Bone's Gift

In this supernatural mystery set in a Virginia coal-mining town in 1942, Bone discovers that she has a Gift—the ability to see true stories in objects—and investigates whether her mother’s Gift may have led to her death.

Bone sees stories when she touches everyday objects—both the happy and the sad stories of the people who owned them. When she receives an anonymous note that says her mother’s Gift killed her, Bone starts to question how Mama died—was it really the flu? Why won’t her father or Aunt Mattie discuss it? Will Bone’s own Gift kill her? As Bone tries to solve the mysteries surrounding her mother’s death, the schisms in her family, and the Gifts, she discovers that the truth can change everything. This beautifully written coming-of-age story about family secrets and learning to trust the power of your own story will resonate deeply with readers. Includes an author’s note about Appalachian tales and the WPA story-collecting project featured in the novel. This is the first novel in the emotionally resonant Ghosts of Ordinary Objects trilogy.