By Scott William Carter
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
2012
160 pages
Available August 7, 2012
Imaginative, magically lyrical, and highly entertaining, Wooden Bones is a retelling of the Pinocchio story—-it is bound to be a hit with fairy tale fans and readers who like a good adventure story.
Pino is an apprentice to his father Geppetto, a master wood carver in a small village. Geppetto is widowed and lonely, that is, until Pino becomes a real live, breathing boy. Soon enough, villagers catch on and want Geppetto to bring back their long lost (dead) relatives, but Geppetto knows the danger of this and tries to make Pino understand.
They flee the village when an angry mob turns against them and Geppetto is seriously injured. Pino must use his wits (and believe me, he’s going to need help!) and some intervention from a magical friend or two. Geppetto is saved by a crippled Elendrew who exacts her own pound of flesh. Geppetto teaches Pino, “Some people can never be happy…They’re always going to see what they don’t have rather than what they do.”
Pino longs to be a “real” boy-- not a puppet come to life, and then he realizes that he has a great gift—the gift of being himself and being “different.”
Masterful storytelling and a fast-paced plot will have readers speeding through this breezy read. Just right for that summer read!
Highly, highly recommended grades 4-8 and anyone who likes fairy tales and the current trend of retelling and reshaping them.
FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this novel from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.
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