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The Bone Collector's Son
It’s 1907, and Bing’s father makes a living in Chinatown by digging up the bones of the dead before sending them back to China for a proper burial. Bing hates helping his father with his work, and things go from bad to worse when father and son discover that Mr. Shum’s skull is missing from his grave. Almost immediately, Bing and his father have a string of bad luck. Bing is convinced that it’s caused by Shum’s ghost, angry because of his missing skull. Eager to get away from his stern father, Bing accepts a job as a houseboy at the home of a famous white boxer. But even there he can’t get away from ghosts, as it turns out that the boxer’s house is haunted. Only by overcoming his fear of ghosts will Bing be able to calm the spirits that are disturbing the living—and the dead.
137 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2003
7 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Paul Yee
39 books37 followersPaul Yee never planned to be an author but got published in 1983 and followed up with over twenty books in his area of obsession: Chinese immigrants to North America. He wrote mostly for young readers, from picture books to Young Adult fiction, as well as histories for everyone. His university degrees in history, plus working as an archivist, plunged him into researching the past. His work has been translated into French and Chinese, and used in animated films as well as stage plays. Born in small-town prairie Canada, he grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, but Toronto tempted him away from that west coast paradise in 1988.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 22, 2014
I read this because I am starting up Literary Circles with my class and wanted to make sure that it fit with my theme of 'immigration.' It was a very easy read (I think it took me less than three hours) but was an interesting storyline that grabbed me from the beginning. I look forward to having my students read this!
October 18, 2022
Oh dear. I was quite excited to read this, and shelled out for the nice hardcover (secondhand, of course). I was feeling homesick for Van, and Chinese ghosts are seriously (and tragically) under-represented in English-language fiction.
The concept here was alright. The setting and historical accuracy were very good, but even knowing the city of Vancouver like the back of my hand, I had some difficulty picturing each scene (I don't think Yee is very adept at scene-setting, though an effort was made). Plot was thin, but, yeah, he tried. There were many small ghost stories woven in throughout, including one that definitely reminded me of the opening scenes of Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, but they were extraordinarily flimsy and concise. There was potential there. I would have happily read a full story based on that or one of the similar hauntings.
This would make a fine, slightly spooky "local history" required-reading assignment for Vancouver-area middle-graders. As something you'd have to write a book report on, it was satisfactory. But it didn't cut the mustard as a book entered into the Middle Grade Madness October Readathon, and I apologise once more for a weak recommendation. It also failed to live up to my expectations.
Meanwhile, if anyone could recommend a proper spooky haunting with unquiet Chinese spirits (and ghost money and appeasement - I suppose rather similar to this, but with much more Chinese superstition and folklore content), I'd appreciate it. Tired of Western ghosts - I've heard it all before. ;)
Maybe it's still the effects of the best-worst movie I've ever seen, Big Trouble in Little China, all these decades later, but I still have a healthy appetite for the Chinese supernatural. That, and dim sum and pork buns, but that's probably more because of lovely old Vancouver. I miss you. Like I miss decent ha gao and shu mai, and the homey stench of E. Pender street.
TL:DR - decent historical old Vancouver setting, only marginally spooky. Watery like congee.
The concept here was alright. The setting and historical accuracy were very good, but even knowing the city of Vancouver like the back of my hand, I had some difficulty picturing each scene (I don't think Yee is very adept at scene-setting, though an effort was made). Plot was thin, but, yeah, he tried. There were many small ghost stories woven in throughout, including one that definitely reminded me of the opening scenes of Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, but they were extraordinarily flimsy and concise. There was potential there. I would have happily read a full story based on that or one of the similar hauntings.
This would make a fine, slightly spooky "local history" required-reading assignment for Vancouver-area middle-graders. As something you'd have to write a book report on, it was satisfactory. But it didn't cut the mustard as a book entered into the Middle Grade Madness October Readathon, and I apologise once more for a weak recommendation. It also failed to live up to my expectations.
Meanwhile, if anyone could recommend a proper spooky haunting with unquiet Chinese spirits (and ghost money and appeasement - I suppose rather similar to this, but with much more Chinese superstition and folklore content), I'd appreciate it. Tired of Western ghosts - I've heard it all before. ;)
Maybe it's still the effects of the best-worst movie I've ever seen, Big Trouble in Little China, all these decades later, but I still have a healthy appetite for the Chinese supernatural. That, and dim sum and pork buns, but that's probably more because of lovely old Vancouver. I miss you. Like I miss decent ha gao and shu mai, and the homey stench of E. Pender street.
TL:DR - decent historical old Vancouver setting, only marginally spooky. Watery like congee.
February 24, 2017
Canada does not have a very clear slate when it comes to prejudice in its history. This novel is a lovely tale of Chinese immigrants trying to make a living against the bigotry of Canadians in Vancouver in the early 1900's. Through young Ching's bravery, a bridge is built between Chinese belief in ghosts and the ghost of a white man. The novel could have been more damning and critical, but Paul Yee chose instead to highlight the values of the Chinese community that makes them valuable to society.
After a massive riot against Chinatown, "Hundreds of Chinese left their jobs. Downtown hotels and restaurants, West end homes, steamers, logging camps and shingle mills were all suddenly inconvenienced."(from the historical afterword of the novel). The Chinese, as do today's immigrants, got jobs that others did not want.
After a massive riot against Chinatown, "Hundreds of Chinese left their jobs. Downtown hotels and restaurants, West end homes, steamers, logging camps and shingle mills were all suddenly inconvenienced."(from the historical afterword of the novel). The Chinese, as do today's immigrants, got jobs that others did not want.
January 8, 2019
An historical novel set in Vancouver’s 1907 Chinatown, this is the story of 14-year-old Bing. His life helping his father collect bones from graves is hard, often alarming. His father is a compulsive gambler and at times downright mean. Between that, and the racism and physical violence young Bing endures, at times the book can be hard to read. But it’s an important depiction of futility and adaptation in the face of brutal racism, and ultimately shows how even one caring adult, even briefly in a child’s life, can make a difference for a struggling child.
Reviewed as part of a roundup of fabulous middle-grade novels about immigrants and refugees at https://bookbonding.wordpress.com/201...
Reviewed as part of a roundup of fabulous middle-grade novels about immigrants and refugees at https://bookbonding.wordpress.com/201...
September 30, 2020
Alright; so this book nearly lost me in the first few chapters. The writing was on the didactic side for me and certain cuts between dialogue, descriptions, and actions were on the awkward side. But what this book may lack in prose it makes up for in a clever plot and some really cool attention to historical detail. Historical ghost stories set in early 20th century Vancouver? Wonderful. Not to mention the fact that this small compact book minces absolutely no words about Canada and this city's shameful anti-asian history, which is especially admirable and important since it's aimed at children. Come for the spooky; stay for the plot.
January 9, 2012
I enjoyed this! Wasn't sure what I was expecting when I picked it up- but I'm really glad I did. Odd book indeed- but if I wanted normal I would turn on the tv and rot my brain out. I love historical fiction like this.
September 6, 2022
I didn't think a book about some son and some bones would have kept me entertained, but it definitely did. I read “The Bone Collector's Son” by Paul Yee. It was a short but sweet story, and I was always left wanting to read more. The Author used very descriptive words that really added to the feel of the book, almost like I was living it with the characters. I'm not always into ghost stories, but I was into this. It was creepy yet still enjoyable. Sort of like a sour candy, but not too sour to the point you can't enjoy it.
The Bones Collector's Son, but he only collected one bone- the skull. This book, “The Bone Collector's Son” by Paul Lee is about exactly what the title says. Bing, Ba’s son, is a chinese teenager living in canada during the 1900’s. He lives with his father and some other Chinese men who also moved to Canada to make money. Bing loves his father of course, but he also has a deep, deep hatred for Ba. Ba is a broke gambler being held under tremendous debt, taking out all his life failures onto his son. Even though Bing doesn't like working with his father and his father seems to be always annoyed at Bing, they work together. In a graveyard. His father does most of the work digging up bones, since Bing is terrified of ghosts, bones, and things of that nature. While the story does educate you on life as a Chinese person living in Canada, it also holds a twist on a certain set of bones they dig up that turns into a series of unfortunate events.
On one ordinary day in Canada, Bing and Ba left early in the morning and headed out to the graveyard. Bing described it as “A thick forest surrounded the graveyard. Silence hung in the morning air. A hawk soared high above a long, lazy circle,” (2). They began digging and Bing was terrified as usual, and Ba was harassing him as usual. After all the bones were dug up, they assembled the bones to makeout a body. They realized there was no skull. They continued digging, but couldn't seem to find it. It was getting late though, so they put all the bones into a sack and left without the skull. While they were riding home, some mysterious events happened with their public transportation. Ba thought it was a coincidence, but Bing knew. “Both times, as soon as that sack of bones left the car, the electricity went right back on,” (16), Bing says to his father. He just ignored it.
On another ordinary day, the father and son were home eating dinner with the rest of the Chinese workers. Bing's Uncle came down the stairs and told Bing the great news, a family right outside of Chinatown was looking for a house boy to help around. Bing jumped at the offer, anything to get away from his father and the creepy bones. There were rumors that this mansion the family lived in was haunted, but Bing decided to work there anyways. During his first day of the job, spooky things had happened. He had also heard the mother of the house on the phone, talking to a realtor about “the goings on” . Bing didn't want to look like a coward, so he became as brave as he could and stuck with the job for a few weeks.
Back to that incomplete set of bones, after they had been dug up Bing's father had gotten horribly sick. He was basically on his deathbed. Bing went to a fortune teller, whom a while back had given him a gift to help with his fears. He told this man all about “the goings on” in his life. After this talk, Bing realized it was up to him to save his father, save the haunted mansion, save himself, and save the ghosts. He started with the mansion, but after a big misunderstanding, he was fired on the spot. Meanwhile, his father had gotten even more ill to the point he had to be taken to the hospital. This hospital, though, turned out to be the missing piece of the puzzle. The missing bone of the skeleton. Turns out things go a lot smoother when the ghosts are on your side!
This book is probably in my top 10 favorite books of all time. Even though if I hadn't read it for school, I would have never read it or anything like it. I'm definitely glad I did though. I enjoyed the bits and pieces of Chinese culture throughout it, and also the spooky ghost parts. My favorite part was definitely the end when all the problems were solved and it felt like a ginormous weight was lifted off of Bing's shoulders. I will for sure be checking out more books by Paul Yee.
The Bones Collector's Son, but he only collected one bone- the skull. This book, “The Bone Collector's Son” by Paul Lee is about exactly what the title says. Bing, Ba’s son, is a chinese teenager living in canada during the 1900’s. He lives with his father and some other Chinese men who also moved to Canada to make money. Bing loves his father of course, but he also has a deep, deep hatred for Ba. Ba is a broke gambler being held under tremendous debt, taking out all his life failures onto his son. Even though Bing doesn't like working with his father and his father seems to be always annoyed at Bing, they work together. In a graveyard. His father does most of the work digging up bones, since Bing is terrified of ghosts, bones, and things of that nature. While the story does educate you on life as a Chinese person living in Canada, it also holds a twist on a certain set of bones they dig up that turns into a series of unfortunate events.
On one ordinary day in Canada, Bing and Ba left early in the morning and headed out to the graveyard. Bing described it as “A thick forest surrounded the graveyard. Silence hung in the morning air. A hawk soared high above a long, lazy circle,” (2). They began digging and Bing was terrified as usual, and Ba was harassing him as usual. After all the bones were dug up, they assembled the bones to makeout a body. They realized there was no skull. They continued digging, but couldn't seem to find it. It was getting late though, so they put all the bones into a sack and left without the skull. While they were riding home, some mysterious events happened with their public transportation. Ba thought it was a coincidence, but Bing knew. “Both times, as soon as that sack of bones left the car, the electricity went right back on,” (16), Bing says to his father. He just ignored it.
On another ordinary day, the father and son were home eating dinner with the rest of the Chinese workers. Bing's Uncle came down the stairs and told Bing the great news, a family right outside of Chinatown was looking for a house boy to help around. Bing jumped at the offer, anything to get away from his father and the creepy bones. There were rumors that this mansion the family lived in was haunted, but Bing decided to work there anyways. During his first day of the job, spooky things had happened. He had also heard the mother of the house on the phone, talking to a realtor about “the goings on” . Bing didn't want to look like a coward, so he became as brave as he could and stuck with the job for a few weeks.
Back to that incomplete set of bones, after they had been dug up Bing's father had gotten horribly sick. He was basically on his deathbed. Bing went to a fortune teller, whom a while back had given him a gift to help with his fears. He told this man all about “the goings on” in his life. After this talk, Bing realized it was up to him to save his father, save the haunted mansion, save himself, and save the ghosts. He started with the mansion, but after a big misunderstanding, he was fired on the spot. Meanwhile, his father had gotten even more ill to the point he had to be taken to the hospital. This hospital, though, turned out to be the missing piece of the puzzle. The missing bone of the skeleton. Turns out things go a lot smoother when the ghosts are on your side!
This book is probably in my top 10 favorite books of all time. Even though if I hadn't read it for school, I would have never read it or anything like it. I'm definitely glad I did though. I enjoyed the bits and pieces of Chinese culture throughout it, and also the spooky ghost parts. My favorite part was definitely the end when all the problems were solved and it felt like a ginormous weight was lifted off of Bing's shoulders. I will for sure be checking out more books by Paul Yee.
October 30, 2023
The Intriguing Mystery: The Bone Collector’s Son
Paul Yee
Rating: ★★★★★
The Bone Collector’s Son by Paul Yee is a short read that may leave you on the edge of your seat. This mysterious book is set in Chinatown in Vancouver. 14 year old Bing comes from China and experiences the racism and hatred people have towards the Chinese. Bing helps his father, Ba, collect bones from graves while despising every minute of it. Throughout the book Bing experiences components of racism, religion and ghostly spirits, and the old tales and rhymes that unite Chinatown as a whole.
A huge component in the story is the racism that Bing inherits while living in Chinatown. They have many separations between the white people and the Chinese. “Get out, Chinaman, before I call the police.” (Yee 6) Bing and Ba are in the Chinese section of the cemetery that is already separated. They dig up graves for Ba’s job to ship them back to China to be laid to rest. A white man thinks that they are doing something bad. He threatens to call the police, calls him a name, all while standing on the white side of the cemetery. This shows the racism and discrimination that many faced, while not doing anything to him. “They took Ba downstairs, but the examining rooms are up here.” (Yee 152) This is another example of the separations and racism they faced in Vancouver. Ba was not receiving the same treatment nor respect as the white people. He was being discriminated against for being Chinese. Though he was in terrible shape, nothing was done and he was taken to an empty room in the basement because of his race.
The next component that the book contains is the relationships between ghostly spirits and religion. These go hand in hand because everybody in Chinatown believes in ghosts, and also in gods and religion. “That’s why Shum’s spirit refuses to lie still now. He’s making your father sick because he wants his help.” (Yee 121) Bing visits a fortune teller to receive a protective item. Bing and Ba have dug up an unfinished set of bones, missing the skull. After this event, Bing begins to experience strange things. He is a housekeeper in a house that is believed to be haunted. This and the bones makes him even more afraid of spirits and hauntings. It gives us insight and shows the relationship between his belief in ghosts, and the religion aspect. “Guan Gung is the most powerful of our gods. He is not for children!” (Yee 49) This shows that many believe in gods, and believe that they are protecting them. They are believed to be powerful, and some are more powerful than others.
A big aspect that is portrayed in the book is the ghost stories and tales that are told. Bing often recites old tales and rhymes his mother and grandmother would tell him. “Bing recalled another old Chinese ghost story.” (Yee 22) Bing will think of a ghost story he has heard and will often relate it to the events happening to him. Many people in Chinatown know ghost stories. This gives them a sense of unity and culture. Though many people have moved out of Asia, they still go back to their old roots and come together as a whole.
I recommend this five star book because it gives you insight into Chinese culture and history. The book contains so many aspects of mystery and ghosts. You will want to solve the mystery right alongside Bing. The book is fast paced and easy to understand. It will captivate you and you will begin to respect and understand the hardships that the Chinese people have faced, all while solving a mysterious ghost story.
Paul Yee
Rating: ★★★★★
The Bone Collector’s Son by Paul Yee is a short read that may leave you on the edge of your seat. This mysterious book is set in Chinatown in Vancouver. 14 year old Bing comes from China and experiences the racism and hatred people have towards the Chinese. Bing helps his father, Ba, collect bones from graves while despising every minute of it. Throughout the book Bing experiences components of racism, religion and ghostly spirits, and the old tales and rhymes that unite Chinatown as a whole.
A huge component in the story is the racism that Bing inherits while living in Chinatown. They have many separations between the white people and the Chinese. “Get out, Chinaman, before I call the police.” (Yee 6) Bing and Ba are in the Chinese section of the cemetery that is already separated. They dig up graves for Ba’s job to ship them back to China to be laid to rest. A white man thinks that they are doing something bad. He threatens to call the police, calls him a name, all while standing on the white side of the cemetery. This shows the racism and discrimination that many faced, while not doing anything to him. “They took Ba downstairs, but the examining rooms are up here.” (Yee 152) This is another example of the separations and racism they faced in Vancouver. Ba was not receiving the same treatment nor respect as the white people. He was being discriminated against for being Chinese. Though he was in terrible shape, nothing was done and he was taken to an empty room in the basement because of his race.
The next component that the book contains is the relationships between ghostly spirits and religion. These go hand in hand because everybody in Chinatown believes in ghosts, and also in gods and religion. “That’s why Shum’s spirit refuses to lie still now. He’s making your father sick because he wants his help.” (Yee 121) Bing visits a fortune teller to receive a protective item. Bing and Ba have dug up an unfinished set of bones, missing the skull. After this event, Bing begins to experience strange things. He is a housekeeper in a house that is believed to be haunted. This and the bones makes him even more afraid of spirits and hauntings. It gives us insight and shows the relationship between his belief in ghosts, and the religion aspect. “Guan Gung is the most powerful of our gods. He is not for children!” (Yee 49) This shows that many believe in gods, and believe that they are protecting them. They are believed to be powerful, and some are more powerful than others.
A big aspect that is portrayed in the book is the ghost stories and tales that are told. Bing often recites old tales and rhymes his mother and grandmother would tell him. “Bing recalled another old Chinese ghost story.” (Yee 22) Bing will think of a ghost story he has heard and will often relate it to the events happening to him. Many people in Chinatown know ghost stories. This gives them a sense of unity and culture. Though many people have moved out of Asia, they still go back to their old roots and come together as a whole.
I recommend this five star book because it gives you insight into Chinese culture and history. The book contains so many aspects of mystery and ghosts. You will want to solve the mystery right alongside Bing. The book is fast paced and easy to understand. It will captivate you and you will begin to respect and understand the hardships that the Chinese people have faced, all while solving a mysterious ghost story.
September 13, 2021
4.5 stars The Bone Collectors Son
This book is like a very long ghost story. I really enjoyed the book and thought it was actually interesting. Although that might be because I don't have a strong opinion on whether ghosts are real or not. I feel like anyone who strongly does not believe on ghost would find this book dumb and uninteresting. Only because the whole story is about a boy, his father, and the two ghosts they are dealing with.
In this book a man and his son who dig up bones in Canada and send them back to China to be re buried find a skeleton that's missing the skull. They think nothing of it and are just upset they won't get paid now because they didn't find the whole skeleton. Then strange things start happening like the car thing keeps shutting down, but then as soon as they step off it starts working again. Soon the son gets a job as a house boy for richer people. He is excited to go but then he hears stories of the house being haunted, and once he gets there he agrees. Lots of strange things happen. Windows shatter, the smell of cigar smoke, things rolling across the room and more. On top of all that he finds out his dad is now very sick. The fortune teller tells them it's because of Shum, the man whose skull is missing. The fortune teller said ¨ I've thought about this. I believe Shums spirit wants to return home.Your father dug up his bones but couldn't send them back to China because of the missing skull. That's why Shums spirit refuses to stay still now. He's making your father sick because he wants his help.¨ (yee, p. 95) He is making him sick until they find his skull. So Bing (the son) has to appease two ghosts before anything else happens. Along with the story about the ghost the book also mentions how hard it is to be Chinese and living in Canada. Throughout the book there are multiple examples of the white people in Canada thinking they are superior. Like Bing was almost beaten to a pulp on multiple occasions just for walking down the street. Also when Ba had to go to the hospital they had to question if the hospital would even help because he isn't white. Uncle Won said ¨Hard to say. When someone is so sick, who can tell if he'll live or die? At the hospital the doctors will know.¨ Then Bing said, ¨ Do they let in Chinese?¨ (yee, p.119) Many more little things like those are mentioned.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was different to read a story about being haunted. Not even just by one ghost but two! It had lots of twists and turn and was very entertaining. It also would then make you feel bad for the characters and really empathize with them. That's why I rated this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I would definitely recommend reading this book.
This book is like a very long ghost story. I really enjoyed the book and thought it was actually interesting. Although that might be because I don't have a strong opinion on whether ghosts are real or not. I feel like anyone who strongly does not believe on ghost would find this book dumb and uninteresting. Only because the whole story is about a boy, his father, and the two ghosts they are dealing with.
In this book a man and his son who dig up bones in Canada and send them back to China to be re buried find a skeleton that's missing the skull. They think nothing of it and are just upset they won't get paid now because they didn't find the whole skeleton. Then strange things start happening like the car thing keeps shutting down, but then as soon as they step off it starts working again. Soon the son gets a job as a house boy for richer people. He is excited to go but then he hears stories of the house being haunted, and once he gets there he agrees. Lots of strange things happen. Windows shatter, the smell of cigar smoke, things rolling across the room and more. On top of all that he finds out his dad is now very sick. The fortune teller tells them it's because of Shum, the man whose skull is missing. The fortune teller said ¨ I've thought about this. I believe Shums spirit wants to return home.Your father dug up his bones but couldn't send them back to China because of the missing skull. That's why Shums spirit refuses to stay still now. He's making your father sick because he wants his help.¨ (yee, p. 95) He is making him sick until they find his skull. So Bing (the son) has to appease two ghosts before anything else happens. Along with the story about the ghost the book also mentions how hard it is to be Chinese and living in Canada. Throughout the book there are multiple examples of the white people in Canada thinking they are superior. Like Bing was almost beaten to a pulp on multiple occasions just for walking down the street. Also when Ba had to go to the hospital they had to question if the hospital would even help because he isn't white. Uncle Won said ¨Hard to say. When someone is so sick, who can tell if he'll live or die? At the hospital the doctors will know.¨ Then Bing said, ¨ Do they let in Chinese?¨ (yee, p.119) Many more little things like those are mentioned.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was different to read a story about being haunted. Not even just by one ghost but two! It had lots of twists and turn and was very entertaining. It also would then make you feel bad for the characters and really empathize with them. That's why I rated this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I would definitely recommend reading this book.
July 8, 2020
Bing's father collects bones of deceased Chinese immigrants who want to be buried in China, but when he uncovers bones without a scull, problems begin. The money lender harasses Bing's father for his gambling debts, unexplained disaster happen in the house where Bing is a houseboy, and his father becomes so ill, it seems he might die. Can a fourteen year old boy solve these problems?
Set in Vancouver in 1898, this is a predictable tale, but one I'd recommend to teachers who want to address early racism in B.C.
Set in Vancouver in 1898, this is a predictable tale, but one I'd recommend to teachers who want to address early racism in B.C.
February 8, 2022
This one was actually really entertaining. Half horror story, half historical fiction. I really enjoyed the storyline and being set in old timy Vancouver made it that much more interesting. The discussion on racism and persecution is worked throughout the story but not in a way that shoves it your face. I really enjoyed this one.
October 12, 2022
After the first 3 chapters, where the father constantly berated the son and continually called him "stupid fool," I looked at other people's reviews to see if I even wanted to finish this. The brutal racism was, as always, sadly difficult to read. The ghost story part was pretty good, tho, and the story had a solid conclusion.
March 5, 2019
Historical fiction at its best
Learning about early Chinese Canadian life by living the stories of their pioneers ... this book is for children and adults
Learning about early Chinese Canadian life by living the stories of their pioneers ... this book is for children and adults
July 23, 2020
Two intertwining ghost stories set in early Vancouver make this book an excellent YA read.
March 23, 2021
Five for real
June 29, 2016
I got this book for a bargain and after seeing the appealing discount, I then decided to read the synopsis. I was a bit skeptical about the grave digging because that's bordering on Horror and that is a genre that I do not want to get involved in. I bought the book anyway because I've never read about Chinese culture and I wanted to broaden my horizons.
It's the early 1900s and Bing and his father, Ba, are in the graveyard to go dig up the bones of a person and send them home after it's been cleaned. Ba's been doing this for years so it's a bit strange when Mr. Shum's body is dug up sans head. Bing is immediately creeped out because weird things are happening and Ba keeps saying that ghosts don't exist...yes, that's usually the first line in a horror movie and those people don't make it out alive.
Even with that you'd think that yes, this book is in fact a horror but actually reading it, you don't get that feeling. There are creepy bits in the book but I think this was more about resting in peace than spirits coming through the veil to make life a living hell for those that are still alive.
Characters: Bing seemed like a weak character in the beginning. He was 15 and technically still a child. It's normal for kids to be scared...even adults get scared. There was a lot of character development that took place for Bing. He became brave and stood up for himself and for others. It seemed like his biggest challenge was his father.
Ba was a very stubborn man. I was glad when he learnt his lesson...well, he learnt something.
Likes: I loved the writing style and I thought that this book was fast paced. I liked that we could learn about the Chinese culture too. The plot was amazing.
Overall Thoughts: I was reluctant to read this book but only because it wasn't No.1 on my TBR. I'm glad I decided to pick it up. This certainly deserves a spot on my 2016 Top 10. An amazingly fast read. I loved everything about this book.
It's the early 1900s and Bing and his father, Ba, are in the graveyard to go dig up the bones of a person and send them home after it's been cleaned. Ba's been doing this for years so it's a bit strange when Mr. Shum's body is dug up sans head. Bing is immediately creeped out because weird things are happening and Ba keeps saying that ghosts don't exist...yes, that's usually the first line in a horror movie and those people don't make it out alive.
Even with that you'd think that yes, this book is in fact a horror but actually reading it, you don't get that feeling. There are creepy bits in the book but I think this was more about resting in peace than spirits coming through the veil to make life a living hell for those that are still alive.
Characters: Bing seemed like a weak character in the beginning. He was 15 and technically still a child. It's normal for kids to be scared...even adults get scared. There was a lot of character development that took place for Bing. He became brave and stood up for himself and for others. It seemed like his biggest challenge was his father.
Ba was a very stubborn man. I was glad when he learnt his lesson...well, he learnt something.
Likes: I loved the writing style and I thought that this book was fast paced. I liked that we could learn about the Chinese culture too. The plot was amazing.
Overall Thoughts: I was reluctant to read this book but only because it wasn't No.1 on my TBR. I'm glad I decided to pick it up. This certainly deserves a spot on my 2016 Top 10. An amazingly fast read. I loved everything about this book.
March 24, 2016
This tale from 1Cgold mountain 1D tells the story of 14 year old Bing-wing Chan who lives with his father, Ba, the bone collector. Bing and his father are working in Canada hoping to save enough money to send to China for Bing 19s mother and the rest of the family. Bing is sure that this will never come to pass as his father gambles and drinks away most of the meager earnings he makes as a bone collector.
Ba digs up the skeletons of dead Chinese so the bones can be returned to China for burial. Bing is ashamed of how his father earns his living, but cannot refuse to help Ba in his grisly job. One night in the graveyard, Ba and Bing dig up a headless skeleton. It is after this that things go from bad to worse for Ba and Bing as the cursed ghost of the headless skeleton haunts them.
Part ghost story, part historical fiction, Yee presents the story of turn of the century Chinese life in western Canada in a new and entertaining fashion. Readers of all ages will empathize with Bing as he tries to make a better life and to solve the mystery of the headless skeleton. An entertaining read.
Ba digs up the skeletons of dead Chinese so the bones can be returned to China for burial. Bing is ashamed of how his father earns his living, but cannot refuse to help Ba in his grisly job. One night in the graveyard, Ba and Bing dig up a headless skeleton. It is after this that things go from bad to worse for Ba and Bing as the cursed ghost of the headless skeleton haunts them.
Part ghost story, part historical fiction, Yee presents the story of turn of the century Chinese life in western Canada in a new and entertaining fashion. Readers of all ages will empathize with Bing as he tries to make a better life and to solve the mystery of the headless skeleton. An entertaining read.
August 13, 2025
another one of my only-read-for-class books
the two ish storylines going back and forth from the bentley mansion to chinatown with bings family and friends i think was good it was nice to follow along with
the book had a nice ending and surprisingly I wasn't really bored by any part of the book
i have no idea why we had to read this in grade 8 though
the two ish storylines going back and forth from the bentley mansion to chinatown with bings family and friends i think was good it was nice to follow along with
the book had a nice ending and surprisingly I wasn't really bored by any part of the book
i have no idea why we had to read this in grade 8 though
October 27, 2007
I knew nothing about this custom of digging up someone's bones and sending them back to China for reburial until I read this book. It's also a good father/son conflict story.
January 17, 2008
Picked this up by accident, thinking it was a sequel to "The Bone Collector", LOL. It wasn't at all, but it was an immensely engaging story nonetheless.
May 20, 2008
ok but kinda of boring
February 27, 2010
I think this was supposed to be a historical fiction. I didn't like it at all. It was a weird ghost story, story telling, weird book.
December 18, 2010
It was a very interesting book, but the conclusion was very confusing, hectic, and abrupt. I liked it, though.
February 27, 2012
This was not my favorite book at all. It was an easy read, so I finished. But would not recommend.
December 8, 2012
This was an interesting read. I really liked how it was based in Vancouver (I am a vacouverite by the way) but there were quite a few boring parts as well. The ending was nice though.
Want to read
May 14, 2014a
April 4, 2015
this book was OK....it was an easy read.
July 26, 2015
A little over 100 pages, a quick summer read for young readers/tweens who enjoy fictional history and foreign cultures. A good story with a GREAT ending. I really liked this little book.
Read
July 19, 2016ghost stories on the BC coast and racial tension!
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