The Skeleton Flute
The Skeleton Flute
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Publisher's Hardcover ©2024--
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Aladdin
Annotation: The legend of the Pied Piper meets Sal and Gabi Break the Universe with a touch of Coraline in this spooky and suspensef... more
Genre: [Fantasy fiction]
 
Reviews: 1
Catalog Number: #849109
Format: Publisher's Hardcover
Publisher: Aladdin
Copyright Date: 2024
Edition Date: 2024 Release Date: 08/27/24
Pages: 359 pages
ISBN: 1-665-94660-1
ISBN 13: 978-1-665-94660-5
Dewey: Fic
LCCN: 2023059650
Dimensions: 22 cm
Language: English
Reviews:
School Library Journal (Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 4–8— A novel that starts out as a realistic family tale and quickly turns into a fantasy by way of the "be careful what you wish for" adage. Sam's world is rocked with the announcement of his parents' separation, and he will do anything to change that reality. He gets that chance upon meeting Bones, a scraggly man who offers him an odd flute and promises his wish will be granted after playing it. Sam wakes to a world where his parents are happily married but every other aspect of his life has changed, leaving him bereft and alone. He meets Lena, a girl who is experiencing the same altered reality, and together they uncover a dark historical event that explains the origin story of Bones. Sam and Lena begin spending most of their time in altered realities and with different versions of themselves, fighting monsters and Bones to reclaim their lives and free their other selves. A showdown ensues that features an exorcism, frogmen, soul eaters, bat monsters, and more. Initially, Allen captures the heartbreak of parents separating at an age when children have neither the verbal nor emotional vocabulary to communicate how deeply they are affected. But the bulk of the story features an alternate monster-filled wasteland, as well as a multitude of additional characters and speculative theories that bog down the momentum. The historical and familial aspects are more nuanced and rich than the supernatural and science fiction elements. VERDICT For readers who enjoy descriptive fantasy with a touch of horror.— Lee De Groft

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School Library Journal (Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
Reading Level: 5.0
Interest Level: 4-7

The legend of the Pied Piper meets Sal and Gabi Break the Universe with a touch of Coraline in this spooky and suspenseful middle grade adventure about a boy whose wish goes horribly wrong and his fight to reunite with his real family.

Sam Windsor’s parents and younger siblings, Grayson and Addie, are his whole world, so when his parents announce they’re separating, Sam is devastated. He’d do anything to make his parents change their minds and keep the family together. When a stranger offers a flute made of bone that supposedly grants the player’s wish, Sam doesn’t really believe it will work but figures he has nothing to lose.

Surprisingly, the wish on the skeleton flute comes true. The next day, his parents are happily in love, with no plans for his dad to leave. But there’s a major problem: his parents’ relationship isn’t the only thing in his life that has changed, and some of the changes are definitely for the worse.

Caught in a world full of unintended consequences and familiar strangers, Sam has limited options for returning to his old life—worries, challenges, and all. Can he track down the mysterious man who gave him the flute and undo his wish?


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