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Return to Bone Tree Hill
*Shortlisted for the 2010 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize (BC Book Prizes)
*Shortlisted for the 2011 Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award
Did Jessica murder one of her playmates, a troubled boy named Charlie, when she was twelve years old? Disturbed by a recurring dream and needing to clear her conscience, Jessica returns to Victoria, BC, her hometown and the site of the possible crime. There she catches up with her longtime best friend, Jilly, who confirms that Charlie did in fact go missing the week that Jessica's family relocated to Australia.
But a memory-erasing bout of meningitis at the time of the incident means Jessica doesn't recall the questioning police officers, the extensive ground search, or being the last person to see Charlie alive. Jilly keeps Jessica from tackling the dangerous dilemma alone and summons the police when the two become neck deep in trouble.
Will Jessica be able to acquit herself of murder before entering college in Calgary, or will her memory of Charlie's death remain a fear she must learn to live with?
*Shortlisted for the 2011 Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award
Did Jessica murder one of her playmates, a troubled boy named Charlie, when she was twelve years old? Disturbed by a recurring dream and needing to clear her conscience, Jessica returns to Victoria, BC, her hometown and the site of the possible crime. There she catches up with her longtime best friend, Jilly, who confirms that Charlie did in fact go missing the week that Jessica's family relocated to Australia.
But a memory-erasing bout of meningitis at the time of the incident means Jessica doesn't recall the questioning police officers, the extensive ground search, or being the last person to see Charlie alive. Jilly keeps Jessica from tackling the dangerous dilemma alone and summons the police when the two become neck deep in trouble.
Will Jessica be able to acquit herself of murder before entering college in Calgary, or will her memory of Charlie's death remain a fear she must learn to live with?
- GenresNovels
143 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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February 7, 2012Reviewed by Nicola Dufficy
Jessica Lawler is 18 years old when her recurring nightmare begins. The dream takes place six years earlier, in the week before her family relocates to Australia. Jessica is playing with her friends on Bone Tree Hill when a frightening turn of events leads her to murder a boy named Charlie. To Jessica, the nightmare feels so real and the boundaries between dream and memory begin to blur as she learns that Charlie did in fact disappear around that time. Back in Victoria and determined to uncover the truth, Jessica and her friend Jilly begin a dangerous bid to unlock Jessica’s memory and unravel the mystery. Kristin Butcher’s short, action-packed chapters help to create and sustain tension throughout the narrative, drawing the reader into the story. The clever plot structure weaves together dream fragments, memory and current day reality. This enables the reader to share in Jessica’s sense of helplessness as she struggles to piece together the events of that day on the hill. Despite a few plot inconsistencies, this novel is well paced, creating a sense of urgency that drives the story. The characters in Return to Bone Tree Hill are likeable, even though they lack believability at some points in the story. However, teenage readers will certainly be able to connect with the well-crafted bond between the friends, Jessica and Jilly. Return to Bone Tree Hill is a suspenseful novel which compels the reader to keep turning the page. This is an engrossing read well suited for ages twelve and up.
Canadian Children's Book News (Fall 2009, Vol. 32, No. 4)
Jessica Lawler is 18 years old when her recurring nightmare begins. The dream takes place six years earlier, in the week before her family relocates to Australia. Jessica is playing with her friends on Bone Tree Hill when a frightening turn of events leads her to murder a boy named Charlie. To Jessica, the nightmare feels so real and the boundaries between dream and memory begin to blur as she learns that Charlie did in fact disappear around that time. Back in Victoria and determined to uncover the truth, Jessica and her friend Jilly begin a dangerous bid to unlock Jessica’s memory and unravel the mystery. Kristin Butcher’s short, action-packed chapters help to create and sustain tension throughout the narrative, drawing the reader into the story. The clever plot structure weaves together dream fragments, memory and current day reality. This enables the reader to share in Jessica’s sense of helplessness as she struggles to piece together the events of that day on the hill. Despite a few plot inconsistencies, this novel is well paced, creating a sense of urgency that drives the story. The characters in Return to Bone Tree Hill are likeable, even though they lack believability at some points in the story. However, teenage readers will certainly be able to connect with the well-crafted bond between the friends, Jessica and Jilly. Return to Bone Tree Hill is a suspenseful novel which compels the reader to keep turning the page. This is an engrossing read well suited for ages twelve and up.
Canadian Children's Book News (Fall 2009, Vol. 32, No. 4)
October 17, 2012
A true mystery of my favourite sort, this story kept me guessing until the very last minute. Is Charlie Castle in fact dead and, if so, who killed him? To answer these questions, Jessica has to revisit the events of the summer her family moved from Victoria, the summer she played with Charlie and her other friends on Bone Tree Hill – the summer she contracted meningitis and about which she can remember very little.
But Jessica is haunted by dreams that are becoming rapidly more horrific as they begin to include details of Charlie’s rage, a bloodied shovel and Jessica looking down over Charlie’s lifeless body. She determines she has no choice but to return to Bone Tree Hill to discover for herself what role she played in Charlie’s disappearance.
Jessica is a skilfully layered character. Although she has possibly been responsible for the violent death of a friend, her unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth and to revealing frightening details about her past offer her depth and render her a sympathetic protagonist.
Butcher’s story is woven around Jessica’s hazy understanding of reality and it is this uncertainty that assures the mystery’s success. The clues are not hard facts to be uncovered but they are a turning over of events in Jessica’s mind as she struggles to make sense of them and to understand why her subconscious refuses to let her remember.
Return to Bone Tree Hill is a true page-turner and a highly recommended Young Adult read.
But Jessica is haunted by dreams that are becoming rapidly more horrific as they begin to include details of Charlie’s rage, a bloodied shovel and Jessica looking down over Charlie’s lifeless body. She determines she has no choice but to return to Bone Tree Hill to discover for herself what role she played in Charlie’s disappearance.
Jessica is a skilfully layered character. Although she has possibly been responsible for the violent death of a friend, her unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth and to revealing frightening details about her past offer her depth and render her a sympathetic protagonist.
Butcher’s story is woven around Jessica’s hazy understanding of reality and it is this uncertainty that assures the mystery’s success. The clues are not hard facts to be uncovered but they are a turning over of events in Jessica’s mind as she struggles to make sense of them and to understand why her subconscious refuses to let her remember.
Return to Bone Tree Hill is a true page-turner and a highly recommended Young Adult read.
July 20, 2010
Summary: In Return to Bone Tree Hill by Kristin Butcher, Jessica Lawler's recurring nightmare always ends the same with her killing Charlie Castle. After Jessica's family moves back to Canada, she discovers that a childhood friend has been missing since she left six years ago. The last time she saw Charlie, she fell ill and lost her memory completely. Now, she believes that she had a hand in his disappearance. While visiting her grandmother in her old hometown, she and her friend Jilly try to solve the mystery of what happened to Charlie Castle, but discover that it may be more dangerous than they thought.
Review: Return to Bone Tree Hill by Kristin Butcher is full of suspense when Jessica Lawler searches for answers to a childhood friend's disappearance. The story builds in suspense as bits and pieces of the mystery of solved and danger arises when Jessica's memory of the fateful night slowly emerges and bits and pieces of the case come together. An overall well-written book, all of the answers to the questions posed throughout the book are answered by the end and the mystery is completely resolved.
Review: Return to Bone Tree Hill by Kristin Butcher is full of suspense when Jessica Lawler searches for answers to a childhood friend's disappearance. The story builds in suspense as bits and pieces of the mystery of solved and danger arises when Jessica's memory of the fateful night slowly emerges and bits and pieces of the case come together. An overall well-written book, all of the answers to the questions posed throughout the book are answered by the end and the mystery is completely resolved.
April 24, 2011
Summary: Jessica Lawler has a recurring dream of her on Bone Tree Hill with her playmates, and most of the dream is nice untilsshe sees herself killing charlie Castle, on of her playmates. Herand her friend Jilly accidentally become sleuths and solve the entire mystery.
This book is great and I couldn't put it down, a 2 day read, with a a surprise ending, IT WAS GREAT!!!
This book is great and I couldn't put it down, a 2 day read, with a a surprise ending, IT WAS GREAT!!!
January 6, 2011
this is a good book but it is kind of strange it is about a girl who remembers killing a boy and wants to see if it is true or is she making it up this leads to a dangerouse investigation and leads them to an unexspected concution.
March 7, 2011
This book is about a girl who is having nightmares that she killed someone. It was a very good book and I would recomend it to anyone. It's preety much a mystery.
March 10, 2011
This is a really interesting book. I especially like the ending. The book gets your attention right at the beginning.
July 1, 2012
For what this book was it was alright. The plot seemed to move a bit fast, and was a little unrealistic. I felt like there was no build up or clues to the final resolution and conflict. Really wish that this book was longer so that there was a bit more development.
November 5, 2010
Cheer up Charlie!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews