The Story of Bones

A sequel set in sub-Saharan Africa about a boy who grows to adulthood, becomes a safari guide, and takes a stand against poachers and a childhood nemesis.In Cousins' previous novel, Waiting for Bones (2011, etc.), American tourists on a photo safari face a life-or-death struggle to survive in the African wilderness when their guide, Bones, disappears, his fate a mystery. This novel came about, Cousins says in an author's note, because the question of Bones' disappearance was "too intriguing to ignore." Her answer is an inspired, eventful coming-of-age story. It starts with Bones' remembering his life as an impoverished 10-year-old boy, living on a small farm in his African village; he's a gifted young carpenter who eventually realizes his dream career as a safari guide. Bones' passion for knowledge and his soulful connection to nature--especially for elephants, whose populations are being decimated by ruthless poachers armed with military-grade weapons--shape the man he later becomes. So does a loss, chillingly depicted in the book's first chapter, that affects his whole family; it also presages what's to come in the unsavory form of a man named Skinner, a sadistic bully-turned-dangerous adversary. A skillful storyteller, Cousins gives weight and color to small events, such as the processes of crafting a wooden drawer and curing and drying impala meat, and to pivotal scenes, such as the horrific slaughter of an elephant herd. The environments of the village and wilderness are keenly observed, as is the book's rich cast of characters, including Bones' love interest, Mima Swale; Granny Nobbs and her attack chickens; cousin Squeak, who's lost to a crocodile ("Death was never far from our world"); nurturing Uncle Stash; and hefty truck driver Chiddy, who has a face "as round and shiny as a kukui nut." Although it isn't necessary to have read the previous book, those who have will appreciate how the author gives Bones' abandonment of the American tourists a sense of high-stakes urgency.A deeply felt coming-of-age story rich with respect for the natural world.

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Online Review)

Starred review from September 15, 2018
This book is recommended by BlueInk Review, a fee-based review service devoted exclusively to self-published books. Booklist is happy to partner with BlueInk to bring you the best self-published titles for adults and youth. Stars reflect the decisions of BlueInk reviewers and editors. This inspirational prequel to Waiting for Bones (2011) follows a young boy's journey from life on a cassava farm in a sub-Saharan village to the high-end bush camp where he becomes a safari guide. Skinny, angular Bonesy learned early to respect living things and their power, from a cobra's venomous bite to a crocodile's snatching jaws. Unfortunately, Bonesy also becomes aware that the most dangerous creatures in Africa come in human form. The captivating story details Bonesy's coming-of-age as family concerns, antagonistic peers, a love interest, and a rare opportunity for career fulfillment become entwined with his passion to protect animals in a world where elephant ivory is equated to white-gold. Told in Bonesy's voice, the novel offers artful details and inquiring dialogue that draw readers into the heart of the story. The author authentically describes the sights, sounds, and aromas of this environment, where the remains of a poacher's kill carries "a stench so pungent that it seems to possess weight." Masterfully told, this is a powerful, eye-opening journey for all adventurous armchair travelers who enjoy realistic, well-plotted fiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)