The Feathered Bone

Amanda knows she’ll have her hands full when she chaperones her daughters sixth grade class on a trip to New Orleans on Halloween. She knows she’s going to have to be hyper vigilant. But despite her best efforts, one of the girls, her daughter’s friend Sarah disappears. There is a frantic search for the girl, but she is not found. While Amanda blames herself, her daughter sinks deeper and deeper into depression. Is there something she’s not telling her mother? Unable to watch her family disintegrate, Amanda refuses to stop searching for Sarah, holding out hope that the girl will be found. This is both a nail biting suspense story, and the story of a family’s struggle to cope with tragedy

Great book. A must read!

Amanda's daughter's best friend disappears on a school trip, causing ongoing devastation and unexpected consequences for both families.. An emotional rollercoaster of a book, with realistic and unexpected twists .
Brilliant read.
Thanks to NetGalkey fir the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one is full of a horrible situation that we all fear. When a little girl disappears and her friend's family starts to fall apart. This is a wonderful story about going through a hard time and coming out on the other end as a better person. This one will make you strive to become more.

Go Into This One Knowing Loss and Rebirth

Vivid, gripping, and powerful novel that handles several difficult and highly emotional subjects with skill, honesty, and grace. The beautifully descriptive opening scenes in New Orleans drew me in immediately, and it was tough to put the book down every time I had to do so. I wasn't prepared for the religious overtones, but even as a nonreligious person was not put off in the least by either the references or theme.

I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy well-told, emotional stories (and who don't mind shedding a few tears).

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *

The topics covered in this novel can be quite tough at times, the impact on the wider community and closer individuals on the loss of a child who goes missing in unexplained circumstances. In this case the search is confused by the initial scene, New Orleans and by the disruption and devastation of Katrina and the post Katrina times.
Woven into this search is an exploration of domestic abuse and trafficking at a number of levels. All of this sounds very depressing but the novel provides a great deal of hope in the support of good friends and a positive community and a powerful force of faith. A very satisfying read, with a positive ending but a realistic recognition that such events cannot lead to a happy every after for every single person.

I read this book in just over a day, it was gripping and difficult to put down. A very hard-hitting and heartbreaking story that covers several difficult subjects with many passages that are uncomfortable reading as well as gasp aloud shocking. Human weakness, depravity and cruelty as well as the struggles of adolescence are explored in poetic, skillful writing. The beauty is that beneath and around these gritty life experiences you also see friendship, love, faith, willpower and hope. It isn't an uplifting read throughout but persevere and allow yourself to care for the characters and you're rewarded with a book that reveals the complexities of human spirit and our capacity to survive.

What a powerful book! This book will touch the hearts of many. I was so caught up in this story that I could not put it down. By using events of both past and present, this story was beautifully woven together. Set in southern Louisiana around the time of Katrina, readers will become a part of the story.

A hard book to read from beginning to end, but not for the writing, but instead the issues that Cantrell tackles with this book. From Katrina, child trafficking, spousal abuse, to survivor's guilt, this book deals with it all in the most delicate way and even with all of this in one book, it didn't feel overwhelming.

I can't go on and on about this book because I would probably spoil it, so I will keep this short and sweet, but will say that I loved it. I loved that the author interjected little moments from the child who is missing in the most creative way. I also loved how she skipped time cleverly, but as the reader I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I felt as though I was getting all the right moments in their lives to make a full story.

I will definitely be looking into Julie Cantrell's other works and you may see them here on this blog soon.