We've all heard about what can happen at the crossroads. It's where a person's path can change, sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. And that's where the Devil stands, waiting to tempt. But it's not the devil that comes to the small turn-of-the-century town of Arcane (1913), but Doctor Jake Limberleg's "Nostrum Fair and Technological Medicine Show".
After Limberleg's wagon looses a wheel at the crossroads, he decides to set up shop. He and his "4 Paragons of the Sciences" offer restorative cures via the sciences of phrenology, hydrotherapy, magnetism, and amber therapy. At first, the town is skeptical, but gradually they succumb to the group's soft sell, and it's then that it becomes apparent that there's a hidden cost for every asking.
Our witness to events is young 13 year-old Natalie; a girl who takes her own tom-boy path, showing more interest in machines than dresses. The 'smoke and mirrors' of Limberleg's Medicine Show offends her and she finds herself compelled to dig down and find out what's really going on.
In a way this is very much a coming-of-age story. Natalie finds that the reality of her childhood isn't the reality she is going to spend the rest of her life in. Her family isn't as strong as she thought, and her even her father isn't the invincible, all-knowing person she thought. A wonderful, layered Young Adult tale.
After Limberleg's wagon looses a wheel at the crossroads, he decides to set up shop. He and his "4 Paragons of the Sciences" offer restorative cures via the sciences of phrenology, hydrotherapy, magnetism, and amber therapy. At first, the town is skeptical, but gradually they succumb to the group's soft sell, and it's then that it becomes apparent that there's a hidden cost for every asking.
Our witness to events is young 13 year-old Natalie; a girl who takes her own tom-boy path, showing more interest in machines than dresses. The 'smoke and mirrors' of Limberleg's Medicine Show offends her and she finds herself compelled to dig down and find out what's really going on.
In a way this is very much a coming-of-age story. Natalie finds that the reality of her childhood isn't the reality she is going to spend the rest of her life in. Her family isn't as strong as she thought, and her even her father isn't the invincible, all-knowing person she thought. A wonderful, layered Young Adult tale.
THE SKINNY:::
This is Kate Milford's first book and it's a doozy. Well written, it's beautifully paced. and has a nice dark edge to it. There's none of that mid-book sluggishness; and though there's a promise of further books to come, the ending is completely satisfying.
Other strengths include well drawn characters and a gentle unfolding of one mystery after another. And while the review copy I read doesn't have finalized art, it promises to be exactly right. (Yay! for the inclusion of art. I'm an adult and I love art.)
As far as age range, I'd say that this is a book for 13+. There's no bad language, sex, nor adult situations.
4 to 4.5 STARS. Younger readers will likely to find this to be entirely new and innovative. Old reading geezers like myself will find one or two familiar elements. I think of it as a homage. But all in all, very good writing, good characterization, lots that's original.
Other strengths include well drawn characters and a gentle unfolding of one mystery after another. And while the review copy I read doesn't have finalized art, it promises to be exactly right. (Yay! for the inclusion of art. I'm an adult and I love art.)
As far as age range, I'd say that this is a book for 13+. There's no bad language, sex, nor adult situations.
4 to 4.5 STARS. Younger readers will likely to find this to be entirely new and innovative. Old reading geezers like myself will find one or two familiar elements. I think of it as a homage. But all in all, very good writing, good characterization, lots that's original.
Pam
Somewhere in the X-burbs
The Boneshaker
- Accelerated Reading level : 6.0
- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Clarion Books (May 24, 2010)
- ISBN-10: 0547241879
- Take-a-Peek
- amazon
Technical Stuff
ATOS reading level 6.0
Word Count: 86,347
AR Quiz No. 137437
Praise:::
*starred review* Booklist
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