Review Detail

Hungry Bones is a ghost story that is full of heart and an equally spooky reading experience. Molly story is a coming-of-age narrative as she is a young teen/tween dealing with major changes in her life. Her move from Main to Texas is in her mom’s words “a chance to start anew” but Molly craves her old life and stability. On top of grappling with moving to new surroundings, her new house is beautiful, yet antique status might lead to more of the zaps. When Molly meets Jade, the ghost in residence, she must face her fears and come into her supernatural powers.

What I loved about this novel is how charming the overall story is while also educating its audience about an overlooked part of Chinese American history. It’s steeped heavily in Chinese culture, ancestral traditions, and delicious foods (that will leave the reader mouthwatering). Through the theme of friendship to the bond developed between Jade and Molly, it leads them to go on their own self-journeys to discover who they are and their heritage.

The relationship between the two girls on top of the mystery elements is what I enjoyed the most. The characters feel fully fleshed out and relatable with their struggles of loneliness and wanting to belong. They can work together well and dig into the history of the home to find out the answers to the questions they seek. Through Hung’s descriptive writing, I could really connect with the story and its characters fully.

This novel was a treat to read from beginning to end. The lighthearted and funny moments are balanced out horror elements well. It’s a great read for those who are looking for something a bit spooky without intense horror elements. It has such an important message about remembering history and passing on traditions. I highly recommend reading Hungry Bones!