The Skeleton Flute

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

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

When his parents announce that they're separating, tween Sam flees on his bike to Stapleton Town Park, where a stranger named Bones offers him a flute that will purportedly grant the user's greatest desire. Initially skeptical, Sam eventually wishes that his parents would stay together, and though his wish comes true, it has unforeseen consequences: his siblings disappear, and his best friend Derek no longer recognizes him. Anxious, Sam confronts Bones, who tells him that there's nothing he can do after a wish is granted. Soon after, Sam begins having nightmares about an alternate version of himself, but he struggles to understand what they mean ("The memory follows me--remains of a dark, haunted place, and a pale, frightened face that belonged to me"). While researching Bones and the flute, Sam meets tween Lena and librarian Helen, both of whom have fallen victim to the instrument's magic. With their help, he tracks down the origins of the stranger and his reasons for targeting Stapleton citizens. Debut author Allen presents a mélange of alternate universe tropes to deliver a fascinating page-turner populated by empathetic characters. Approachable dialogue and fast-paced fun ground conversations surrounding morality, revenge, and forgiveness. Characters are intersectionally diverse. Ages 8-12. (Aug.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"A story that's a cut above, The Skeleton Flute will find many fans." —Booklist