna hear a story? Well, go on and sit a spell. It's the tale of an orphan raised in the Old Ways, a descendant of the Cherokee with ADHD, a girl who's grown too soon, and a big boned boy with an even bigger heart. There will be love and friendship and finding your way when you get turned around. Sometimes it will be sad. Sometimes it will be downright scary. But I promise it will all be worth it in the end. That's all we can hope for, right? That it will all be worth it in the end? Bones Picked Clean is a coming-of-age tale set in modern day Appalachia. A place where you can hear some things, see some things and experience some things you can't explain. It's best if you ignore them. This is the story of what happens when you don't.

151 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2025

Reviews

[Jen Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m giving my own book five stars because I’ve never been more vulnerable in my writing as I have in these pages. I love every nook and cranny. I hope you do as well.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the minute I settled into this story I knew it would be a new favorite. Very rarely do stories make me tear up., but this one did. The hurt and longing and absolute beauty in these pages cannot be described. I cannot wait to reread this story. I know in my heart that this will be a book that travels with me throughout life.

There is just something so haunting about Jen's writing and the ability to blend crypitds into a story about love and loss and the pain of growing up.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story it’s a little spookier than I normally read not really scary so to speak but definitely made my heart race. This book gave me all the feels I was scared, cried, loved and was so happy at different times. Jen did a wonderful job of really making me love the characters and feel like they were part of my family I feel like I watched these kids grow and was definitely rooting for them.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, I am NOT a spooky book type of gal, but Jen’s writing is always SO beautiful that it didn’t really matter what genre it was- I just had to read it. Just like her first book, this one had me loving every character and their story. I had never read a book with an Appalachian setting before and it was a very cool detail that made me further connect with the story!

I will forever be adding any of Jen’s writing to my TBR list 🫶🏼

[Keli Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put it down I really enjoyed the characters and the representation and the story! I'm glad I read it.

[Danielle Boen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book truly mind catching, easy read. I loved that it focused on a small friend group showing how life spanned out so differently for the four friends, but also adding the eerie background of the Appalachian mountains history. Adding to my favorites.

[Shea Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have an affinity for spooky Appalachian lore and cryptids, this is your read! Bones Picked Clean follows an eclectic and unexpected group of friends as they grow up in the landscape of a small town nestled in Appalachia. Aside from fighting their own demons as they grow up, something ancient and dangerous haunts them as well... and those scenes are so spooky! Your heart will ache for the characters, but don't worry, the story is never despairing! Jen's beautiful prose are really the star and you'll feel like you're sitting fireside with your Meemaw as she tells you a story. I really enjoyed how Bones Picked Clean navigated multiple narratives to weave the perfect, folksy yarn.

[Brooke Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day I enjoyed is so incredibly much. I was pulled in from Chicory, and all of the characters were so unique and fit together perfectly in their lives together. Not gonna lie the Moon Girl really has me on edge on if she was going to finally obtain the kill she wanted, but Chicory is Chicory and I loved everything included about her. It’s a coming of age story that follows 4 friends and their journey in the mountains from childhood into adulthood, the way they make their ways in the world and the cryptids that follow them in the shadows.

[Becca Buncie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love an Appalachian setting and this book delivers. It is a beautifully written and so descriptive of the culture, the wilderness and the magic of Appalachia. It is a story unlike any other that I've read as it introduced me to the idea of Cryptids which were woven seamlessly into the story. The characters that make up this novel - Chicory and Hawk, Etta and Em, embrace the Appalachian lifestyle and the Old Ways. There is something about these friendships, formed in youth/adolescence that transcend time and circumstances. They are deep formed connections, an invisible tie that pulls them back together. This is a testament to friendship and love, that is deep-rooted in time and circumstance. 4.5 stars!!

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom wanted me to read this book. I had a bit of trouble really getting into it in the beginning, but further along into the book, I had a hard time putting it down. I probably wouldn’t tell my mom this, but it was definitely one of the best books I’ve read recently. The characters were interesting and felt like real people. That’s a rare quality in most books these days. I’m not big on scary stuff, but this book was just the right kind of creepy. Jen did a great job with this book, she was dedicated to the story, and I think it shows in her storytelling.

[Lyndsay Galyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not one to normally write reviews, but this book deserves it. The characters were perfectly imperfect, and by that I mean REAL! This book had me feeling every single emotion I could think to feel. I was heartbroken, happy, and even a bit spooked. I couldn’t put this book down, it was so well written and again, REAL. Jen, I hope you never stop writing. This was such a beautiful story and I can’t wait to see what else you come up with!

[Vonda Kenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

And now I must find out more about all the mystical (and scary!) creatures running around Appalachia! Seriously, a great book with characters you can't help but feel you have met in real life and want to know more about. My only complaint? The book isn't longer! Jen, I know you are a very busy woman with many, many, pokers in the fire but I look forward to your next book whenever that may be!

[Jonathan Wait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. It's a quick read about a group of friends coming of age. Wonderful characters, a sometimes whimsical always beautiful Appalachian backdrop…and some absolutely gruesome scenes.

Good fall read.

Bones Picked Clean by Jen Poteet. Find it on Etsy, support an indie author

[Kathryn Farris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written book. The author’s character development is so detailed. I felt like I was friends with Chickory, Hawk, Emory, and Etta. The story flowed easily and I got lost in the world within the pages. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what Jen does next. PS. The dog doesn’t die.

[HG Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters and setting were so real and I fell absolutely in love with all of it. I want to hang out with Chicory and Hawk and the others or sit with Winter and listen to his stories.
My only complaint is I wanted more time with them and the world the author created.

[Erica Aquino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was literature, pure and simple. Incredibly well written. I fell in love with these characters, the creatures, and the journey. I took a modern lit class that focused on bildungsroman texts... This could definitely be amongst them.

[Chelsea Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enchanting! I found myself cuddled up with this book feeling like I was in the woods/life journey with the characters. The ending was more than I hoped for! A friend reccomended this book and I was not disappointed. I highly reccomend, it's a nice weekend read!

[cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

coming of age meets horror meets romance and every part of it was perfect. it was cozy and scary and sad all at once. it was atmospheric and immersive so i felt like i was with the characters the whole time.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a local book store in Culpeper, VA. It was listed as a local author, so I was intrigued. I liked it overall. The story kind of felt choppy, but I enjoyed the characters and folklore.

[Maeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read! Loved every bit of this story about family, tradition and all that comes in with it! Look forward to reading more from the author! Thank you for sharing the such a great story!

[Kaitlyn Moeller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this. I read it in one day. I love how different all of the characters are and how their stories all complimented each other.
The writing was fantastic. There was just enough creepy to keep me on my toes.
Different than what I normally read, but in a great way!
Definitely recommend😊

[Book Nerdection · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like folklore about creatures hidden deep in the mountains and forests, you’ll love Bones Picked Clean. It has just the right amount of supernatural in it to keep you hooked. The writing is simple and lyrical.

I’m a goner for atmospheric books, especially if the setting is gothic. Luckily, Bones Picked Clean takes place in a far-flung area in Appalachia, and there were definitely some eerie creatures and spirits hidden within the pages of the book. Not too horrifying to give you a nightmare, but spooky enough to make you hold your breath.

The characters are easy to sympathize with and relate to. I loved the easy friendships, and the found family tropes in Bones Picked Clean.

Surprisingly, what sets this book apart from the others for me is not the supernatural element, but the natural. I adored Chicory and Hawk’s camaraderie; their friendship as children and their blossoming love when they grew up is just as natural and wild as a forest. It reminded me a little of a disciplined version of Wuthering Heights’ Heathcliff and Cathy as kids.

Sometimes the story abruptly flipped among different characters, so it was a little difficult to catch up at times. However, you quickly get the hang of it. The pacing might seem slow in a few places. Nevertheless, I didn’t mind it much because the characters are relatable and I was interested in every one of their struggles.

I also loved how the author deals with the subject of growing up. Chicory and her friends solving their problems in the best ways they know, gradually falling into places that were always meant for them, and trying to be there for friends. It all felt very comforting to read.

For readers who love to curl up with a comforting gothic book in hand, you will love Bones Picked Clean.

Recommended for:
Ages 16+ due to a few explicit scenes and mild cursing.

Reviewed By Madeeha

[LibraryMelancholia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This book is for anyone who has ever been asked,
'why can't you be like everyone else?'
This book is for folks like me.
This book is for the Black Sheep."

"I don't mind melancholy.
I savor it like dark chocolate.
Bitter to some, decadent to others.
It thickens my blood. I move so slow."


I absolutely loved this story! Not only was the physical book absoluty gorgeous with beautiful artwork, but the story was heart wrenching and spooky in equal parts. The characters were fully fleshed out and the setting was so beautifully portrayed.

I loved the characters and was rooting for our main love interests from the start. There were bumps and curves in the road and many obstacles that the characters had to face.

The cryptids and witchcraft in this story are what originally drew me to this book, but I stayed hooked for the characters as well who were written so well.

I was truly creeped out by the spooky parts and invested in our characters futures. There were scenes that honestly terrified me.

Thank you so much to Jen for sending me my first physical book in exchange for an honest review!

Side notes: check out Jen's Etsy for her amazing artwork. I was surprised with some super cool stickers in the package I got and I found out she actually designed them! I would love to get a tattoo by her at some point, cause bonus, she's a tattoo artist and does absolutely beautiful work!

[Elizabeth Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a magical place the brain of Jen Poteet must be to come up with something so perfectly & pleasantly, peculiar <3 This book has a little something for everyone, from mysterious cryptids creatures, to Appalachian folklore and all the magic the mountains have to offer. This book made me feel as if I was draped in my coziest throw blanket, sitting aside the glow of a warm fire on a chilly October night, listening to campfire stories passed down from generation to generation. At times the hair on the back of my neck stood, but in the most welcoming of ways. I truly felt like some of the creatures were standing right before me (I could even smell them) thanks to the picture Jen paints for the reader.

Sometimes the scariest things in life are not the monsters we hear about, but the monsters we create by not being honest with ourselves and those around us. Jen's characters literally evolve before your eyes in this read as they learn to be vulnerable with themselves, and each other.

So add Bones Picked Clean to your TBR LIST, and remember

DON'T forget to turn your pockets out. You wouldn't want what ever is lurking in the shadows to follow you home.......

[Jess Fulcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen has a way of writing such relatable and real feeling characters that you feel like you know these people and care so much about them. This coming of age story set deep in the heart of Appalachia made me feel sad, and and happy, and even angry at times only to realize at the end evething that happens shapes the lives of the characters and is exactly what each needed to get them where they needed to be.
You can tell Jen has a great appreciation of Appalachian life and lore and has woven the customs, creatures and traditions beautifully throughout the story to create a rich and at times a bit scary setting that help shape the scene the lives of these characters who call it home. It's a great quick read that will have you on your toes that you won't want to put it down!

[Rachel Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has a plot- it will keep you reading because you want to know what happens- even when it scares you a little. But it's not the plot I fell in love with (it never is)- it was the characters. They have depth and humor and feel like the people you know. Their voices stay with you. Plus, I'm a sucker for a take on friendship that feels true, even if the surrounding events move beyond the world we know.

Poteet's understanding of place is also deeply apparent in this story- it almost serves as another character.

A coming of age take perfectly suited for any and all Scorpios in your life.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much. The characters are rich and real- I feel like they could be people that I’ve known personally.
I love the folklore and Appalachian setting as well. The spooky element here didn’t take away from the beautiful story of the characters, who are the shining light of this tale.
I can’t wait to see what Jen writes next!

[Lisa Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt so connected to these characters.... we all have love, loss, tragedy..... connections that we cannot bear to lose. It's a story you will be glad you read. Enjoy!
In addition, the book itself is a work of art. I love the cover art, the chapter headings, the page breaks, and the poetry. Jen Poteet is truly an artist.

[Cierra Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book! It took me so long to get through it because the imagery was haunting at times. Jen does such an incredible job of making those creepy creatures stick with you. I will forever be haunted by the Moon girl! Beautiful ending that just ties everything together. A great mix of romance and down right horror.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautiful I couldn’t put it down. A mix of the trials of life, some spooky tales, dark moments, and a dash of love and family. The physical book itself is also gorgeous with pieces of the author’s artwork to complement the story. It is everything I was looking for and more all together in one place. Highly recommend.