[.ca] Rule Of The Bone (ISBN 0394281659)

Bone Rules:
Rule of the Bone for me, was a life changing tale. The way I go through highschool everday has changed for me ever since. Bone, the star or the book, has so many ways I can relate to him. While i read this book i forgot all about bone and instead it was me who was going through all of the heartpounding events. If you've ever read The Catcher in the Rye, you have to read this. It's like that book in so many ways, but better. I recomend this book to all that know how to read.

A must-read book by all teenagers!:
The wonderful Novel Rule of the Bone by author Russell Banks, a coming of age book that is written in the perspective of a life like young teenager named Chappie trying to find his place in life. His character shows the desperation of seeking to find a parental figure which loves him. The upbringing of Chappie is not a nice one, which his stepfather sexually abuses without Chappie's mothers' knowledge. Chappie grows up trying to find his identify, by experimenting with drugs, and surrounding himself with the wrong people. Through his trials and tribulations he succeeds in finding his inner self. He first changes his identity from Chappie to 'hardcore' Bone to change his reputation. Rule of the Bone will either have the reader walk away loving the book, or either disgusted and disliking it. It shows a clear perspective of the character, the occurring events show comprehensible mental images." I didn't think of it until we actually got there but me and Rose must've looked a little weird that morning at the Tailways station, Rose in her little Orphan Annie dress and Expos cap and me in one of I- man's trademark come back to Jamaica tee shirts and the baggy cutoffs I'd made from Mr. Ridgeways lime green plants with the red anchors on them and both of us walking on I- mans fantastic homemade tire sandals." Another positive aspect of the book is its language will mostly like appeal to the average teenager. On the other hand the foul language could have the reversing effect. Throughout the book the explicit language and sometimes disturbing events may turn some readers off. I personally loved this book, being able to relate in the conflict of trying to find out who you are is an issue each and every person in life; has once faced. Rule of the Bone is such a realistic book; it shows the negative side of life not many people like to discuss. Its honesty gives the reader a connection with the character. The many adventures he has makes this book a cliff hanger, which you simply cant put down. The setting are all over the place, from a broken down bus which they call home; to the appealing environment of a beach in Jamaica .This book appeals to most teenagers, those who can enjoy a dark to light novel with a sense of a different type of humor and non-fictional theme. "I learned about myself and life from coming to love them out there at the school bus in Plattsburgh and being with I-man afterwards at the ant farm an dup on the groundation in Accompong. They were the only people I'd chosen on my own to love, and they were gone. But still, that morning in Mobay when I say Russ or the last time, I saw clearly for the first time that loving Sister Rose and I-man and even Bruce had left me with riches that I could draw on for the rest of my life, and I was totally grateful to them." (Pg. 384, 3rd paragraph ).

A Catcher In The Rye For Modern Times:
I won't bother to get into plot details since all the other reviewers already have. I'll just say that every summer, when that first unbearably hot day hits, I take this book out to a nice shade tree and read it from beginning to end. While the beginning is a difficult read (emotionally speaking), stick with it and you will be sun-splashed. Truly a magnificent novel.

wonderful storytelling:
a truly modern adventure story. so many resonations with people and events in any modern youths upbringing, casual crime and drugs, dead end jobs and friends. chappies coming off age and enlightment take him to jamacia where he confronts the true ups and downs, truths and lies of his life. All dealt with in a very realistic and easy to read fashion. loved it.

Probably Lots of Real Kids In Similar Situations:
At one level (a major one) this is another adolescent angst story in the same vein as Catcher in the Rye or The Graduate, propagating the notion that you don't really have to do much in the world, you don't have to exert any sort of effort or possess any personal discipline -- especially if you've ever been mistreated in any fashion -- that you can wallow in your status as a victim and just drift through life, taking things as they come along. It is probably good escapism for responsible teens who fantasize about abandoning school work and simply drifting, so long at they don't sink themselves into escape, fly from reality and start using drugs. Though a low quality of life is portrayed in this book, the quality of the writing is high. On another level, this is an interesting look at the devastation which irresponsible parents can wreak upon a child, people who never had any business having kids in the first place. To a thinking individual, the vagabond life that young Bone is leading is, initially, absolutely disgusting. His values are non-existent, his behavior atrocious -- and then some facts emerge which make you understand, which make you feel genuinely sorry for the kid. The question is, did Bone grow up, mature and move on in his life? Or did he simply become a drug-wasted drifter for the rest of his days?