Arch of Bone
by Jane Yolen, Ruth Sanderson (illustrations)
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Pub Date Nov 09 2021 | Archive Date Jan 15 2022
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Description
“Jane Yolen is a phenomenon: a poet and a mythmaker.”
—Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline
“This is the story Melville should have written.”
—Daniel Pinkwater, author of Lizard Music
Continuing the story from where Moby-Dick leaves off, this compelling boyhood adventure, penned by beloved author Jane Yolen (Owl Moon), hearkens to timeless coming-of-age tales of yore. Masterfully illustrated by Ruth Sanderson, the journey of a boy and his dog comes to life on the page.
Fourteen-year-old Josiah Starbuck dreams of joining the crew of a whaling ship someday, just like his father and his grandfather had. But Josiah’s world turns upside-down when a ragged sailor arrives on his doorstep.
The sailor is called Ishmael, and he has terrible news: Josiah’s father, the first mate of the Pequod, is dead, along with the rest of the crew. Ishmael claims they were led to their doom by the mad Captain Ahab and Ahab’s hunt for the legendary white whale Moby-Dick.
But Josiah is not so certain his father’s death was that simple. Why did only Ishmael survive?
Grief-stricken, Josiah sets sail with his dog, Zeke, in order to find the truth of his father’s death. Can he and Zeke discover the secrets of the Pequod at the mysterious Arch of Bone?
A Note From the Publisher
About the Illustrator: Born in the small town of Monson, Massachusetts, Ruth Sanderson has been a professional illustrator since 1975, with over eighty published children’s books, in addition to illustrated book covers, fantasy art, collector’s plates, animation concept art, and product design. Her illustrations credits include a famous edition of Heidi with one hundred full-color oil paintings, as well as editions of The Secret Garden, The Sleeping Beauty, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and many more. She last collaborated with Jane Yolen in 2000, illustrating Where Have The Unicorns Gone? (Simon & Schuster). Find more about her and her work at goldenwoodstudio.com.
Advance Praise
Advance Praise for Arch of Bone
“This is the story Melville should have written.”
—Daniel Pinkwater, author of The Neddiad
“Yolen’s original twist on Moby-Dick combines a unique premise with edge-of-your-seat
adventure. Fourteen-year-old Josiah is engagingly characterized from the outset as a boy on the edge of manhood, searching for answers about his father's death. Under the arch of bone he has tantalizing dreams of Ahab's hunt for Moby Dick. A gripping tale by a master storyteller—when I finished it, I started over and read it again.”
—Katherine Coville, author of Ivy and Briar and Rose and Jack
“Elemental and timeless. The thrill of Josiah’s adventure comes from watching him learn how to survive the wilderness, but it also has much to share about coming to terms with the loss of a parent and humans’ complicated relationship to the natural world.”
—Eliot Schrefer, National Book Award Finalist
“Arch of Bone is a historical novel that reanimates Nantucket’s whaling history. In it, the aftermath of the Pequod’s sinking is imagined on behalf of the families of those lost at sea. The result is a daring story in which a grieving son becomes his own kind of survivor.”
—Foreword
Praise for Jane Yolen
“The Hans Christian Andersen of America”
—Newsweek
“The Aesop of the twentieth century”
—The New York Times
“Jane Yolen is a gem in the diadem of science fiction and fantasy.”
—Analog
“One of the treasures of the science fiction community.”
—Brandon Sanderson, author of Mistborn
“Yolen is often dubbed “the Hans Christian Andersen of America,” but that should not be misunderstood. Her work is not Andersen Americanized: sanitized, watered-down, Disney-fied. It is true to the real tradition of Andersen: mesmerizing, haunting, and often not for the faint of heart.”
—Washington Independent Review of Books
“There is simply no better storyteller working in the fantasy field today. She’s a national treasure.”
—Terri Windling, author of The Wood Wife
Marketing Plan
International marketing plan to include
*Print and digital ARCs sent to leading publications and review outlets
*Book launch; author events and appearances
*Social media campaign; blog tour; podcasts, features, and interviews
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9781616963507 |
| PRICE | $17.95 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Michelle K, Reviewer
Arch of Bone
by Jane Yolen, Ruth Sanderson (illustrations)
Tachyon Publications
Children's Fiction | Historical Fiction | Middle Grade
I am reviewing a copy of Arch of Bone through Tachyon Publications and Netgalley:
Josiah Starbuck is a fourteen year old who dreams of joining the crew of a whaling ship someday, just like his father and his grandfather had. But when a ragged sailor arrives on his doorstep, Josiah’s world turns upside down.
The Sailor is named Ishmael, and he has terrible news: Josiah’s father, the first mate of the Pequod, is dead, along with the rest of the crew. Ishmael claims they were led to their doom by the mad Captain Ahab and Ahab’s hunt for the legendary white whale Moby-Dick.
But Josiah feels there is something more to his Fathers death, and he can’t understand how Ishmael survived when all the other crew died.
Grief-stricken, Josiah sets sail with his dog, Zeke, in order to find the truth of his father’s death. Can he and Zeke discover the secrets of the Pequod at the mysterious Arch of Bone?
I give Arch of Bone five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
Educator 846145
Arch Of Bone by Jane Yolen is a good piece of historical fiction for young readers. It deals with the timeless themes of survival, grief, dealing with loss, importance of having skills and being self-sufficient, making decisions, love, empathy as well as relationships.
Josiah, the main character, is a 14-year old boy who dreams of joining the crew of a whaling ship one day, following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. Then, one day, a knock comes at the door along with a stranger and news that effects him dramatically and his whole world is turned upside down. He makes the difficult decision to take off on an adventure with his dog, Zeke with hopes of finding his father.
Read the book to find out what happens on Josiah’s adventure with Zeke. Will he find his father?
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