The Bones in the Cliff

by James Stevenson

Any day now the big man with the cigar might be arriving on the ferryboat - the man that Pete's father is terrified to see.

So three times a day, when the ferry is due at the island, Pete jumps on his bike and races to see if the big man will get off the boat. In Pete's pocket is a quarter, so he can rush to the telephone and warn his father.

It is not until almost the end of summer that Pete finds out why his father is so afraid. But in the meantime he has met eleven-year-old Rootie, an old-timer on Cutlass Island, who shows him the island newcomers never see - and who helps him face the danger when it finally arrives.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published May 31, 1995

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads databse.

Reviews

[Kamayka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book in the children’s library, and the back cover caught my attention after I read it. This book would be great for middle schoolers, but really it’s a great book for even older people. The book starts out slow but if you are wanting a great suspense this is a wonderful book to read. Pete and Rootie are the main characters of this book as well as Pete’s Dad. Pete is stuck waiting and watching the ferryboat come in every day, and Rootie eventually joins him. Rootie and Pete get caught building a tree house one day and they miss the ferryboat. You will have to read to find out why it is so important for Pete to be there when the ferryboat arrives and what happens on the day he misses!

[Cami · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75

I didn't expect much going in, but I ended up enjoying this quite a bit. While I feel there was a need for foreshadowing concerning the climax, the friendship between Pete and Rootie was the best part of the book. I would recommend it for 11-15-year-olds.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a decent book. I did like the characters of Pete and Rootie, as well as Rootie's grandmother. It did feel rather anticlimactic, though. It was a quick read, just a few hours, and interesting enough, but the ending felt a tad rushed which resulted in a kind of awkward, almost boring ending, which was kind of disappointing for the potential that the book had.... Overall, though, it would make a nice addition to a tween's library, especially one who likes adventures and/or mysteries.

[Ziggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a well written adolescent book about a boy named Pete and his adventures, and struggles to keep a mysterious man away from killing his father; finding the courage in him to save his family. I would recommend this book to boys and girls who like mysteries and adventure.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but I definitely wouldn't recommend it for young children. I don't know what age range the author was aiming for but this book contained profanity (including taking the Lord's name in vain) and one incidence of violence that could be disturbing for a child.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read, interesting and fast-paced. Not much of a plot, the book was more of a slice-of-life story than a heavily plotted story.