Sally Simplesmith is a kid who just doesn't fit in. Her mom is dead, her dad is an absent-minded professor and she's the only one in the 6th grade that is into "death rock". She doesn't fit in and she's pretty much accepted it until a new girl comes to town and decides that Sally doesn't belong anywhere near her -- or any of the other kids at school. Sally is so distraught that she throws herself on her mother's grave and wishes for death. Her wish isn't interpreted quite the way she expects, though, and what she receives instead is a skeletal pup who loves her from almost the first moment they meet. Should Sally keep him secret? What does a dead dog eat? Is Bones the key to Sally's fitting in at school? Sally's Bones is written by MacKenzie Cadenhead and illustrated by the aptly-named T.S. Spookytooth.

Z and I started this book together as an RIP read but, after a few chapters, I ended up making a parental decision to choose something else for him and just finish reading this one on my own. The book is full of mellifluous alliterations and Sally and Bones' friendship is truly heartwarming. Cadenhead has also discovered a way to write different dog barks so that they come out perfectly believable when reading aloud! But there are also some rather bleak and disturbing descriptions of Sally's mother dying in a hospital bed after a lingering illness. There are some shockingly mean girls and Sally's depression is, well, depressing. This wasn't the book for my little second grader but I can absolutely see it being the right book for an older child (middle grade) who is dealing with some of the issues that Sally is. For a kid who has lost a parent, is a victim of bullies at school or maybe just feels like they don't fit in for whatever reason, Sally's story will be familiar and, hopefully, a ray of hope as it does have a happy ending. I'll be donating the book we received for review to Z's school in the hope that the right kid will pick it up at the right time.

http://webereading.com/2011/10/rip-read-4-sallys-bones.html ( )

Overall, I thought Sally's Bones was a very sweet story. Sally is a young girl who is understandably very upset and sad after the death of her mother. She asks for help and she seems to get it - in the form of a skeleton puppy she names Bones. Bones would do anything for her and the two become inseparable. And of course, trouble soon follows.

Have to say, for a middle grade (ages 9 ) book, I found the beginning of Sally's Bones a little harsh and dark. I know a few young readers who do not enjoy books involving death in any form and I wouldn't be able to recommend this one to them for that reason. However, at the heart of the story is a very sweet girl with a wonderful family who learns about the power of love.

Even as a skeleton, it was hard not to see Bones as the supper cute puppy he is. Nothing creepy about him at all. Sally loves him so much and when the town and even Sally's father turn against him, Sally stops at nothing to clear his name.

The villains in this story were pretty spot on - the rich, pretty, mean girl Viola and her jealous mother were perfect and I loved how things played out in the end. Not giving it away - read it for yourself!

Sally's Bones, although perhaps a bit macabre, holds a loving message about family and I think young readers will really enjoy. As with most books for the younger crowd, I encourage you to read this one for yourself before passing it on but I think you'll enjoy it as much as the children in your life will.

I know I'll be keeping my copy to pass on to my little one in a few years. MacKenzie has done an excellent job creating mystery and suspense with characters I dare you not to fall in love with. As a debut, Sally's Bones is wonderful and I'm sure to be on the lookout for more from MacKenzie in the future. ( )