Jeff Smith: The Bone Saga

With the release of Quest for the Spark, the latest offering from Jeff Smith, I thought it time to revisit his original epic, The Bone Saga. 

After re-reading the series, I was reminded of what a good story this is and how great it is for readers in the 10-16 year-old range. The pacing is great, there is a lot of humor (both subtle and overt), and despite Fone Bone’s (the main character) vanilla appearance, the art is very rich, and does as good a job as any graphic novel that I have read in carrying the story. 

The story itself is creative, and has a bit of a Frodo feel to it...an unsuspecting hero who is part of a much bigger conflict. Unlike Frodo, who knows what he is getting himself into, Bone  and Thorn learn of the gravity of their involvement as the story progresses. The females in this book are smart, proactive, clever and very strong both physically and emotionally. This is NOT a “boy book”. Any reader would benefit from reading this series. 

All in all, this series would get my highest recommendation. These books really hit the sweet spot for kids this age (and older) and are great for both eager and reluctant readers. They are also a great way to try this genre out. Unlike many “kid” reads, this series makes for a great adult read as well. 

The image is a link to Amazon, check out the used versions for a great bargain. As an aside, the giant volume is tempting because it is cheaper, but it is in black and white. The digital painting done in the color versions is too good to pass up.