Yuck ( )

Rule of the Bone is often described as a modern-day Huck Finn or Catcher in the Rye.

The journey of discovery is told by Bone, a fourteen year old self-described "slacker", who escapes from his abusive stepfather and negligent mother in frigid upstate New York and travels with a rasta dude to Jamaica possibly in search of his real father.

The story was engaging and the settings and the descriptions of upstate New York and Jamaica are incredibly realistic. As is sometimes the case with Banks, more details than I require. I remember being much more engaged with the main character when I read Huckleberry Finn and Catcher in the Rye than I did with Bone, but that could be a function of age. My age.

Bone has grown up in a home where he has been abused and neglected. Somehow, despite or perhaps because of it, he has tremendous self-awareness despite continuing to make really bad life choices. I found that a little hard to buy.

That’s just a writerly quibble. This is an excellent novel. Highly recommended. ( )

sometimes you just need to reread your favorites. ( )

This book is pitch perfect from start to finish. A great coming of age novel that managed to deal with weighty issues with a light touch. ( )

I found this book on the side of the road a few years ago and had no idea what to expect - I was more than pleasantly surprised by the originality of the writing, the topic and the character development. Its gritty edge and fast paced action make it a compelling read while immersing the reader in a deeper conversation about self and personal growth.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to expand their reading list in an unconventional way. ( )