Common Sense Media Review
By Lucinda Dyer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Swearing, some gore in gripping Southern Gothic thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Dovie has heard WHEN THE BONES SING since she was four years old and pulled a skeleton from the ground for the first time. Thirteen years later, her singing bones have found the bodies of 23 missing hikers in the hills around Lucifer's Creek, Arkansas and the sheriff is waiting for her bones to lead them to body of young Riley Alden, victim number 24. Dovie's best friend Lo had left town hoping that the "shadow people," the spirits of the dead hikers, would stop haunting him if he moved far away. That didn't happen and he's back in Lucifer's Creek asking Dovie to help him find their killer and bring peace to the dead hikers' families. Theories about the killer range from a terrifying creature called the Ozark Howler, to an inbred cannibal, drug operators, or satanic sacrifices, but Dovie doesn't believe in mysterious creatures or spells, charms, or Bible stories. "Someone is turning our hills into their own personal hunting ground," says Dovie, "and I'm getting awful tired of cleaning up the mess." As Lo and Dovie begin to search for the killer, they find a Bible with drops of blood on the pages and underlined passages about guilt, a bloody knife that could be the murder weapon, and Dovie's certain she's seen Riley's ghost. When another hiker goes missing, her sister is able to give them a description of a suspicious man she thinks might be the killer. A man Dovie and Lo know. When the killer is finally revealed, it will shock everyone in Lucifer's Creek.
Is It Any Good?
A dark and forbidding locale, unsolved murders, charms and potions, and two outcast teens make for a riveting mix of mystery, thriller, and a bit of fantasy. Nature (dark and densely wooded hills hiding sometimes frightening secrets, sudden violent thunderstorms, and a raging creek) is a front and center character in When the Bones Sing, adding an extra layer of scariness to an already satisfyingly creepy story. Dovie is certain to inspire any reader who's ever felt like an outsider because of a gift or way of believing that sets them apart in their school or community.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the courage and perseverance Dovie and Lo show in When the Bones Sing. When have you had to be brave or determined?
No matter what, Dovie and Lo always have each other's backs. Is there a time when a friend was really caring and understanding when you were going through a hard time?
Now that the killings have stopped, what do you think the future holds for Dovie and Lo? Will Lucifer's Creek view them as heroes or will they still be outsiders?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : March 4, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 339
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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