The Rattled Bones

by S.M. Parker

"The feminist ghost story you've been waiting for." ~Bustle

Unearthing years of buried secrets, Rilla Brae is haunted by ghostly visions tied to the tainted history of a mysterious island in this haunting novel from the author of The Girl Who Fell .

Find Me. The words haunt eighteen-year-old Rilla Brae. They follow her wherever she goes.A message that started with a ghostly voice singing from the depths of the stormy seas surrounding Rilla's small Maine town. And then the visions started.

Of a girl around her age. In trouble. Reaching out to Rilla. Come here, come here , she sings.

Worried she might be losing her mind, Rilla tries to blink these visions away. Especially when Sam Taylor--a first-year archeology student--appears, exploring the mysterious island off Maine's coast. Not a lot of people know the history of the island. Or, rather, they don't talk about it. Don't discuss it.

Yet the more she and Sam unearth the island's many secrets, the stronger Rilla's visions grow. The more the girl appears. Rilla can feel the girl's pain, the sadness. Her fear.Soon it becomes clear that there might be more to these visions than simple hallucinations. And that the truth behind the mysterious island may be the key in helping the girl.

But how can Rilla help someone only she can see?

It's a riddle Rilla already knows the answer to. An answer that's been whispered to her in the middle of the night. Sung to her over the ocean's whistling waves. Carved into the wood of her bedroom
FIND ME.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

400 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2017

About the author

Shannon Parker lives on the Atlantic coast in a house full of boys. She’s traveled to over three dozen countries and has a few dozen more to go. She works in education and can usually be found rescuing dogs, chickens, old houses and wooden boats. Shannon has a weakness for chocolate chip cookies and ridiculous laughter—ideally, at the same time. Find her at www.shannonmparker.com

Reviews

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warnings: Discussion and examination of historical racism and discrimination against impoverished groups. Manipulation seen within a romantic relationship. Loss of a parent. Ghosts. Fear of drowning.

I'm really uncertain of my feelings on this book. It isn't bad, but it didn't live up to the expectations I had based on the synopsis. I think I'll settle for 3.5 stars.

What worked for me:
-There were a few creepy lines that were delivered just right to give me chills. (This only happened maybe 3 times though.)
-It's based on real history (though heavily fictionalized), which makes it even more intriguing and important.
-I liked the main character.
-I liked that we saw a glimpse of a toxic relationship, which I think Parker has written about wonderfully in the past.
-I liked that there wasn't really a romance. (The MC has a boyfriend at the start of the novel and that relationship is well out of the lovey dovey phase, and there is no romance built between the MC and the secondary male character.)
-The setting was very atmospheric.

What fell flat for me:
-The mystery unraveled very, very slowly.
-There wasn't enough suspense or urgency for me (things I personally need in mysteries).
-There was too much repetition and rehashing of what the MC had been through, was thinking, or needing to figure out, without acting on any of these things.
-It read like a lobster fishing manual. I seriously feel like I could work on a lobster boat after this. It was interesting the first time Rilla's work day was explained, but I didn't need the other 20 work days described in that same amount of detail. More time is spent on lobstering than on the mystery.
-The writing style. Just about all of the dialogue in the novel was mixed in with internal thoughts in the same paragraph. You really have to pay attention to where the quotation marks end the dialogue because the thoughts flowed so well I kept thinking the main character had said something out loud when it was only just her thoughts.
-Speaking of the MC's thoughts... I was frustrated with how she didn't communicate very well with anyone.
-Haaaaated the boyfriend character. I may have felt more depth to the story if I'd been attached to anything happening between them.
-Too quick of a resolution. The story had such a slow build where nothing was being learned and then literally everything was revealed in the last 20 pages. I wish things had been revealed over time to hold my interest more.

Overall, it is definitely a ghost story, and definitely has a good autumn aesthetic. I just needed more tangible suspense.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rilla Brae will be leaving coastal Maine in the fall when she heads to Rhode Island's Brown University. Rilla has been her dad Jonathan's sternman on the family lobster boat since age four. Jonathan's sudden death has devastated Rilla and her gram who raised her. She feels the heavy burden performing her dad's job of setting lobster traps and delivering the daily catch to the Yankee Fishermen's Coop. There are fishermen like Old Man Benner who want to "bully" her and take over her designated fishing grounds. Rilla has been taught independence and has difficulty asking for help. Help is exactly what she needs.

It is hard enough being a teenager. Rilla's challenges include coming to terms with her dad's death,
trying to meet the lobster poundage required to produce a living wage and stroking a sensitive, possessive boyfriend.

While lobster fishing, Rilla notices a wooden boat at uninhabited Malaga Island. She hears a haunting melody and sees the glimpse of a girl. When a USM research boat with summer intern Sam Taylor ropes off a dig site on Malaga Island, Rilla is determined to help investigate the island mystery. Once home to a poor but self sustaining fishing community, what happened to the islanders? Malaga Island has secrets, shameful secrets. Ghosts from the past unsettle Rilla.

"The Rattle Bones" by S.M. Parker is a superb tome on many levels. A landlubber can experience life as a lobster fishermen. Rilla is taught never to trust a quiet sea. She mourns her father's death, deals with a needy boyfriend and eerie ghosts from the past. Ms. Parker's historical novel seamlessly flows as Rilla navigates the complexities of her life. I highly recommend "The Rattle Bones"

Thank you Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon Pulse and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kathleen Glasgow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A smart, thrilling, intelligent exploration of grief and memory. The book is scary, wild, feminist, and interesting in all the best ways. She's created an excellent character in teen lobster boat captain Rilla; the terrain of Maine is explored fully and sensitively. You'll read this book for it's intelligent prose and smart pacing; you'll also get some some serious scares and thrills.

[Adriana Mather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply fantastic! For months after you read the last page of this lyrical story, you will still hear the song of the sea and wonder what mysteries remain on small seaside islands.

This magical and mournful tale of self-discovery joins newly graduated Rilla Brae as she struggles with the death of her father and her uncertain future. She discovers all is not as it seems in this sleepy seaside Maine village when a ghost leads her to explore a neighboring deserted island that was the site of a great tragedy that will rock her world.

This beautifully crafted book has it all: mystery and romance; discovery and loss; and the struggle between tradition and personal growth. Will Rilla Brae be able to answer the call of the past and avoid the insanity that destroyed her mother?

[Sarah Glenn Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts beautiful and chilling, Shannon Parker's sophomore novel will sweep you away to the icy waters and small coastal towns of Maine, where the past refuses to be ignored and family secrets are dredged to the surface with the day's catch. Unputdownable, and like the roar of the sea once you've heard it, unforgettable.

*And if the blurb above isn't enough incentive for you to read this beauty, let me tell you some of the things that make this one of my all-time top reads, starting with:

--The haunting. This book has some creepy moments that make your skin crawl, and I'm a ghost story junkie, so I'm nearly uncreepable! I consider scaring me a hallmark of great storytelling.

--The characters. From warm, wise Gram to smart, headstrong Rilla to adorable archaeology student Sam, I've rarely read a story where I felt so connected to all the characters. They're all fully realized, with believable desires and motives, which makes connecting to them so easy.

--The romance. I say this not because there's a lot of romance, but rather, because what's there is extremely light and tasteful. If you're looking for an eerie read more focused on an awesome mystery and richly drawn characters than it is on kissing, then this book is for you!

--The mystery and history (see what I did there?). This book is clearly well-researched, and the historical narrative woven throughout Rilla's story is extremely compelling (though tragic). After reading, I was so intrigued that I had to research the island setting's heartbreaking history for myself. Parker has drawn from a real piece of lesser-known history for this tale, and her vivid descriptions bring a long-gone era to life for her readers.

--Strong, beautiful writing. The descriptions in this book make you feel like you're really at sea, sitting beside Rilla in her lobster boat (even if you are, like me, reading it on the couch in your landlocked town!).

--The ending! The story's end is uplifting and satisfying...though I'll admit I was bummed that I wouldn't be spending any more time with Rilla and Sam.

In short, I think everyone should read this!

[Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghosts and a deserted island and a girl raised on the ocean… this book is everything I love! EVERYTHING!!!!
S.M. Parker has either spent her entire life on a fishing boat off the coast of Maine, or she was a fisherman in a past life, because her lyrical prose had me firmly settled in this spooky coastal town. I felt like I was with Rilla each time she set out on her boat, navigating buoys and low lying fog, hauling up lobster traps and feeling the sea spray on her face. The author is masterful at crafting a setting that seeps into your bones, so that you feel the damp air at the back of your neck and the whispers of ghosts from across the ocean With each page, I was carried away to the shores of Maine.

And if the setting of this book isn’t enough to draw you in, the story absolutely will. A mystery to unravel, a girl who haunts the island. And Rilla, a main character who is brave and fierce and is the kind of girl you can’t help but root for.

Only one warning: don’t read this book after dark, or if you do, make sure you keep all the lights on. This book haunts me even now, once I’ve finished reading, in all the best ways. It makes me long to explore spooky islands, dig up artifacts, and peruse old photos of people long gone.

Oh, and did I mention Sam! Yeah, Sam…… I adore him more than I can express.

Two thumbs WAY up. Five gigantic stars. A hundred high-fives. This is one of my favorites of 2017!!!! Do not miss S.M. Parker’s sophomore novel, she outdid herself with this one.

[Amy Imogene Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is meant for those who like their speculative ghost stories to take their time, immerse them in forced-to-the-present mystery, and the in-between space that exists at the edge of the sea.

Atmosphere:★★★★ 1/2
Writing: ★★★
Character development: ★★★
Pacing: ★★ 1/2

The Rattled Bones follows the story of Rilla, a girl caught at the edge of high school and college who lost her mother years ago has now lost her father. Rilla and her Gram live at Fairtide, a picturesque home on the edge of coastal Maine in a small town that creates as many secrets as it shares--and one of those secrets is coming up from the deep.

We find Rilla in the hurricane of her grief surrounding her father as she tries to keep his legacy--and her family's livelihood--alive by maintaining their family's lobster traps in the sea. It's a lobster-trap town filled with misogynistic fishermen and Rilla's boyfriend, Reed, who embodies almost every iteration of a boy who is too comfortable in his small town roots and unwilling to allow his girlfriend to leave him/become her own person/better herself with a higher education. I found him extremely annoying, but he has his purpose. Rilla is trying to heal from her grief, survive as a fisherwoman in a town of men, and trying to ignore the voice that she hears coming from this mysterious island off the coast of her home.

"Come here, come here, my dear, my dear."

Malaga Island has always been at the edge of Rilla's existence, and the people of her town refuse to discuss it. Something happened--something bad, something shameful. But what? Rilla and a university archaelogy student, Sam, find themselves racing against the ghosts of the past to discover the truth before it consumes them.

The Rattled Bones is the type of novel that will either resonate with you completely, or bore you silly. I found myself struggling with the first quarter--it's terribly slow, the writing comes across as choppy and heavy-handed--but then the atmosphere of the coastal Maine setting the ghostly element from Malaga Island kept me hooked, and I needed to know what happened.

Things that worked for me: The spooky island, the goose-pimples-in-the-dark vibe for half of the novel, the LACK of a pigeon-holed romance (besides her established boyfriend, Reed, the author managed to subvert my expectations), the mention of herbal remedies (I love that kind of stuff), and Rilla's incredibly memorable presence on the page.

Things that did not work for me: Wow, this book is slow. It took me ages to finish, just because it felt like a chore to read more than a few chapters at a time (it speaks to how strong the atmosphere is that I rated it so high despite these frequent pauses). The social justice angle felt very heavy-handed. I liked the message, I agreed with the author about the injustice, but at times the interjections of vehement opinions felt like they were being shouted at me by the author herself, and not coming from Rilla at all.

Also, it was quite the shock to me to discover that Malaga Island--and the events that occurred there--are real to some extent. The footnotes mid-text surprised me into Googling the story and I encourage everyone to do so either mid-story, like I did, or at the end. Some things need to be remembered.

Overall, a killer atmospheric read that will appeal to those who like spooky stories that entwine with the sea. This is definitely one of the better speculative/thriller YA novels out there.

*****

Original notes: What an interesting book. Review to come!

[Kali Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a chance to read an advance copy of Shannon Parker's THE RATTLED BONES and I am so glad that I did.

This is a truly beautiful book. The Maine setting is stunningly rendered, from the natural beauty of the land and sea to the hardships of life on a lobster boat, from the stubborn pride of people whose families have lived there for generations to the cycles of poverty and abuse that afflict modern teenagers in small towns.

But most vivid of all is the sense of history in the place, and the constant awareness that history shapes the world we live in, whether it's good or shameful, recent or distant. The clearing of Malaga Island is a dark, shameful chapter in American history, and Parker explores it here with care and empathy.

The main character, Rilla, is a teenager whose life has been marked by grief and loss, but her care for the people around her as well as those whose tragic past she uncovers as she explores the history of her home. Her conflicting emotions about going to college, about leaving her grandmother alone, about choosing a life different from the one her friends have chosen, about taking comfort in a friendship with an outsider, about the fear that if she moves away she'll change too much to come back, they're all so very real and powerful and important for readers of all ages, but especially teenagers, to acknowledge and explore.

And, of course, this is a ghost story, so it's got plenty of delightful creeps as well! The slow unveiling of the supernatural elements of the story sent chills down my spine and kept me reading way past my bedtime.

Very highly recommended. I can't wait to see what Parker writes next. I will be first in line to read it!

[Karen Fortunati · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Girl Who Fell, Shannon Parker established herself as a master at weaving a compelling story in a high stakes, thrilling ride of a read. She does it again, superbly, in The Rattled Bones, where a haunting on the Maine coastline blurs the line between sanity and madness.

High school graduate Rilla has been raised by her father and grandmother. In this last summer before embarking for Brown on a full scholarship, her father's unexpected death causes Rilla to rethink her plans. But it's more than the future of her family's lobstering business weighing on her. Rilla is starting to see things - things that others can't - things that are tied to the dark and dirty history of a small island off her Maine coastline. Forcing Rilla to face a startling truth - either she's losing her grip on her sanity or she's connecting with a woman who died almost a century ago.

Parker's writing flat out stuns in this paranormal mystery. She explores Rilla's grief and loss with great sensitivity and honesty. These lines read like poetry. But it is first and foremost a thriller with a deliciously high creep element. Parker absolutely shines at scaring the bleep out of you. For me, the brilliance of this story is its layers and complexity. In Rilla's quest for the truth, Parker exposes yet another long buried incident of racial prejudice and takes a provocative look at the constraints of gender roles past and present.

Scary, thrilling, thoughtful and provocative, THE RATTLED BONES, is going to be BIG! DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!!!

[Marci Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words.

Okay, so maybe I can come up with a few.

Fair warning, though: they will be insufficient.

I’ve never called a story exquisite. Not once. THE RATTLED BONES, though. It’s absolutely, painfully, artfully, unequivocally exquisite, with lines so lyrical that I read them two, three, even four times. I’m not even kidding. The prologue itself deserves a standing ovation, and the rest of the story…well, it’s just as mesmerizing. It’s all grace and honesty and subtlety, yet all the while it somehow manages to be haunting as hell.

That’s right. Haunting. In a “chilling breath on the back of your neck” sort of way.

Yeah.

And can we talk about the characters for a moment? They’re so genuine, so real, so well drawn, that you can almost reach out and touch their flannel shirts. I mean, Sam. SAM. *sigh of all sighs* Oh dear God. 17-year-old me is kind of, sort of, totally in love with that boy.

All that said, THE RATTLED BONES is brimming with a staggering amount of heart. There are so many lines I could quote here, but I want you to read them like I did, turning a page and discovering them tucked away in this compelling, honest, spellbinding story of grief and loss, of family, of friendship, of love.

All the stars. A galaxy of stars to this beautiful story.

[Amber Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this chilling story of grief, ghosts, and secrets, Parker takes us on a journey that reveals a deep and unexpected connection between the past and the present. Full of twists and turns, darkness and light, THE RATTLED BONES will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Highly, highly, highly recommend this one!

*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[Lindsay Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of THE RATTLED BONES and there aren’t really enough words to describe how I felt after finishing it. I adored S.M. Parker’s debut novel, THE GIRL WHO FELL, so I was anxious to get my hands on her newest masterpiece. Let me tell you, I inhaled this book. It stuck with me, latched itself to my heart in a way only the very best novels do. THE RATTLED BONES was everything I’d anticipated from S.M. Parker, and more. Much more.

This book has everything. An authentic (and spooky) seaside setting. History. Ghosts. Romance. Mystery. Most of all, it has a strong and relatable female main character in Rilla Brae. Rilla is brilliantly written and her journey to uncover her island’s tragic past is equal parts chilling, and beautiful. The themes S.M. Parker explores - grief, relationships, and history - are so important and the messages conveyed through Rilla’s exploration of her own past are ones that will strongly resonate with readers. Although this book is categorized as young adult, the themes are timeless.

As heartbreaking as some of Rilla’s conclusions about her island’s past are, THE RATTLED BONES is blooming with hope. And for once, the mystery and messages in this beautifully crafted story are not overwhelmed by the romance. Well done, S.M. Parker. You grabbed me on page one and never let me go. This book as phenomenal and has my whole heart.

Everyone should put THE RATTLED BONES at the top of their 2017 to-read lists; that’s where it belongs.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS= MY EXCITEMENT FOR THIS BOOK

GIMME NOW PLS

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rattled Bones is one of those books that you read/devour and long after the imagery sticks with you. Shannon Parker wrote in such vivid detail that the scenes on the page came to life. I had goosebumps and chills. Rilla's story of discovering her island's tragic past is timeless. The interactions between characters were engaging and mysterious, so I felt like the pacing skipped along seamlessly. There wasn't one point where I wanted to put The Rattled Bones down. But mostly I loved the story for how well it explored themes of grief, relationships, trust, and history. This story is not only packed with beautiful prose, it also has the stamp of being well-researched. You can tell from the first page that Parker knows exactly how rough fishing the coast of Maine can be.
I would recommend this book for any contemporary YA reader, but I know fans of Lisa McMann's Cryer's Cross will LOVE this novel.

I received an ARC for an honest review.

[Julie Eshbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very fortunate to get to read an early copy of THE RATTLED BONES. I loved Shannon Parker's debut, THE GIRL WHO FELL, so I was very excited to see where she would take her readers next, and she did not disappoint. Set on the Maine coast, THE RATTLED BONES centers around Rilla, a seventeen year old taking over her father's lobster boat after his recent death. This is a story about loss, grief, and finding out where you belong, and yet it's also a spine-chilling ghost story. Parker's prose is haunting and lyrical, and had me thinking of all the ways the past can haunt us--both inside and out. Creepy, riveting, mysterious, and atmospheric, this is a book that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended!

[S.A. Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desperately chilling & beautiful! A haunting tale of one community's forbidden secrets and a voice that refused to be silenced.

This story had me from the first word. I'm a sucker for history, and even more so for any work of fiction that weaves in aspects from true life events to explore land, culture, and people. To make us ponder who we are, where we come from, and what our responsibilities are to both. Who are we if we can not look back and reexamine humanities past to ensure we grow in humanity? A question I often like to ponder. Well, this tale gets you thinking and so much more.

Parker paints an accurate depiction of a fisherman's life off the coast of Maine with its tempered demeanor and rocky shores. Each flip of the page brings more of Maine to life - the slang so native to the New England coastline, the quirks and common knowledge only known to those who live there each day, and the attitudes of hardworking fishermen sea-persons. (That's for you, Rilla.) The text breathes of the sea. Scents of salty water and briny seaweed scatters from scene to scene. I can still hear the sounds of wenches on fishing boats and the tear of the ticket stub weighed down by the dollar amount of a good day's catch. The sense of close-knit families. And unspoken rules. And secrets. Deep, dark, and tragic.

Rilla Brae is a strong female lead. And it's a good thing; she's going to need it. Despite losing her father, she soldiers on, and does what any member of a fishing family does when needed - she guards what her family has build for generations and fishes regardless of the sacrifices it means for her. Rilla is a fighter whose moral compass runs deep and loyal. But as I'm sure you've guessed, there is more here than mere fishing. Rilla has other uncertainties in her life: her boyfriend/best friend, her original plans to leave for her freshman year of college in the fall, and her harbored heartache over her mother's abandonment years ago. The unknowns and the hushed whispers surrounding her mother's abandonment is a subject she completely ignores. That is until the ghostly voice of a young girl sings to her from the sea.

Scary? Some might thinks so, but I didn't. It's more like haunting spiced with a lore so tragic you just have to know what happened to the island inhabitants from long ago. The mystery of the forgotten island and its true history kept from the most native of Mainers living in the area increases in both complexity and tension. The narrative shares a view to the past, yet lets the reader experience the fear and heartache of the mystery in the here-and-now with Rilla. The more details Rilla learns, the more she needs to know, and that might just uncover a mystery about herself she never knew existed.

I loved this book! It's truly an amazing tale. I would recommend it to YA and adult readers, anyone who loves the sea and a good mystery, and East Coast and Maine historians.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mini Review
DNF @ 72 pages - not compelling at all. I have no idea what this story is even supposed to be. A ghost story, according to the synopsis, yet most of it seemed to be about a very annoying girl who likes fishing on a lobster boat.

The writing is not very good - it feels like it's trying too hard to be dramatic and atmospheric. I also have never seen so many fragmented sentences in my life. They're good in small doses, but the frequency in which they were appearing in this book (usually multiple in a page) was annoying and unnecessary. Like: "I tell him. The Truth." That's literally just a sentence? What purpose does putting a period in the middle serve?

[Leah Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a big difference between Young Adult fiction and books that happen to have a young adult protagonist. Given the praise heaped upon this and the lyrical-sounding summary I was hoping for the latter. I was very wrong.

This is the story of Rilla Brae (because YA heroines must have a super special unique name), whose father has passed away only a few days before the start of the book. Rilla Brae is a classic Mary Sue: she is physically strong, adept at traditionally masculine tasks like fishing, beautiful (all the boys want her!), super smart, cares about her family, can do nothing wrong, etc etc. Her "flaws" are being stoic and a little cold emotionally, but this seems to come more from her father's death because she warms up quite a bit over the course of the book.

Rilla has a boyfriend, Reed, who we get a classic "drugs are bad" speech about like, once a chapter. Have you noticed that, for the most part, YA frames all drinking/drugs as evil and The Worst Things That Will Definitely Ruin Your Life? There are never girls sneaking vodka during a sleepover and giggling themselves to sleep. Never guys smoking some pot and playing Mario Kart after football practice. It's always "THESE WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE" which I find... condescending. I don't want my fiction to be preachy. Anyway, there is of course Another Boy (love triangle whooo), Sam, who is working on an archaeological dig. Totally by himself. With almost no equipment and no supervision, even though he is a college freshman. Don't you know freshman often get grants to just go dig shit up randomly? #YAlogic

Anyway, Rilla sees a ghost on the island Sam is working on, and from there she tries to figure out who the girl is. There's almost no horror: I know ghost stories do not necessarily need to be horror, but literally 15% of this book is about the ghost. The rest is Rilla being sad (this book is NOT a deep examination of grief, despite the reviews saying so), fishing (there's a side plot about another fisherman trying to steal her patch of sea that has nothing to do with the main plots and is never resolved), having boy trouble, musing about her crazy mother, and reconnecting with her best friend. It's classic contemporary YA with a hint of ghost.

If you like YA as a genre, this actually might be a decent book. If you can get over the fact that Rilla is an absolute fucking moron despite the author telling us 100 times how smart she is. There is a LOT of telling in this book, and very little showing. Case in point: Rilla meets Sam for the first time and he tells her that sketchy things happened on the island that the mainlanders don't like to talk about. She literally thinks I wonder what could have happened here? to herself instead of, you know, asking the person RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER who knows. Like bitch, just ask him, he's standing right there. But we don't find out the history for a few chapters, just to drag out the suspense.

The "mystery" of who the ghost girl is happens to be paper-thin as well, and I have literally no idea why this is marketed as a "feminist ghost story." I guess... because it has girls in it? Because Rilla is a Strong Independent Female Who Has It All? I don't know. I didn't enjoy this, and I'm very thankful it only took me 2 days to read.

[Lilly Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did myself a favor by reading The Rattled Bones. Shannon M. Parker has (once again) created a masterpiece. She flawlessly captures the eerie beauty of Maine and pulls back the curtain on a piece of history that has stayed hidden for too long.
Grieving the sudden death of her father, high school graduate Rilla Brae is still coming to terms with her loss when she begins to see a ghostly girl haunting the shores of an abandoned, yet history-soaked island off the coast of Maine. Before long, the island’s dark past is unveiled and the creep factor is turned way, way up.
Not only is this a goose bump-inducing story, it is beautifully written and totally unforgettable. I couldn’t put it down. I practically disappeared into it. I’m a serious reader. I’ve read tons of great books, but this is one I’ll never forget. Trust me, it will stick with you.

[Monica Tesler · Rating 5 out of 5]

After devouring Parker's first book, The Girl Who Fell, I dove into The Rattled Bones with high expectations. This book didn't disappoint. Bones is creepy, gorgeous, and utterly absorbing. I loved the incorporation of the history of Malaga Island. I actually spent some time researching Malaga on my own after closing the book. A fabulous read!

[Laurie Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made no secret of my adoration for Shannon Parker's debut, THE GIRL WHO FELL. So when I got the chance to read her sophomore novel early, I considered myself very lucky indeed. And THE RATTLED BONES, a totally gorgeous and chilling read, exceeded all of my expectations. This is a mysterious, deep, haunting story that feels wholly original and immersive. Rilla is a main character who is so nuanced and complex that she is less of a character and more a full-fledged person you could know in real life. This book will continue to surprise you with its twists and turns, and will keep you guessing until the end!

[Ruth Lehrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I confess, I am a wimp and the paranormal aspects of this book scared the crap out of me. The rest of you brave souls will be fine, I’m sure. That being said, The Rattled Bones book is not simply horror fluff. It is a lyrical story for our times. Parker uses a musical language that invokes the coast of Maine while at the same time weaving themes related to marginalization and the result of the oppressed being written out of history.

Rilla has finished high school and is supposed to go to college in the fall but she is stuck in that familiar place that YA books often reside in, that place between past and present ; the common YA theme of moving into the future and how to do it. Instead of just staying there though, Parker exploits the otherworldliness of the sea to create a story that flirts with the line between paranormal and mental instability.

As a resident of western Massachusetts which has a similar history of inhumane institutions, the particular ghosts of institutionalization ring true for me. The leftover aura of cruelty and oppression taint a place. The dehumanizing of fellow community members create a well of past horrors. Combined with the sounds of the water, the sensory details of lobster fishing, and a capable teen lobster boat captain, Parker skillfully uses this history to spin a tale of the importance of knowing our stories and the ghosts of our own making.
“I can't imagine any story being better for being silenced." So glad that Parker graced us with a second book. Can’t wait for the next one.

[Jessica Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rilla Brae is officially my new favorite YA protagonist! Rilla doesn’t listen to maritime lore that claims a girl on a ship is bad luck. She’s a capable, tough-as-nails lobster fisherman and exactly the kind of protagonist I love to read. This story made my little feminist heart beat faster! Then there’s the writing – the gorgeous, sumptuous writing. S.M. Parker’s prose is so elegant that the descriptions read like poetry. The haunting itself is deliciously creepy and downright frightening, so much so that I caught myself trying to take a short break from reading at night but found myself too riveted by the story to stay away. I may have read some sections with one eye closed! The thorough research of the history shows as well. I didn’t know anything about the history of Malaga but found myself riveted by the true story and saddened about the cultural erasure. The mystery easily pulled me through the story quickly and the touch of romance was heartfelt and swoony. Frightening yet poignant, atmospheric yet grounded in a familiar reality, THE RATTLED BONES is a must-read! Bump it to the very top of your TBR list immediately!

[Bridget Hodder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triumph! Shannon Parker's astonishing second novel is a gripping, enthralling read that kept me awake at night--first, as I rushed to finish it, then later, as I pondered its meaning and revisited it in my heart.

The author effortlessly pulls us into the rhythms of a small lobstering community, as the protagonist, Rilla, prepares to go off to college in the wake of her father's recent death. But there are secrets hidden under the waters and in the sands of the abandoned island Rilla can see outside her bedroom window. Secrets that refuse to stay drowned. And the song Rilla hears upon the waves is calling her to find out what really happened to the people who lived on Malaga Island...or perhaps, to join them in their fate.

Terrifying, yet somehow graceful and elegiac, this is a surprising reflection on the nature of justice, and the unpredictability of the human heart.

Based on true events in Maine at the beginning of the 20th century. Highly recommended.

**An advance copy of the book was provided for the purpose of an honest review.**

[Sonya Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting, thrilling, and beautiful ghost story, THE RATTLED BONES explores how a disturbing past can reverberate through the present in so many ways. This is a novel full of fascinating multidimensional characters, starting of course with Rilla, the funny, independent, and empathic heroine. The relationships here are sometimes complicated - most prominently Rilla's relationship with her boyfriend Reed, even though the reader can see pretty quickly that he's gotta go - and I loved that complexity as much as I loved the more charming characters, like the compassionate and artistic Gram. The ghost story here is much more than suspense and spookiness, though there's plenty of that; it ultimately says so much about family and place and how we define who we are.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that will stay with you long after you finish reading the last page. It's hauntingly beautiful, with a compelling and heart-wrenching mystery at its core. The protagonist, Rilla Brae, is a perfect mix of vulnerability and strength, and readers will find themselves rooting for her at every turn.
The setting -- a fishing village in Maine -- is so fully and richly portrayed that it is almost another character, and I was so enthralled with Parker's tale that I wanted to pack up and move to Rilla's hometown and take up lobster fishing (or bugging, as Rilla would say).
The mystery, the haunting, the characters, the setting...I highly recommend The Rattled Bones.

[Brooks Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the perfect balance of mystery, spine-tingling suspense, and wonderfully rich descriptions that kept me up way past my bedtime. I'd tell myself if only read one more chapter, then get pulled right back in. The way Parker weaves together the history of Malaga with Rilla's need to discover why she continues seeing a girl on the abandoned island is so well done. The friendship between her and Sam is so perfectly real and heartwarming and I couldn't help but love every page where they were together. I can't say it enough--this book is just so dang good!

[Elly Swartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rattled Bones - another exceptional read by Shannon Parker. Parker's lyrics are equal parts beautiful and haunting. The story weaves the past and the present seamlessly, both informing the reader with measured intent. Parker beautifully captures the heart and motivation of Rilla Brae. The reader, along with Rilla, needs to learn the truth, but is equally scared to turn the page. The pacing in this story makes it a read that's hard to put down. So block off time, grab a chair, and settle in. Highly recommend this book!

I was given an arc for an honest review.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very few books that I've read can be said to be both starkly earthy and gorgeously otherworldly all at the same time. But in the Maine fishing town (a richly-envisioned setting that author Parker clearly knows with her whole heart) where main character, seventeen year old lobster fisherwoman, Rilla's tale is set, this lovely combination of cruel reality is deftly interwoven with events and people long, long gone.

A suberb sophomore effort by a masterful new author!

[Jennie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I was so LUCKY to have received an ARC of The Rattled Bones! I read Shannon's first book The Girl Who Fell and absolutely fell in love with it, so I knew that I wouldn't be disappointed with her sophomore novel --- and I was right. This book was amazing! I love how Shannon wove in elements of Maine's history, bone-tingling suspense, mystery, and a touch of romance. It was everything I expected and more, and I highly recommend it to everyone! Five-stars for sure! :)