Bones, The

A contemporary novel with a chilling historical twist. Ben has moved from Manchester to Caernarfon with his parents, who have bought a pub for renovation. In the process of working on the building a collection of bones comes to light - a child's bones. Ben is given the task of disposing of them ...

About the Author :
Michael Prince lives in Bangor and was formerly a teacher of English and Law in Caernarfon, but is now retired. He is the author of two Welsh books for very young children and has adapted and directed a number of Shakespeare plays in the past, including A Midsummer Night's Dream & Othello, using young casts, and his production of Macbeth was performed at Y Galeri, Caernarfon in March this year. He also writes poetry.

Review :
The Bones is an engrossing novel by new author, Michael Prince. Ben has moved from Manchester to Caernarfon, with his parents who have bought a pub for renovation. In the process of working on the building a collection of bones come to light – a child’s bones. Ben is given the task of disposing of them – and the moral dilemma he faces in doing this builds up, as the novel narrates the story of his unexpected summer. He is an outsider in a new place – how does he fit in? He would like to get to know a girl called Haf a bit better – but how? He must do as his father asks – but how can he? The story of the bones unfolds in a chilling tale. Michael has just moved from England to Caernarfon and is experiencing the challenges of fitting into a new culture and a new school. Who should he choose as his friends? How can he make a successful move on the girl he fancies? What does he want to do in the future? In the meantime, his father has found a pile of old bones while refurbishing the family’s new pub. He asks Michael to dispose of them, and Michael finds himself, for the first time, in opposition with his father’s wishes. Should he obey, or follow his own heart? The Bones felt to me like a longer book which had been pared down, or perhaps two short stories which had been blended together – which is not the criticism it sounds like! I found myself liking Ben very much as he negotiated his way through two distinct worlds; the world of being a sixteen year old in a new town, and the shadier world of haunting dreams and unfinished stories. My only criticism is that I would have liked to spend more time with him. The mystery at the heart of the dead body came together rather too quickly and perhaps could have been drawn out to create a tenser atmosphere. Nonetheless, at a pacy 130 pages, this book should appeal to reluctant teenage boys, as well as the confident younger reader.