Bone Talk

Product Information

I thought this book was ok, and to be fair, when I finished this book it didn't leave me with any feelings. Even now as a grown up, I am so aware of other people’s expectations that one behaves according to norm. A bad omen at a preritual prompts a reading that reveals a provision: Samkad’s soul is tied to Kinyo’s, the son of a family friend the same age who was given to his aunt outside the village in infancy.

The horror comes not from the death rituals of the Bontok people, or from the animal sacrifices, or from the tree of bones, but from the monstrosities carried out by the American soldiers. There's so many books out there that are brought from other countries-there's no problem with that, I appreciate that we have that kind of benefit-but that being the case, there's not much of an area alloted for our own literature. It is set during the time of the American Invasion of 1899 and is written with breathtaking sensitivity and skill. Demoralising the locals, using them for their own gain, but she also showed that not every person from the invading country are arrogant and cruel. Candy Gourlay’s evocativedescriptions of the landscape and atmosphere make you feel as if you are there,walking the paths behind Samkad and Luki.

I was surprised when this led to children asking questions about Britain’s colonial history in India. Told from the point of view of a courageous indigenous boy, the book whisks readers away into a fascinating, unfamiliar world. We're with Samkad every step of the way as the world he knows, understands and loves is blown apart by the arrival of the Americans. I just didn't have any connection with this book or any of the characters, and considering I read it just over a week ago, I barely remember what happened in it. Apart from your own book, is there another book or author you would recommend to children that you’ve enjoyed recently?

You are with Samran and his father in their grief and bewilderment as their gods seemingly abandon them.It demonstrates how we are not so different from our enemies and not everyone from the same race/nationality/culture are going to behave in the same way. The Philippines is a series of tiny independent island communities and kingdoms, trading with China, Japan and neighbouring islands in Southeast Asia.

However, when he captures, then loses, one of the Mangili, the Bontok’s sworn enemy, he puts the lives of all of his peers at risk.When they decide to checkout the second field of rice paddies beyond the main field, they find it muddy, full of weeds, and a rival tribe member, but when he tries to tell his village, it's too late. This intriguing book is set in the Philippines--a coming of age story that shows the power of family, loyalty and tradition.

Native Americans, African tribesmen, Japanese aborigines are also exhibited as a contrast to the high technology on display. It was a quick and easy read and it was very enjoyable learning about a new culture I had not really known anything about. Then strangers begin arriving in their isolated village and slowly, they realise that the world is not what they thought it was.The Philippines is a volatile place – not just because of politics but because our geography means natural disasters (earthquakes, super storms) are a common occurrence. I didn't see any message in this book, except maybe "you don't need a cut to be a man" which was kind of a rubbish message. I talked about how their story had been twisted and misrepresented to fit the US’s imperial agenda at the turn of the century, as well as the continuing impact of that time. At the same time very relatable characters and universal themes of coming ofage and fear of the different make this a gripping historical adventure. Samkad’s story is told so sensitively, so lightly and so truthfully that you are completely transported (heart in mouth) to another time and world– until Samkad’s concerns are your concerns and you’re with him every step of the way.