A Box of Bones

by Marina Cohen

Twelve-year-old Kallie despises nonsense. She believes there's a rational explanation for everything, despite the good-natured prodding of her Grandpa Jess, who takes her to frivolous wastes of time like their town's local Festival of Fools.

There, Kallie meets a faceless man (must be some kind of mask) who gives her a strange wooden puzzle box (must be some kind of gimmick). Intrigued despite herself, Kallie sets to work on unlocking its secrets and...lets something out. From here Kallie's life begins to entangle with another world, a world where Liah, a young bone carver, journeys with her master to sell wares to a wicked Queen.

The sights, sounds, smells, and spells of Liah's world are beginning to leak into Kallie's, and if Kallie can't decipher the meaning of her own story, "the end" might be far from happy.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mystery, Horror, Fiction, Childrens, Magic

288 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2019

About the author

Marina Cohen is the author of several horror and fantasy books for children and young teens. Her novels THE INN BETWEEN, THE DOLL'S EYE, A BOX OF BONES and SHADOW GRAVE have been nominated for various awards in Canada and the United States including, The Sunburst Award, The Ontario Library Association's Red Maple and Silver Birch Awards, The Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, The Rocky Mountain Book Award, The Manitoba Young Reacher's Choice Award, and The Pacific Northwest Library Association Children's Choice Award. THE INN BETWEEN and A BOX OF BONES and SHADOW GRAVE are also Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections.

Marina loves old castles, hot cocoa, mysterious doors of all shapes and sizes, gingerbread and all things dark and creepy. She spends far too much time asking herself "What if?"

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked this up the 2nd time to continue reading, I was on page 50. I then finished the rest. Lol it was so good, & there was never a point that I could put it down. Such a suspenseful, fast paced, page turner. I loved it so much. Kallie is very level headed, goes by a routine, & is cautious. She doesn’t do anything that could even be a little risky, she doesn’t tolerate nonsense, & only trusts facts. She has a friend who is pretty much exactly like her. But then a new girl Anna steamrolls into their duo & makes them a trio-much to Kallie’s dislike. Anna is the opposite of Kallie. This is also told in a dual narrative. The other chapters we read from Liah. Liah’s world seems to bleed into Kallie’s. Kallie gets a strange box at the very beginning of the book. She opens it & the bone dice show certain pics. Things begin happening in life that reflects those pictures. Kallie has to figure out what it all means or there could be a tragic ending. I loved Kallie. Besides all her little quirks, she is smart & strong-she’s been through a lot for a kid. She learns more things that make her life even more complicated along this journey. But watching her grow & learn that facts aren’t always truths, & not all stories are lies, was amazing. She also really needed someone like Anna in her life, & I loved seeing the friendship grow b/n them 2, along w/Kallie’s best friend Pole. I adored Grandpa Jess!! He was the absolute best. This was a great mystery, w/such a creative dual story. I never got confused/frustrated. I loved both storylines, & how they both started to fit more & more together the further you read. Creepy, but not too creepy. It feels like each chapter leaves you wanting more, so you can’t stop-so there’s really no time to get to creeped out lol such a beautiful cover, & illustrations sprinkled throughout the book as well!!😍😍 Highly recommend!!💜💜

[emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ˋ°•*⁀➷ a box of bones by marina cohen

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆┆1 day read ┆fantasy genre ┆middle-grade

- this was extremely fast-paced and intriuging, which led to me to unfortunately reading it very quickly!! i feel like this book is so light and fun to read, and the plot twists were amazing.
╰┈➤ i was gifted a signed copy from the author which i'm so grateful for so thank you so so so so so so so much !! <33

˚˖𓍢ִ໋⛴✧˚⋆

likes: the characters, the fast-paced feel, the plot twists, the settings, the descriptions, etc.

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✎ characters..

kallie/kaliope ✮ mc - okay so I liked her character but she wasn't my favourite!! I understand that her character is supposed to be like straight up and more fact-y rather than creative, but other than the end I was really craving for some of her creativity!! she was a very likable character but definitely not my favourite!!

grandpa jess ✮ mc grandfather - WOAH okay so when grandpa jess got sent into the hospital I was NOT expecting that because I thought they would like kill him off IDK!! cause I feel like he's probably one of the most favourited characters so it would like make the book more plot-twisty if he died!! so I didn't expect him to come out alive! but yes i'm guessing that he's one of the most favourited characters cause he's like the most wholesome and is at no faults!

anna ✮ mc friend - SO I actually feel bad for anna because she's in a lot of denial with her parents cause of how they died and all, and isn't really living the best life.. but I really appreciate how fun she was and her creativity, and I like her longer name but I don't want to type the whole thing down!!

⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆ ⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆

꒰ 🎩 - ᝰ.ᐟ ꒱ pre-read: after having this signed copy gifted from the very generous author i'm super excited to start this, and it looks like a fun and fast-paced read!! let's hope for a good read and more to come!! <3

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody does smart creepy quite as well as Marina Cohen. I loved The Doll's Eye and The Inn Between, but A Box of Bones is my new favourite.

The creepiness is subtly present throughout, but there are no wasted words in A Box of Bones. It's tightly crafted yet lush with intriguing and well-rounded characters who grow on you as they themselves evolve. I love the dual narrative and how Liah's and Kallie's stories intertwine. Each chapter ends on a cliff-hanger, propelling the reader breathlessly forward to a most delicious ending. Brava.

[OjoAusana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great middle grade book. The story is original and captivating, the characters are nice and grow which is great! An amazing thriller/mystery book!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Kallie, a very matter of fact, no nonsense twelve-year-old gets a mysterious box from a faceless man at a festival, her well-ordered life begins to change. Her rock steady friend Pole has brought Anna into their fold, and Anna has brought with her a breath of fresh air and whimsy that serves Kallie well, if she allows it. Kallie’s story is mixed with Liah’s story, and their paths converge seemingly into one. Kallie’s quest for the truth causes her to doubt one who loves her. This is a wonderful story with fantasy and magic, woven with a contemporary young girl who is growing up and seeing life through her own lenses. I appreciate author Marina Cohen sharing this novel with me in exchange for my fair and honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading and enjoying Cohen's book, The Inn Between, with my fourth and fifth graders in our after-school book club, I knew I wanted to read her newest book when it was published. Cohen was gracious enough to chat with my students via Skype about the book and her writing process. The kids were just riveted by her, and they continued to refer to her stories and anecdotes weeks after the chat. I truly appreciate that she gave so freely of her time to reach out to my students in such a meaningful way.

While The Inn Between had a very creepy and sinister feel to it, I found A Box of Bones to be less eerie and more of a mystery. Kallie, the main character, is a sixth grader who is given an unusual box made of bone by a faceless man. While Kallie tries to unravel the mysteries of the box, she discovers that her own life is also full of mysteries. What was once a life of order and routine gets thrown wildly off-balance by the box, the new girl at school with her mysterious past, and the secrets surrounding her mother's death. Interwoven throughout the narrative is the story of Liah, an apprentice to a masterful bone carver, who must face the wrath of an evil empress. Both girls must face their challenges head-on, or risk the possibility of losing the ones they love forever.

I will definitely be purchasing a copy of this book for my classroom library. I know my students will be so excited to read another of Cohen's books since they loved The Inn Between so much!

My thanks to publisher Roaring Brook Press via NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Upper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This newest release by Marina Cohen will have readers gripping the pages with intensity from beginning to end! In this story, Kallie’s world of ‘fact’ collides and begins to mix with the magically complicated world of Leah. Both characters are filled with a strong sense of purpose...a purpose that eventually weaves the girls together in very unexpected ways, revealing a unique tale where the facts of science compliments the truth of of stories.

This Middle Grade narrative is a tale of courage, sacrifice, betrayal, redemption and ..... magic.
Highly recommended for Grade 5 to 7
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy]

Often when I read this age range of book I wish it was for an older audience so that I could get more meat from it. I didn't get the relevance of the Jackal. It didn't seem to be good or bad, or even an omen, which I think is what it was meant to be. I like the story idea and the characters. I would have liked more story told in the parallel universe. What happened to the past empress and so on. the biggest take away for me was the setting. I HAD to Google Lake Champlain, Champ, and the bike ferry. I am intrigued and desperately want to go. (I think it s a little unbelievable that she rode her bike over 14 miles (with a rescue swim in the middle) and then back again when she hadn't ridden in a long while. I frequently ride 22 miles round trip to a nearby town every summer and am worn out the first time. That's without the swim.) I guess she was significantly late home and she was tired. That just rubbed me wrong.

[Lourdes (Chapters We Love) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I just find out about this book and I’m here crying cause I need it in my hands right now!

I absolutely loved this story! Marina Cohen did not disappoint, her middle grade creepy stories are the best.

Review to follow

[Debbie Ohi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously creepy middle grade with lots of suspense. I am a big fan of Marina Cohen's writing, and this story did not disappoint. LOVED the puzzle-solving aspect, the dark edge, the fairy tale magic.

[Petr Olmer · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book feels very mechanical, the characters simple. No thrill and not much fun. DNF after nine chapters.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Spoiler-free Review of A Box of Bones

***Content Warnings for A Box of Bones: drowning, implied death, implicit gore, hospitalization

When a faceless man gives Kallie a puzzle box, she becomes obsessed with unlocking its secrets. But when she opens it, her life becomes entangled with another world, a place where Liah is a bone carver’s apprentice who must defeat an evil empress…with a box of bones. The stakes start rising, which means Kallie must “decipher the meaning of her own story”…or else.

Kallie’s character is probably the best part of this whole book. She loves science and math. She believes only in facts. She is practical, orderly, and has a no-nonsense attitude. Having Kallie confront the unknown, the illogical, really was best thing for the story. Kallie tries so desperately to ignore the magic and mystery, which makes it that much more interesting. I also loved seeing Kallie thrown out of her routine because it helped her grow! At first, she’s steadfast in her convictions, but, eventually, she changes based on her new experiences and understandings. The end of her transformation arc does feel a bit sudden during the last few chapters, though; she's suddenly a whole different person! Nonetheless, over the course of the story, she learns the value of people—our identity, our reliance on stories, our relationships…

Speaking of which, Kallie’s relationships were the second best part of A Box of Bones. First, I loved her connection with her grandfather. Her grandfather is reliable and allows Kallie to work through her thoughts and feeling, and even encourages her to get out of her comfort zone. (Though Kallie doesn’t seem bothered by her father’s general lack of affection, I’m glad she was able to receive her grandfather’s hands-on brand of unconditional love.) Second, I really enjoyed how Anna’s character functioned as a foil to Kallie; they are complete opposites, so Kallie must learn to see from a new perspective. As much as the story begins with the puzzle box, I think Anna is the other answer to Why tell Kallie’s story now, at this particular moment in her life? Although I liked Pole (especially since he seems to be the only POC) he was too similar to Kallie and, therefore, never challenged her.

Though readers hear from both Kallie’s and Liah’s third person perspectives, we are significantly more immersed in Kallie story. But that’s not to say that Liah’s POV was any less engaging. Actually, I quite enjoyed the “short story.” Liah is bold. Also, the plot is more straightforward and adventurous, whereas Kallie’s story was shrouded in mystery. (Indeed, some of the scenes and subplots for Kallie’s part didn’t always seem relevant at first.)

On that note, personally, I just can’t piece together the ending. When I put down the book, it just felt like there were plot holes. Even once I started putting things together, there were still a few loose ends. I understood the parallel between Kallie and Liah (and enjoyed how their stories connected in a way you wouldn’t expect), but I couldn’t quite grasp the events on Kallie’s end: Who, exactly, is the faceless man and why does he send Kallie onto this adventure? Ugh! What am I missing? I have a handle on the fantasy elements of Liah’s story, but... maybe I just can’t get into the magical realism on Kallie’s side; maybe I just need to take the story as it is, since magical realism questions reality and tends to mean no rules…and no answers; maybe I’ve thought about all of this too much. Regardless, for me, the conclusion was too open (and confusing) for it to be satisfying.

Aside from my analytical brain spoiling the wholesome ending (I just can’t seem to get behind the magical realism in this particular book!), A Box of Bones is a compelling (and somewhat creepy) mystery book, with a fast pace and interesting characters, that weaves a tale filled with truth, family, bravery, friends, and…storytelling.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I legit bought this book due to the fact that Yana Bogatch did the artwork on the cover and inside this book. I am a huge fan of her artwork since I started watching her Cosmic Spectrum Youtube channel several years ago and I watch her drawing sessions whenever I have free time. When I heard she did the art for a book, I didn't care if it was just the cover or more, I purchased it and was pleased to find 3 or 4 more pieces inside the book.

As for the book itself, I was very pleasantly surprised. I absolutely loved the tale, even if it read a bit young since it is a a middle grade book (I assume). I loved the little snippets of the bone weaver tale placed throughout the book. I would happily buy a copy of just the Bone Weaver tale along with beautiful artwork in a storybook style, even if it wasn't Yana Bogatch's artwork. I really did like it.

As for the main story with this book, while I did find some things predictable, I overall really enjoyed the book. Our main character could be quite annoying though with her everything must be facts to be truth, I don't like fairy tales, etc etc. She really did develop over the book though and I found the character growth quite good. I read a little more than half one night after work and then the rest the next night, so a very quick read too. I could have done it in one had I been more focused, but work is really tough around the holiday season. There isn't a customer service job in this country that doesn't get completely overloaded with work during the Christmas season.

This book was quite the nice escape, I really enjoyed the book for the most part and I loved the added fantasy aspect rooted in the real world. I would definitely recommend it to someone who wanted a little escape. Even though it is for a younger reader, I feel like it works for an adult reader too and I truly like that in kids novels.

I wasn't planning on reading anymore before Christmas, but now since I've gotten back into reading a little bit I'm going to make it a point to read more often. Perhaps one book a month next year? Instead of waiting until the final month to suddenly make a reading goal because I just want to get some books read before the end of the year? I also want to finally push myself to start writing more on my own books. I have quite a few books I got from a second hand shop when I was in high school and college that I need to read, and I have been looking at new releases, and my coworker is trying to get me to read Mistborn. I'm going to have to give it all a go. I at least know I'll be reading the 3rd installment of the Fourth Wing (hopefully if it comes out before the end of 2024) and the last two Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card novels next year!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Kallie Jones puts little faith in stories, instead relying on facts and proof to keep her world humming along. But when she receives a wooden puzzle box at a festival, things start to change. She becomes determined to figure out which combination of moves will open the box, and slowly, methodically, recording every move she makes, Kallie figures out its secret. But once she does so, it seems as though the pieces are causing strange things to happen. While Kallie is trying to sort all this out, she uncovers a secret in her own house and has a shocking realization about something she has believed to be true for a long time. I appreciated how the author wove in the story of Liah and the bone carver and the box's origin among Kallie's modern-tale story. Although Kallie is an appealing protagonist, she isn't without flaws, and her cruelty to Anna, a new classmate who often tells tall tales about her family and living circumstances for obvious reasons, is heartbreaking and hard to read even while it seems realistic, given Kallie's frustration at the time. It's encouraging to read a novel for middle graders that features youngsters who aren't afraid to be themselves as is the case with Kallie, her best friend Pole, and Anna. As a bibliophile and writer, I loved what the dagger turned out to be. I had to hoot in glee when the friends plan to celebrate the Periodic Table of Elements.

[bjneary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this creepy, alluring middle grade story by Marina Cohen! Kallie is very comfortable in her skin, smart, and kind of a loner. When Kallie accompanies her grandfather Jess to a Local Festival of Fools she is confronted with some strange goings on beginning with a faceless man giving her a puzzle box. As she sets herself the task of unlocking the box’s secrets, Kallie is drawn into a mystery of another time and place where Liah is a bone carver in training who must overcome an evil empress with a box of bones. What readers will really enjoy about this book is the mystery and eerie plot that set Kallie and her friends investigating. Pole and Kallie have grown up together and are very much alike in their personalities. It is the new student, Anna and the fantasy book, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe that throw Kallie’s belief system into questions and turmoil. As the plot thickens and Liah, the bone carver’s chapters are interspersed; readers will be turning the pages as they race to find out how the stories, mysteries, and lies fit together. I particularly enjoyed Kallie’s discussion with her English teacher, Ms. Beausoliel about fact and truth especially “stories are the truth in our humanity.” I appreciate author Marina Cohen and #BookJunkies for sharing this novel with me in exchange for my fair and honest review. Highly recommended!

[Nannette Demmler · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by MacMillan Children’s Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

What an absolutely marvelous story. The characters are sweet and well drawn out. The two stories are both wonderful, and a little bit creepy. The ending was just perfect and satisfying.

Kallie is such a delightful little girl who is very practical and doesn’t put up with any nonsense. Facts and truth are her comfort, she reads physics books for fun! She doesn’t know what to make of this faceless man who gives her this box. But she soon figures out the secret of the box, and what it contains will eventually change her life.

I loved Kallie’s relationship with her grandfather. You could tell from the start that although they believe in different things, they have a bond that is very important and loving. Kallie’s relationship with her father was also loving, but less demonstrative.

Anna is a girl in Kallie’s story who is the complete opposite of her. She delights in making up stories and going on adventures. She compliments Kallie and although their relationship is a struggle at first you can tell that this is the beginning of a life long friendship.

Liah was a very strong willed and smart young lady. She takes magic as a normal part of her life. Her journey is totally different from Kallie’s but it is just as important. And that Queen she meets, she is truly wicked and nasty. She would kill you just for looking at her. Liah is also very brave and kind. She also has a wonderful relationship with her master that although he is strict with her is also loving.

The two stories do not ever come together, but rather they mirror each other. Things happen in Kallies’ life that are then reshaped to fit Liah’s story and vice versa. The story moves along at a pretty quick pace and there are no slow spots. The ending is quite surprising and little bit spooky. Both girls show a tremendous amount of growth by the end.

A wonderful story that is a middle grade gem. I can’t wait to add it to my library’s collection and introduce it to my students. They will love it.

https://elnadesbookchat.com

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to the publisher and author for providing me and our #BookJunkies reading group an ARC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

This was a fantastic little MG fantasy read. Imbued with the power of story telling and featuring fun, believable characters, I really enjoyed this. There was magic, there was a side story about the real life problems we face, and there was a message of writing your own story and taking control of your own destiny.

Kallie is a believer in facts. After all, stories are just lies. So, when her grandfather takes her to the Festival of Fools (a waste of time, in her opinion) and she sees a faceless man who gives her a trick box that appears to be inlaid with bone, she figures it must all be an illusion. A mask, hidden gears, and plastic. But, as she finally gets the box open, and discovers the bone dice inside, she begins to realize there is more at stake here. Because a story is unfolding, and Kallie isn't sure she likes what the ending is going to be.

Recommended for grades 4-7.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and Thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

When I first read this book, I did not know what to expect. Then as I read on and learned about Kallie and her belief that every myth, legend, and fantasy can be proved by science and that everything happens for a reason until she receives this magic box that unlocks a secret world that is becoming part of hers. This story reminded me a lot of the TV show on Nickelodeon Are You Afraid of the Dark and this would be the perfect story to feature on that show. Children will have their interest invested in the story as they follow along with Kallie as she unlocks the box and defeat the evil it entails.

We will consider adding this book to our JFiction collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Kallie is a strong protagonist who confronts life with logic, order, and no nonsense. Stories are lies, and magic and make-believe have no place in the ordered life she and her father have carved out after Kallie’s mother’s death. This ordered life turns upside down when Kallie receives a puzzle box. By solving the puzzle and opening the box, Kallie discovers a set of intricately carved bones. Something else escapes from the box, something that defies logic and order.
This fast-paced page turner alternates between Kallie and Liah – a young bone carver from back in the time when the box’s contents were carved. As Liah’s life begins to intertwine with Kallie’s, everything Kallie knows and believes is shattered. For the first time in her life, logic and order are of no use to her. How will she solve the mystery of the box that is messing up her life?
This is a story of suspense, secrets, and lies that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legends are stories and stories are lies. That's what 12 year old Kallie believes, she is a serious person and does not believe in wasting time or stories. She is a no-nonsense person but when her Grandpa Jess takes her to their town's Festival of Fools a faceless man gives her a mysterious box made out of bone. At the same time the bone carver's story starts, and it doesn't take long for Kallie and the bone carvers' stories to intertwine. In order to figure out what's happening Kallie must step away from her no-nonsense nature and try to see the truth in the story.

This book was a little weird, but a good weird. I enjoyed Kallie's journey and the magical realism that it included. Kallie being so against anything out of the ordinary makes the magic all the more interesting because she tries desperately to ignore it. Good for a reader looking for a mystery with some magical realism.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kallie is very much like her Father – rational and thoughtful. She doesn’t believe in the supernatural or the unexplained. Everything has a purpose and an explanation. Her Grandpa is funny, warm and a breath of fresh air. He takes her to the Festival of Fools where she meets a faceless man who gives her a box. This isn’t some ordinary box, Kallie must work to open it. Once she uncovers the pattern, something really weird happens and Kallie is worried that something may have escaped the box. We begin to dive into the world of Liah and Kallie and watch how they intertwine. Kallie’s once ordered life is thrown off balance and she must face these challenges head on in order to protect those she loves. This novel I felt is a bit of a cross between mystery and horror and great for young readers. The plot flowed nicely and developed at a good speed for young readers.

[Zephyr Gerhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally get why people might not like this book. Kallie isn't a likeable protagonist at first (imo) but the character development in the story is actually phenomenal. She goes from believing art and fantasy is stupid and impractical, but by the end she's doing her best to embrace it! I absolutely adore the fantasy elements of this book. I have several burning questions about it, and until I figure them out(I may have to reread, might have missed these things) I will give this book 4 stars.

SPOILERS!!!:
Who is the faceless man? What is his purpose/where did he come from?
The blurb states that Liah's world is seeping into Kallie's,but at the end, it's revealed that Kallie wrote Liah's story. Both stories bleed into each other,which makes me a bit confused.

Even though I have these questions, it's still an amazing read,and I enjoyed it as a 20 year old. Highly recommend!

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kallie is a very rational thinker but when she's at a festival one day and faceless man hands her a mysterious box, she's a little wigged out AND intrigued. The box seems to be mechanical in nature, although there's no key hole and no obvious way to open it. After a lot of methodical trial and error, the box opens and she finds that there are cubes inside, along with a long slender stick? Letter opener? Pencil? Then she meets a really strange girl who is telling all sorts of fanciful stories, and against her better judgement, she befriends her. Additionally, there is a separate storyline about a girl named Liah, who is a bone carver. There's some excellent intrigue, some good plot twists, and satisfying ending. I think the kids are going to like this one.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was kind of a mess. A bomb was dropped in the beginning of the book that immediately piqued my curiosity. Unfortunately, it wasn't really talked about until halfway into the book when it started picking back up. It was great up until the ending where the conflict wasn't really resolved in a realistic way. The characters were just given the resolution and everyone was like, "okay, cool". I did really like the atmosphere Cohen set up, however. I pictured the entire book to be set in a Tim Burton film, which was awesome to think about.
I will probably forget this book very soon, it wasn't really that memorable.

[Tasha Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea how it's taken me 3 months to read 280 pages of MG fiction but here we are.

First off, loved the premise. It was cute and could have been amazing. While it was good, it wasn't amazing (which could just be me 🤷‍♀️).

Loved the changing of POV throughout as both Liah and Kallie come to terms with their fate.

Didn't feel like there was closure when it came to the box but also its a kids book so 10 year old probably wouldn't notice (yes I know I'm not the target audience).

It rounded out nicely with closure for majority of characters though. Definitely worth giving to your kidlets

[Laurie Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my son because he had read The Inn between and really enjoyed it. He reas it and suggested I do the same. It is a great story about a young girl named Kallie who lives with her dad and grandfather. The story is written here in Burlington Vermont and talkers about the Festival of Fools. Kallie meets a faceless man in a pink fedora who gives Kallie a box. Things change for Kallie and the way she has lived her life. I recommend this for anyone who enjoys a YA books with suspense.

[Bex Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun book. The author did a great job of merging two worlds into this story about an overly practical girl who is gifted a box that contains story cubes made of bone. Once she opens the box, everything goes awry, but the story she can't shake forces her to grow and reveals the truths she's been avoiding in her own life.

I loved this character most of all. She has become so left-brain and logical that she is blind to the things that emotion and creativity bring to life. This serious character makes for a super fun addition to the story and I enjoyed watching her grow.

[a mean gay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pitched as more of a “spooky” read than I think it came out being but for once I think I’m happy with that.

Kallie is someone I can’t help but root for. I think all too often the studious and hyper literal type in fiction goes to boys or, if girls are involved, ends up requiring that she change. But Kallie can be as hyper literal and nerdy as she pleases and it’s not a character flaw.

I also enjoyed the way she interacted with the people around her. Nobody can deny her dynamic with Grandpa Jess is very sweet.

[Xander · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good. basically magical realism for kids. Kallie's character arc is very nice to see. all of the children are characterism correcttly imo. I would have appreciated a bit more about Anna's past, but I do understand how that wasn't too important for the overall story. it would've been appreciated though.

my only gripe is that the story line in about liah isn't really needed as it's own chapters so it's a little jaring.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl finding her way between facts and stories discovers that what we know is not always true and what we believe does not always need evidence. Marina Cogen does an excellent job of weaving the story of Kallien her family, and her friends. The book has just enough twists and turns to keep you interested without making you dizzy.