Jungle of Bones

Author: Mikaelsen, Ben

Number Of Pages: 224

Details:

Lost and alone in the jungle, one boy will have to let go of his assumptions and anger, or be dragged down with them. Dylan Barstow has finally crossed the line. After getting caught on a late-night joyride in a stolen car, Dylan is shipped off to live with his ex-Marine uncle for the summer. But Uncle Todd has bigger plans for Dylan than push-ups and early-morning jogs. Deep in the steamy jungles of Papua New Guinea, there's a WWII fighter plane named SECOND ACE that's been lost for years, a plane that Dylan's own grandfather barely escaped from with his life. In all this time, no one has ever been able to track down SECOND ACE -- but now Dylan and his uncle are going to try.Lush and haunted, vital and deadly, these alien jungles half a world away could mean Dylan's salvation, or they could swallow him whole. From School Library Journal Gr 5–8—Dylan Barstow steals a junkyard car for a joyride, landing him in jail, and exasperating his widowed mom. The seventh grader is sent off with Uncle Todd, who is assembling a search team to find Second Ace, Grandpa Henry's B-17 bomber that crashed in the jungles of Papua New Guinea (PNG) during World War II. Dylan's own journalist father died in Darfur, on a peacekeeping mission, and he has yet to come to terms with the loss. The protagonist begins reading Grandpa Henry's journal that chronicles the Japanese aerial attack on Second Ace, and learns that a trek to PNG promises malaria, headhunters, crocs, snakes, and rats-plus an airplane wreck with the probable bones of his grandfather's crewmen. Despite Todd's patience with his nephew, the boy flushes his malaria pills down the toilet and is antagonistic toward the search team. Dylan wanders too far away from camp, and his irresponsibility is the beginning of a survival tale rivaling Grandpa Henry's own. In scenes reminiscent of the his Touching Spirit Bear (HarperCollins, 2001), Mikaelsen calls up native spirits. In this case "Kanzi" appears as a young girl who guides Dylan to the plane wreckage and keep him safe, albeit suffering from malaria, leeches, and gangrene. Dylan's attitude adjustment is predictable, but not too maudlin, and is offset by realistic skepticism from Uncle Todd. The details of war and jungle dangers will make this a good addition to middle grade adventure survival collections.—Vicki Reutter, State University of New York at Cortland From Booklist Dylan Barstow never expected to be wandering the jungle of Papua New Guinea the summer before eighth grade, but stealing a car has its consequences. After screwing up one time too many, Dylan is sent to finish the summer with his uncle, Todd, an ex-marine determined to teach his nephew respect and discipline. If that weren’t bad enough, Dylan’s uncle is forcing him to be part of a PNG search team looking for the wreckage of the Second Ace, a B-17 bomber that his grandfather flew in WWII. Feeling angry and misunderstood, Dylan strikes out into the dense jungle alone and quickly loses his way, realizing this time that his foolishness might cost him his life. Reverent in tone, Mikaelsen’s novel offers harrowing accounts of veterans’ war experiences that are brought home by Dylan’s struggles, both in the jungle and in everyday life. Only after confronting isolation, poisonous snakes, and crippling hunger does Dylan truly understand the value of freedom and his own capacity for change. Grades 3-6. --Julia Smith

Reviews:

Praise for Jungle of Bones

"A fast-paced adventure . . . Dylan's story will connect with readers seeking adventure." ―Kirkus

"The details of war and jungle dangers will make this a good addition to middle grade adventure survival collections." ―School Library Journal

"Mikaelsen's novel offers harrowing accounts of veterans' war experiences that are brought home by Dylan's struggles, both in the jungle and in everyday life." ―Booklist Praise for Jungle of Bones

"A fast-paced adventure . . . Dylan's story will connect with ...

EAN: 9780545442879

Release Date: 28-01-2014

Languages: english

Item Note: Great shape- pages are unmarked and sharp.Has a remainder mark. Hardcover Used - Like New Ships fast! 2014

Item Condition: UsedLikeNew

Binding: Hardcover