A review by random_spider
Bone Talk by Candy Gourlay

adventurous dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

 ------Stat Score------

Plot/Content: 7/10
Characters/POVs: 6/10
Prose/Style: 6/10
Themes/Messages: 10/10
Enjoyability/Impact: 8/10

OVERALL RATING: 7/10 (Good)

A more objective review on the book that first charmed me into reading fiction novels.

"Heh, Sam, you don't need a stupid ceremony to become a man. If you want to become a man, then you should just be one."

Synopsis and/or Premise:
Samkad, a boy of the Bontok people, is now of age to receive the 'Cut'. This ceremony will make him a man. However, after an unanticipated incident, his wishes began dimming. Little did he know how the upcoming turn of events will change his and his people life permanently.

The Good and The Bad:
On this rereading, I appreciated a lot more aspects of the book that I missed from my previous one. Within the context of Philippines Middle-Grade (MG) Literature, this novel was a fresh contribution. Of course, it belonged to the 'coming-of-age' trope that oversaturated the genre. However, this book did a few things that set itself apart. First, the plot went progressive darker ☠️. There's war, nightmares, death, colonization, destruction of culture, racism, etc. that were inspired by true history of Philippine-American War during the 1890s-1900s. You don't get much MG literature that blatantly tackled these gritty subjects. Second, despite only having around 200 pages of narrative, this book was hefty on messages and themes 🗣️. It delivered the idea that even a single contact on the outside world could cause drastic and irreversible changes in a society. It also showcased the level of morality behind those who initiated the contact — that the world around us isn't simply black and white. Plus, this book wasn't reserved on crucial lessons for younger readers, like righteousness, bravery, responsibility, etc. Lastly, the book was just something novel 👌. I personally haven't encountered any books (even locally) that had Bontok people as their main protagonists. The author took full advantage of the chance to effectively transport readers into Bontok culture and geography. Her decision to focus on a lesser-known group of indigenous people during a major time period of Philippine History was merit-full (especially considering how educational the Author's note, Q&A, and Enrichment Guide at the back), and is something I would give my forever praise.

The unexpected rising star was...Luki? I KID YOU NOT, I was surprised with this one. From my initial reading, and even up to my first reread of this book, Luki didn't really stood out much. She acted as a chaotic side character being tossed aside and only exists to give contrast to the main character, Samkad. Nah! I couldn't be more wrong about her. IRONIC HOW THOSE SAME QUALITIES MADE HER SPECIAL THIS TIME 😱. She may perhaps be titled the most interesting and underrated character of the book. Not only she's a headstrong and tenacious heroine, but she's also fun to read with her playful energy. A true underdog, indeed. I'm so happy she's became the deserving position of main character in the sequel.

As expected, the problems I identified on my previous review (ex. Could have benefited from extra book length, plotting problems, characters needing more time, etc.) were still noticeable, though the character of Kinyo, functioning as a glorified plot device, stuck out like a sore thumb. However, a new issue arose from someone I wouldn't even consider before. Samkad became problematic 😞. I initially thought he was near perfect, but I just noticed how unlikable he actually was. He consistently put down the ambitions of Luki, yet his realization towards the end was not satisfying. Him being insolent doesn't help either, though I have to admit it served the narrative well.

Final Thoughts:
Bone Talk by Candy Gourlay is a 'coming-of-age' MG and historical fiction novel about a Bontok boy named Samkad during the Philippine-American War of 1899. It's fresh, venturous, and is heavy on its thematic. I could genuinely see a wonderful animated adaptation. Anyways, I just love Candy Gourlay's consistent use of superstitions (although this time it's more of a cultural belief) as a plot device on her books. It gives a us of familiarity, but I'm not sure if this quirk will continue on the sequel. Before I end, I want to tell everyone that, yes, my rating of this book did decrease, but I still won’t stop recommending it.

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Links to my ratings and reviews:
Goodreads reviews
The StoryGraph


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My previous review (Rated 9/10 or 4 Stars)

Bone Talk (by Candy Gourlay) is one of the best (at the top, so far) novels in my collection and is MY favorite book. This book is mostly for younger audiences (at most young adults)...but dear goodness, you don't need a youth potion to appreciate this piece of art. It is nuanced and deep enough to be enjoyable nonetheless, regardless of the reader's age. I dearly recommend it.

I LOVE the protagonist and his arc...HIS ARC (I don't want to spoil it). It was easy to read, and the mountainous forests of the CORDILLERA, Philippines was written with rich details and life, evoking such magnificent imagery. Not to mention the novelty of having the perspective of its local people (Bontok) from a time and place barely present in today's (even the past's) literature. Plus, each characters shine on their own ways, and the whole book is riveting and educational. Man, I can't stop admiring this novel.

Book praise aside, I need to give credit to Candy Gourlay and her process of writing it. There is not one instance before where I equally adore both creation of a novel and its outcome. At the last part of my physical copy (I don't know if all copies do have it) there were dedicated sections where Candy Gourlay's challenges, journey, and her thoughts written out for the readers. I even watched a video or two of her interview (or something like it) discussing about the whole process of writing this masterpiece. She DID researched, and went to the CORDILLERA region of the Philippines physically to learn about the Bontok culture first hand. Such an effort!

Is Bone Talk flawless? No, I had to admit. I found one section had some pacing problems, some minor characters needed more time in the story, and I do agree on some criticisms that the whole novel was a little too short (for real though, I finished it in one sitting. My fondness for this book doesn't help lengthening the peruse.)

Still, a 9/10 book that enriched my love for the genre of historical fiction. I hope more of books like this will be made ASAP.
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