Title: Little Bones
Author: Sandy Bigna
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Publication date: March 2025
Themes: Grief, friendship, courage, acceptance, collections, hope, healing
Comprehensive Teachers’ Notes are available on the University of Queensland Press website here
Little Bones is a stunningly captivating, tender, lyrical middle grade verse novel by debut author Sandy Bigna and published by University of Queensland Press full of heart. This story is about grief, loss, friendship, resilience and hope combined with a sprinkle of magical realism. The evocative language is sublime and pulls the reader’s heart and mind into the inventive story.
Twelve-year-old Bones is navigating enormous change and loss since her brother, Nico passed away. Her Mum has moved far away to work in the mines promising Bones it will lead to a better life for them, she lives with her Nonna Frankie in a small apartment block and her best friend Aiko has deserted her. She is deeply fascinated by animal bones and spends her days collecting and sketching them, often wondering what their life was like. Bones is a name bestowed to her by a mean girl, Edie, a name that that she does not shy away from, rather she embraces it.
A bird skeleton captures her curiosity and she wishes it was alive under the light of a full moon before falling asleep. When Bones awakes, she immediately senses a difference and she is gobsmacked to see and hear the skeleton bird is talking. Bones finds Bird a comforting companion and feels braver around Bird, however Bird communicates to Bones that her wish is a curse as Bird does not feel as he did when he was alive, now he feels hollow and empty inside. Desperate for Bird to stay, Bones grapples with Bird’s need for the curse to be reversed. Bones does not want to be in a position where she has to say goodbye again.
Assisted by her new neighbour, Tenny, who proves to be a loyal and caring friend to Bones, she has to face her greatest fears head on and return to a place she vowed she would never return to reverse the curse.
This story is told in three parts, Endoskeleton, Hydrostatic Skeleton and Exoskeleton. A definition for each is included and reflects the story arc of Bones’ growth and emotional journey.
In Bones’ most challenging times she is supported by her loving family who are grieving Nico in different ways, her new friend Tenny, the close-knit community in her apartment block and finds solace and peace in the natural world. In her darkest days there are glimmers of beauty that give her strength, light and hope culminating in the final verse of the story, aptly and beautifully titled, renew.