The Feathered Bone

Title:

The Feathered Bone

Author:

Cantrell, Julie

Subject:

Religious Fiction

Description:

“Feathers—no matter what size or shape or color—are all the same, if you think about them. They’re soft. Delicate. But the secret thing about feathers is . . . they are very strong.” In the pre-Katrina glow of New Orleans, Amanda Salassi is anxious about chaperoning her daughter’s sixth-grade field trip to the Big Easy during Halloween. And then her worst fears come true. Her daughter’s best friend, Sarah, disappears amid the magic and revelry—gone, without a trace. Unable to cope with her guilt, Amanda’s daughter sinks into depression. And Amanda’s husband turns destructive as he watches his family succumb to grief. Before long, Amanda’s whole world has collapsed. Amanda knows she has to save herself before it’s too late. As she continues to search for Sarah, she embarks on a personal journey, seeking hope and purpose in the wake of so much tragedy and loss.

Period Date:

2016-26-01

Electronic Format:

BORROWBOX EBOOK

Language:

English

Summary

"Feathers--no matter what size or shape or color--are all the same, if you think about them. They're soft. Delicate. But the secret thing about feathers is . . . they are very strong."

In the pre-Katrina glow of New Orleans, Amanda Salassi is anxious about chaperoning her daughter's sixth-grade field trip to the Big Easy during Halloween. And then her worst fears come true. Her daughter's best friend, Sarah, disappears amid the magic and revelry--gone, without a trace.

Unable to cope with her guilt, Amanda's daughter sinks into depression. And Amanda's husband turns destructive as he watches his family succumb to grief. Before long, Amanda's whole world has collapsed.

Amanda knows she has to save herself before it's too late. As she continues to search for Sarah, she embarks on a personal journey, seeking hope and purpose in the wake of so much tragedy and loss.

Set amidst the murky parishes of rural Louisiana and told through the eyes of two women who confront the darkest corners of humanity with quiet and unbreakable faith, The Feathered Bone is Julie Cantrell's master portrait of love in a fallen world.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

What starts off as a fun Halloween sixth-grade field trip to New Orleans for Ellie and Sarah turns into a terrifying odyssey for Amanda Salassi, the chaperone and Ellie's mother, when Sarah vanishes. Initially, there is the expectation that the missing girl will be found. But as the search for Sarah extends from days to years, the strain of the guilt becomes too much for Amanda and her family. In a tale reminiscent of the story of Job, Amanda experiences losses that eventually rival those of the missing girl's family. VERDICT Inspired by the real-life kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, the author of the Christy Award-winning Into the Free and Carol Award winner When Mountains Move has written an excruciatingly dark and disturbing novel about the devastating impact of sex trafficking on two families. Although Cantrell inserts a grain of hope in the novel, her portrait of loss and heartbreak will leave readers reeling. This latest work is bound to be nominated for all the major CF literary awards. [Previewed in Julia M. Reffner's "Trials and Tribulations" Genre Spotlight feature, LJ 11/15/15.] © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.