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LITTLE BONES

Sandy Bigna

A unique and lyrical verse novel for middle-grade readers that speaks to our childhood joy of collecting small, intriguing objects and creating connections in the most unlikely places.
Did you know

that if you wish aloud for something

in the stealthy shadows of your bedroom,

if you whisper the words

soft as the brush of a moth's wing,

if you feel the words rush through your blood,

your wish might come true?

Since the death of her brother, eleven-year-old Bones spends her time drawing animal skeletons and scavenging for dead things to add to her collection. She's drifted away from her friends and doesn't want to make new ones, especially not with her chatty new neighbour, Tenny.

One night, under a full moon, Bones accidentally resurrects the skeleton of a baby bird. Bird wants to return to his natural (dead) state, so Bones agrees to reverse the curse not that she knows how. As she and Bird work out the secrets of the magic, Bones remembers what it's like to have a friend. How can she let Bird go when she doesn't want to say goodbye?

With gorgeous greyscale illustrations of Bones's collected items scattered throughout, this book is perfect for big-hearted readers of Karen Foxlee and Zana Fraillon.

SANDY BIGNA is a passionate supporter of local children's literature. She started up the Aussie Kids Books blog and Instagram, which reviews Australian children's and YA books. She has studied children's literature at the University of Canberra and worked as a children's librarian in a public library. She has been awarded two Varuna Residential Fellowships and her YA manuscript Exposed was shortlisted for the HarperCollins Australia Matilda Children's Literature Prize in 2020.
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Published 2025-03-04 by UQP

Comments

Little Bones is a stunningly captivating, tender, lyrical middle grade verse novel ... The evocative language is sublime and pulls the reader's heart and mind into the inventive story.

Quite simply, Little Bones is beautiful. It's such a tender exploration of grief and longing for children (and grown-ups) and every word is so perfect. I love Bones, bird and the metaphorical magic on every page. A beautiful debut.

US: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Little Bones, a lyrical and eerie debut middle-grade verse novel by Sandy Bigna, reveals both the potential of the form and an undeniable talent in Australian children's literature.

Little Bones is an utterly wonderful read. It is a heartwarming and brilliantly original tale of family and friendship with characters who leap from the page. I loved every word. Sandy Bigna is a fantastic new voice in middle grade verse fiction, and I cannot wait for her next one.

Little Bones is the kind of novel that nestles into your heart and stays with you forever. Full of wonderful characters who remind you of the very best people you know or hope to cross paths with one day. It immediately brought me back to the novels I adored as a childThe Velveteen Rabbit, Charlotte's Web, The Little Princestories of profound loss and hope and the special friendships that help us along the way. I'm thrilled this beautiful story landed on my desk and honoured to share it with US readers of all ages.

The most beautiful children's book I have ever read.

This verse novel by debut Canberra author Sandy Bigna is simply told yet packs a hefty punch with some exquisite lyrical language, evocatively conjuring the natural world on Bones's doorstep.

The mixture of magic, science, exploration, and new friendships neatly balances the serious issue of grief and loss. Children aged 9+ will enjoy this rich and nuanced story which deserves a place in every school library.

Little Bones is a remarkable verse novel that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it ... The main themes are friendship and grief, but the gothic magic give it a whole other feel too. Also containing themes of community, upcycling and diverse families, this is an ideal novel for younger secondary students. It certainly could be used as a classroom novel too.

The chapters are a delight, works of linguistic art.

This is a deeply affecting book that insistently points us to the light and to hope amidst darkness.

There is a delightful lyrical quality to the writing.

It is, quite simply, an astonishing debut, and I foresee much future success for this author.