Jeff Smith’s classic series, Bone, is the perfect stocking stuffer for young readers. Smith's imaginative world is perfect for young minds, filled with familiar mythical creatures, as well as off-beat original characters. Bone is an excellent introductory book to get young people hooked on sequential art. The artwork is simplified, but the panels build a sophisticated visual adventure. The comic strip style ensures its kid-friendly charm, without sacrificing the detail of a cohesive all-ages plot. This is fluid storytelling at its best, with clear quest-oriented stories and a solid finish.
Smith celebrates the fish out of water trope, with the outsiders trying to catch up on their new local culture. The story is steeped in sarcasm and punchy jokes. Bone will keep the attention of mature audiences as well, making it a book fit for families to share. It’s a book for bingeing on dreary days. The independently published series has won several Eisner and Harvey awards. The Children's Book Council recommends Bone as one of the best graphic novels for young readers.
Bone Stars Cartoonish Characters with Complex Personalities
Smith's Bone is an epic fantasy adventure story about three cousins who lose their way after being shunned from their homeland, Boneville. Bone cousins Fone, Phoncible P. 'Phoney', and Smiley are separated by a plague of locusts and must individually adapt to the strange new landscape of "The Valley." The story first follows Fone as he faces giant bugs and red-eyed rat-like creatures. He befriends a tiny bug named Ted, the Great Red Dragon, an opossum and her brood. Fone, Phoney, and Smiley must find their way back to each other. The story flows beautifully, as the cousins find themselves destined to become heroes.
A lot of the story's comic relief comes from the clashing personalities of the cousins. Fone gets called a dork because he loves to read. Phoney is an unapologetic capitalist and his cousins often point out he lacks a moral compass. Smiley is the most laid-back and is often considered absent-minded. However, one of the arguably best characters is not a Bone, but an outlandishly strong and fierce senior called Gran'ma Ben who races cows (she competes on foot, against them).
Jeff Smith’s Odd and Wondrous World Appeals to all Ages
Bone contains sequential art appealing to all ages. Smith's simplified drawings do not skimp on detail, like his expertly rendered plague of locusts in the first book. For every panel with a text bubble, several picture-only panels follow, making this a story new readers can easily digest. The books include nostalgic moments with sequences that resemble newspaper funny pages or old cartoons. The tale's sophisticated humor appeals to an older crowd, too.
Originally, a black-and-white comic, Bone is now also available in full color. The epic is broken down into nine volumes as an alternative to the one-volume edition. After diving into the core of Bone, fans can enjoy both its prequels and its sequels as Jeff Smith has created several spin-off books. He even created a holiday special that has the Bone cousins celebrating the Winter Solstice. Bone is the perfect gift for comic readers both old and new, and fortunately for last-minute shoppers, it is easy to find on short notice.