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The Kneebone Boy

3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 · rating details · 1,355 ratings · 348 reviews

Life in a small town can be pretty boring when everyone avoids you like the plague. But after their father unwittingly sends them to stay with an aunt who’s away on holiday, the Hardscrabble children take off on an adventure that begins in the seedy streets of London and ends in a peculiar sea village where legend has it a monstrous creature lives who is half boy and half...more

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published September 14th 2010 by Feiwel & Friends (first published August 30th 2010)

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Jul 06, 2010 Destinee Sutton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade, harry-potter-alternative, british, adventure, funny, tween, families, favorites, scary, writing, siblings

It's clever, funny, dark, and touching. It's Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl and dare I say a touch of the ol' J.K. And it's over too soon! The Kneebone Boy straight charmed the crap out of me. I wanted it to be longer, or at least be the start of a series, but I believe it's just an awesome little standalone gem I'll have to reread soon and often.

This is the story of the three Hardscrabble siblings: Otto, Lucia, and Max. These kids are outcasts in their hometown of Little Tunks because their moth...more It's clever, funny, dark, and touching. It's Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl and dare I say a touch of the ol' J.K. And it's over too soon! The Kneebone Boy straight charmed the crap out of me. I wanted it to be longer, or at least be the start of a series, but I believe it's just an awesome little standalone gem I'll have to reread soon and often.

This is the story of the three Hardscrabble siblings: Otto, Lucia, and Max. These kids are outcasts in their hometown of Little Tunks because their mother disappeared and the whole town suspects Otto killed her and their father buried her in the backyard. But no one really knows what happened to the mother. She may be dead. She may have been kidnapped. It's been long years since anyone's seen her and the Hardscrabbles have precious few memories of her.

Then one day their father has to go on one of his portrait-painting trips and leaves the kids with their cousin in London. Only it turns out their cousin isn't in London and they are stranded. Unable to reach their father, they decide to seek out their mysterious Great-Aunt Haddie in a town called Snoring-by-the-Sea. I will not give away any more plot, which is quite twisty, but I will go on a little about why I loved this so much.

First and foremost, the narration is outstanding. We're told in the beginning that one of the Hardscrabble siblings is writing the story, but can't say who it is: "They said it's because the story belongs to all three of us, and I suppose they're right, but it seems unfair since I'm doing all the work. No one can stop you from guessing though." It's pretty easy to guess who the narrator is, but it's also really fun that the story is told in both third and first person. It has great flow, but can be broken up by asides about the writing of the story itself (very Series of Unfortunate Events--if you didn't like those books, you probably won't like this). The asides are very funny and very meta. If I were more industrious I'd quote a long passage from page 87 that illustrates how great they are, but I'm not feeling industrious, so you're just going to have to read the book.

The relationship between the siblings is another of this book's strong suits. To me, it was so real. Each of the siblings' personalities seemed molded by their siblings. Otto doesn't speak, but communicates with a secret sign language he developed with Lucia. Max is just ten years old, but hyper-intelligent, so the very proud Lucia is often upstaged by him, which just makes her act even more haughty. They fight childishly. They bond touchingly. It's a dynamic that's familiar to most people, but not often captured so well in an adventure like this book.

One last compliment for Ms. Potter: I believe you are American, so bully for you for writing in so many cheeky Britishisms. I mean, I'm American too, so I can't truly say that you got them all right. But it sounded super awesomely British to me. The audio book could be great.

In the end, this book is about what all good adventure books are about: danger and discovery. And, as the narrator says, "Here is my most important message to you: All great adventures have moments that are really crap." Or, in a more philosophical vein: "You have to work really hard at being astonished by life."

One last thing: the cover art is perfect. Do you see how the cat has extra toes?

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15 likes · like · see review

Apr 27, 2010 Roxane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: agency-author, children, speculative-fiction, middle-grade

This novel is a wonderful, querky, witty and refreshing novel ! It's all the more brilliant that it deals with the serious themes that are abandonment, perception of one's self and others and one's acceptance of another's difference and flaws, no matter how great those may be.

But then, I've always been one to agree with the idea that the best tragedies are always comical and the best comedies are the ones with a strong tragic angle to them. Ellen Potter takes us exactly in this grey zone and sh...more

6 likes · like · see review

Nov 07, 2010 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Laurie and Matthew

Shelves: 2010-award-possibilities

I'm not at all familiar with this nouveau-Gothic/British or whatever kind of writing; I haven't read any Lemony Snicket etc. But I thought this book was hugely enjoyable and very well-done, and oh, such a satisfying conclusion. Some say it isn't convincingly British; I read those reviews and thought "well, it isn't convincingly stereotypically British, no".

There's a little bit of Dahl-ish vulgarity here and there that I wasn't enthusiastic about, because I am prudish about these things, but it...more

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 01, 2012 Barb Middleton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic

Unbelievable. I wrote a clever intro to this review on the church bulletin (during the sermon, shh...), then sang in the choir during the offering, only to forget about my cleverly written thingamajig on the bulletin and tossing it, unthinkingly, into the recycle bin. Alas, my lost masterpiece is enroute to some recycling plant in Taiwan. Ironically, the intro was regarding how I can forget my original web searches through hyperlinking too many times. Hyperlinking, went the other intro, can lead...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 19, 2010 Riley Carney rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Kneebone Boy is a clever, funny, captivating, and all-around delightful story. The three Hardscrabble children, Otto, Lucia, and Max, are a wonderful, appealing cast of characters, each with a host their own quirks and personalities. Otto is mysterious and silent, wrapped beneath his omnipresent scarf, Lucia is bold and quick-witted, yet not without her insecurities, and Max is highly intelligent and insightful, and always sees the best in people. From the moment the Hardscrabbles embark on...more

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May 27, 2012 Hanni rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the last book I picked up for its beautiful cover art (Lisa Mantchev's Perchance to Dream) was a winner, so I took a chance again on this one. I'm glad I did. The quirkiness of the plot and writing style is highly reminiscent of Lemony Snickett, but unlike his books, this one didn't leave me frustrated and wanting to gouge the author's eyes out with a spoon. I don't quite know how to classify this book--while reading it I kept thinking...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

How do you classify this one? It's not fantasy, there's no magical realism, and it's not realistic fiction, but there's probably enough suspense and mystery to appeal to a good number of middle schoolers. The darkness and snarky dialogue will appeal to young readers, who will also enjoy delving into the strange new world of Snoring-by-the-Sea and the castle folly.

That said, as a more mature reader, I found the ending to be an easy out, of sorts. It was an all too tidy wrap-up for a storyline tha...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 06, 2010 Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, mg, fantasy, own, signed-copy, book-a-day

When I began this book I wasn't exactly sure what to expect of it. The story begins in a very different voice and style from other Ellen Potter novels. However, I would make the arguement that Ellen has taken her writing to a whole new level with this story. There is a richness and complexity with the story that will appeal to older Middle Grade readers and even adults who are reading along with their children.

The Kneebone Boy takes place in England and is written in a style that fans of Lemony...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 01, 2011 Kaethe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, age-middle-grade, cats, fantasy, fiction, humor, kids, mystery, orphans, parenting, strong-smart-female-protagonist, gothic, meta, contemporary

It's easy to understand why so many people, including Elizabeth Bird and my youngest daughter, have loved this. From the rarely used first-person plural narration to the amusing faux-Victorian chapter headings, it's a fun and touching adventure story. When we are first introduced to the Hardscrabble family of Little Tonks, they are all miserable. Otto doesn't speak, but uses a personal sign language to communicate with Lucia, who reads a lot of novels but is as friendless as her brothers; there...more

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 16, 2010 Tasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’m afraid I don’t know how to review this book without gushing, but I will do my best.

The Hardscrabble family is shunned in their small town for several reasons. Partly it’s because their mother disappeared suddenly and suspiciously. Her body was never found. Partly, it’s because all three of the children are a little odd and unusual. Their father creates portraits of royals who have lost their throne, traveling around the world. When he is gone, he leaves them with Mrs. Carnival, but then he m...more I’m afraid I don’t know how to review this book without gushing, but I will do my best.

The Hardscrabble family is shunned in their small town for several reasons. Partly it’s because their mother disappeared suddenly and suspiciously. Her body was never found. Partly, it’s because all three of the children are a little odd and unusual. Their father creates portraits of royals who have lost their throne, traveling around the world. When he is gone, he leaves them with Mrs. Carnival, but then he makes a mistake and the three children are sent to stay with their aunt in London, who happens to be out of town herself. So the three children are alone in London with nowhere to stay. Luckily, they saw a letter from their great-aunt to their father giving vague hints about the truth about their mother. So off they head to her home, which happens to be a miniature castle next to a very large castle with plenty of mystery and atmosphere. Before they know it, they are off on an adventure that will change their lives.

Potter, author of Slob and the Olivia Kidney series, has outdone herself with this novel. I tend to dislike books with a narrator voice that interjects, but here it is a perfect fit, since the text is written as if one of the characters is writing it. It is less a narrator voice and more of one of the characters telling their story complete with asides. It works beautifully here, adding to the wryness and intelligence of the book.

When the story reaches the castle folly, the setting really comes to life. From the escapades on the beach and in the woods to the folly itself, details are shared and the entire world is suddenly bright with interest. Potter writes these details into the story, weaving them together to create a world that is fascinating, childlike and still sinister.

The three children act like real brothers and sisters, which in a fantasy novel is a pleasure to see. They are neither enemies or like friends, they are siblings through and through. Their dynamic is ever-changing and very honestly written. Potter also writes each of them with a distinct voice and perspective. This strengthens the novel even more. The children are delightfully but not distractingly odd. They are the types of children we all wanted to be friends with when we were little, because we were just as strange too.

I have saved the best for last. This is a book that reads like a fantasy but is realistic in the end and throughout. Yes, there are adventures, there are skills, there are castles and there is a secret to be unraveled. But in the end, it is real, sometimes achingly so. It is also an ideal book to read aloud to a class, because the adventures will keep them mesmerized and there is plenty to discuss.

A must-buy for all libraries, this book is a winning read. Fans of The Graveyard Book will enjoy it but so will children who look for adventure and reality. It is a cross-genre book that fans of both will enjoy despite the fact it is definitely not really a fantasy. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
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Jan 04, 2013 Cipriana added it

The KneeBone Boy

By:Ellen Potter

This book was about 3 kids that live in London. The kids think it gets pretty boring where they live, in such a small town. Everyone avoids you like the plague. Their father is an artist and he had to left suddenly on a business trip. He had to leave because his wife had disappeared. So their father sent his kids to their great aunt’s residence in a castle. But while the kids are there, they attempt to rescue the kneebone boy, who has been a prisoner of the castle...more The KneeBone Boy

By:Ellen Potter

This book was about 3 kids that live in London. The kids think it gets pretty boring where they live, in such a small town. Everyone avoids you like the plague. Their father is an artist and he had to left suddenly on a business trip. He had to leave because his wife had disappeared. So their father sent his kids to their great aunt’s residence in a castle. But while the kids are there, they attempt to rescue the kneebone boy, who has been a prisoner of the castle. While they are rescuing the kneebone boy, the kids are finding out secrets about their own family. But when they are fingureing out how this boy is they find out they he is half animal and half human. The kids were figuring and putting together little clues as they went along.

My honest opinion about this book that it was good but I think it could have been better. What I did like is that I could picture everything that was happening and how everyone and everything looked. The author did good with describing everything and how it was done. But some parts were detailed too much. They talked about too much killing and sadness ( I don’t know if that will get points off for saying that). Other than that it was a good book and i enjoyed it alot but I will not read any more of the continuing books.

I give this book about 4 1/2. I holding back the last 1/2 because it got really detailed and i’m not saying that its a bad thing that it was detailed. But it talked a lot about different scenes. This is not a good book for class to read. I love the part when they found out that the kneebone boy was half human and half animal. I was no way! And when i was reading the book, I could picture the characters and how they looked. I think if they added a little more in the end then just cutting it off with a weird conclusion I think it could of got my 1/2 star and make it to 5 stars. In conclusion this book was good but I don’t think I would read it again.(less)

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Dec 13, 2012 Matthew rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Matthew by: my brother

I chose this book because a little while my brother recommended it to me but at the time I was reading a book, so when I was finished I thought I would give it a try.
Three kids went to see one of their aunts, and by mistake she wasn't there, so they went to their great Aunt Haddie who lived in castle for kids with all kinds of secret passageways. It was an adventure story that didn't make sense until the very end when everything came together.
My favorite quote was on page 248. "Here is my most i...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Kneebone Boy
By
Ellen Potter

My "in a nutshell" summary...

Three odd children...Otto, Max, and Lucia...pronounced Loo-Chee- ya... entertain themselves by partaking in a very odd adventure.

My thoughts after reading this book...

Love this book...love the way the author talks to the reader...the author shares his worries and concerns about the book with the reader and just causes the entire experience to be an amazing amount of fun! The three siblings are quirky, they have a weird father, a gross ba...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Trang rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, children-fantasy

The Kneebone Boy, written by Ellen Potter, feels ominous in the beginning. The more it gets to the core of the hidden secrets, the more thrilling it becomes. However, it is not a ride without joy and humor. Readers will certainly find the Hardscrabbles entertaining and fascinating. At first glance, they seem too smart, witty and fearless for their ages. But don't let the first impression fool you. They're children after all. Peculiar, but still. So as they tread through London streets to remote...more The Kneebone Boy, written by Ellen Potter, feels ominous in the beginning. The more it gets to the core of the hidden secrets, the more thrilling it becomes. However, it is not a ride without joy and humor. Readers will certainly find the Hardscrabbles entertaining and fascinating. At first glance, they seem too smart, witty and fearless for their ages. But don't let the first impression fool you. They're children after all. Peculiar, but still. So as they tread through London streets to remote towns to a castle folly, they bicker and fight over petty things as all siblings do. Even so, they won't even hesitate a moment to stand up for each other. So you can't help but chuckle or smile fondly at their endearing childishness. That is what lightens up this chilling story. Its semi-dark tone reminds me of R.L.Stine's scary stories in which you always expect odd things to occur. Sure enough, there are a lot of peculiar occurences surrounding the trio which will make you hold your breath until they're all over.

The pace gets quite idle at times and nothing significant seems to happen until the late half of the book. Then again, maybe, it's just me being impatient for some revelations. Especially since the narrator (claimed as one of the siblings) has been dropping hints and clues along the way. And only when I think I get the gist of what is going on, the next event ravels in such a different manner. Idle but never a dull moment, that is. Sure enough, the thrill escalates towards the end. It is as though you're riding on a roller coaster which steadily inches its way to the peak of the rail and comes down in a whoosh that makes you brace for yourselves. However, after the thrill comes an unexpected poignant moment. Some might say it's a bit anti-climatic, nevertheless, it is one of the most beautiful and tender scenes in the story. It made me tear up quite a bit, to be honest. It suffices to say that The Kneebone Boy will send readers to a magical adventure. It might not be the magic you expects but it feels magical nevertheless.(less)

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Aug 08, 2012 Jean V. Naggar Literary rated it 5 of 5 stars

“[THE KNEEBONE BOY] is fresh, funny and surprising. The sibling dynamics--alternately testy and touching--are believable, as are the wonderfully odd characters....A quirky charmer.” --Kirkus, starred review

“With a dark, witty absurdity suggestive of Lemony Snicket, Potter (the OLIVIA KIDNEY books) draws readers into this compelling mystery-adventure about a missing mother....Potter's voice is distinguished by sharp, humorous, and poignant observations....Often laugh-out-loud funny, this tale qui...more

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May 02, 2012 Stephanie Jobe rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book will hold a special place forever as my first advance reader’s edition! It will be released in hardcover September 14th, 2010. The first thing that struck me was the narrative voice, which belongs to one of the Hardscrabble children but you are left not knowing which, though I have my suspicions. I like books that keep you guessing and I like to think I am a pretty good guesser but Ellen Potter kept me on my toes until the very end. The children are all unique and I bet every reader id...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Elisha Condie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens

Picked up at the library, completely judging it by its cover. People say not to do that, but I think we all should totally do that. It works out most of the time.

The first half of this book, I was completely enchanted. It's clever. It's weird. It's funny. That's everything I'm looking for. I loved Potter's writing style - it's very familiar, and she has that gift of saying everything you need to know and making it funny, yet brief. It's a gift.

The Hardscrabble siblings don't fit in in their...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 06, 2012 IndyPL Kids Book Blog rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kid-life

Otto, Lucia and Max are the Hardscrabbles. They’ll remind you of three kids you might already know…Violet, Klaus and Sunny Boudelaire from A Series of Unfortunate Events. The Hardscrabbles have had a rough life too - like the Boudelaire’s they have to take care of each other, because nobody else is really doing it for them.

The Hardscrabble’s mother has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Otto hasn’t spoken a word since and wears a scarf wrapped around his neck everyday, no matter the wea...more

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Oct 29, 2011 NebraskaIcebergs rated it 2 of 5 stars

In The Kneebone Boy, the Hardscrabble children live in a small England town where everyone has avoided them like the plague since their mother disappeared. One reason the villagers avoid them is because rumor has it that one day Otto strangled his mom in a fit of rage. I suspect another reason is because the children aren’t all that friendly. One day the youngest Max invites a girl home. Lucia demands to know who she is. Lucia keeps pressing Brenda with questions until finally Lucia denounces ev...more

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May 24, 2011 Belann rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Kneebone Boy is the story of the Hardscrabble children: Otto, Max and Lucia (pronounced Lu-CHEE-a according to the never revealed but easily guessed narrator. The Hardscrabble children are living with their father, Casper, in a town called Little Tunks, near London. Their Mum disappeared five years ago, and their dad goes away on trips to paint famous royalty. Their father is usually quite careful about having them stay with Mrs. Carnival while he is away, but when he has to leave in quite a...more

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May 06, 2011 Bonnie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, cats, childrens-literature, delirium, dragon, fiction, mental-health, london, mystery, tween

If you're looking for a mix of Lemony Snicket, Neil Gaiman, and Roald Dahl, then you'll find The Kneebone Boy to be a good fix. It features the Hardscrabble children, Otto, Lucia, and Max, three oddball British kids who live with their father, an artist who paints portraits of deposed royalty. Their mother mysteriously disappeared when Otto, the oldest, was only eight, and the other two children barely remember her. Rumors fly around their small town about the missing mother - was she murdered?...more If you're looking for a mix of Lemony Snicket, Neil Gaiman, and Roald Dahl, then you'll find The Kneebone Boy to be a good fix. It features the Hardscrabble children, Otto, Lucia, and Max, three oddball British kids who live with their father, an artist who paints portraits of deposed royalty. Their mother mysteriously disappeared when Otto, the oldest, was only eight, and the other two children barely remember her. Rumors fly around their small town about the missing mother - was she murdered? Strangled by her own son? Or did the father kill her? Or has she just perhaps abandoned her family?

Regardless, it's been many years without their mother and the children have accepted life as it stands: Otto doesn't speak and constantly wears a scarf, Lucia speaks for Otto and fights to keep order, and Max is a quiet daydreamer who spends time on the roof, thinking. When their father is suddenly called to a job, the children are sent to London to stay with an aunt. But she's not home... she's out of the country. Suddenly the children find an adventure thrust upon them. They discover a mysterious great-aunt, who lives in a folly castle, a mysterious creature called the Kneebone Boy, a 25-toed cat, and the secret behind their missing mother.

The writing for this book is clever... sometimes a little too clever for its own good. While I enjoyed reading it, the language often made me want to take a break after a chapter or two. It's snarky and very conversational, often taking the time to tell us how the story should be composed (and why it isn't written that way) or reassuring us that it may sound like a ghost is in the chapter but, because it's a book about real stuff, there wouldn't be any actual ghosts. Except there would be, but in a later chapter. The pacing was also a bit slow, with a lot of build-up on how boring their town is and their family history. There's a point in the book where a short chapter is used to apologize for the slowness of the plot line, with promises that, since the reader was already hooked and wouldn't be stupid enough to put it down, the next part would be even more exciting. Well it was, but it all came very quickly, particularly compared to the start of the book.

The characters are terrific and the narration sets a great tone for the book. The resolution regarding their mother is not really a happy one, and while it answers a great deal of questions, I feel like it raised more that weren't addressed. The scenery of the book, from the Hardscrabble's house to the folly castle to the foggy beach and forests in Snoring-by-the-Sea are vivid. Overall, I would recommend this book, but wouldn't say it's a must-read. For grades 5 - 9.(less)

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Mar 28, 2011 Allie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have a confession to make. I judged this book by its cover.

When I first saw the cover art a few months before its release, I knew I had to read The Kneebone Boy. And when my library did not process it fast enough for me, I caved and bought it. A book with cover art that amazing could not be bad, right? It would be worth the money, right?

Right!

The Kneebone Boy is a case where the outer shell truly lives up to the awesomeness inside. Raised by their portrait-painter father after their mother dis...more I have a confession to make. I judged this book by its cover.

When I first saw the cover art a few months before its release, I knew I had to read The Kneebone Boy. And when my library did not process it fast enough for me, I caved and bought it. A book with cover art that amazing could not be bad, right? It would be worth the money, right?

Right!

The Kneebone Boy is a case where the outer shell truly lives up to the awesomeness inside. Raised by their portrait-painter father after their mother disappeared five years ago, the Hardscrabble Kids have had to count on each other to get by. Otto, the eldest, will only communicate through sign language and always wears a black scarf his mother gave him—winter and summer. Max seems to know something about everything, which can be kind of annoying. And Lucia has imagination and leadership skills to spare.

When their father departs yet again to paint another former royal, the Hardscrabbles are packed off to stay with an aunt in London…only she isn’t there. Through a series of events (some unfortunate), they end up staying with their American great-aunt in a miniature replica of a castle and hunting for the Kneebone Boy, a local legend rumored to be half-boy, half-animal.

I don’t want to say more about the plot for fear I will give something away. The Kneebone Boy is entirely unpredictable and discovering things along with the Hardscrabbles is half the fun.

Ellen Potter is American, but you’d never know it by how British the writing seems (at least to me, an American). The book is both humorous and touching, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. The Hardscrabbles are both sassy and lovable and the supporting characters, from their Great Aunt Haddie with her taste for disgusting American food like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, to a grumpy taxidermist, are equally compelling. The ending is bittersweet, but well worth the trip.

I would recommend TheKneebone Boy to fans of Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, and of course, E. Nesbit. In particular, the unidentified-Hardscrabble-narrator-whose-identity-is-perfectly-obvious reminded me of Nesbit’s The Story of the Treasure Seekers. And that’s a GOOD thing.

I only hope there will be more Hardscrabble adventures!
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Feb 15, 2011 Lena rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kids

Life has not gone smoothly for Otto, Lucia, and Max Hardscrabble. Their mother mysteriously disappeared five years ago and the gossipy people in their small town viciously blame the kids and their father. The Hardscrabbles are lonely and strange, especially the oldest boy Otto, who never speaks and always wears a scarf. When their father leaves on a sudden business trip, the Hardscrabbles are sent to London to stay with a cousin. The adventure begins when they get there and the cousin is gone, l...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Karen Ball rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-challenge

Otto, Lucia and Max are the three Hardscrabble siblings. Their mother left mysteriously (or died - no one knows) years ago, and they don't remember her. Their father is a traveling artist who leaves them in the care of others several times a year. The kids have all been labeled "weird" in their tiny English town: Otto doesn't talk, communicating through hand gestures, an he ALWAYS wears a black scarf. There's a rumor that he strangled his own mother with it. Lucia tells it like it is, whether an...more

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Feb 07, 2011 Francesca rated it 5 of 5 stars

(First reviewed on Young Adult Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion...

I’ll let you in on a secret. I had to race to finish reading The Kneebone Boy in time to write this review. Not because I had a hard time reading it: in fact, I found it a pleasantly gripping read. No, the problem was that my son had picked it up off my desk and then disappeared with it. For weeks. That alone is rave-review enough. He views anything I’m reading with great suspicion, as if it were broccoli in bo...more (First reviewed on Young Adult Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion...

I’ll let you in on a secret. I had to race to finish reading The Kneebone Boy in time to write this review. Not because I had a hard time reading it: in fact, I found it a pleasantly gripping read. No, the problem was that my son had picked it up off my desk and then disappeared with it. For weeks. That alone is rave-review enough. He views anything I’m reading with great suspicion, as if it were broccoli in book-form, (wholesome, good for you and not all that much fun to consume). This book however, was a hit.

The Kneebone Boy, by Ellen Potter, lets you in on a secret too—on many secrets, really. Along the way, there are mechanical rats, hidden passages, a mighty dragon-slayer, Fluffernutter sandwiches, a deposed Sultan, missing relatives, a local legend and three resourceful, intelligent children—and all around and through the story, like a wisp of fog, slinks the sense that the world is a stranger, more mysterious place than the grown-ups would have us believe.

However, The Kneebone Boy also suggests that the world is far more normal than we might hope. No matter how strange or unbelievable an event, story or person seems to be (a five-legged cat, an imprisoned child-monster, a stuffed miniature zebra), sooner or later there is a logical(ish) explanation.

The book tells the story of the three Hardscrabble children who, having been sent to stay with an aunt by their distracted, artist father, instead find themselves lost and alone in London. They flee the city, landing at the miniature castle their American great-aunt is currently renting. Adventures ensue, much to their delight, because it is important, as Lucia points out, to have at least one big adventure before you turn fourteen and start to become dull and grown-up. Fourteen, as JM Barrie didn’t quite say, is the beginning of the end.

The whole story is narrated by Lucia, although like Oswald Bastable of The Treasure Seekers (another very self-conscious narrator), she refuses to directly reveal her identity. However, she’s quite happy to tease the reader with asides about what is coming up next, as well as how hard it is to write a book. That the book knows full well that it is a book is part of this circularity of fiction and reality.

In the end, if there is anything I would quibble about, it is that The Kneebone Boy is almost too conscious of itself as a work of fiction to be utterly satisfying. How many layers between ourselves and what is Real can we tolerate before we stop believing in anything, like some less-than-utterly-royal princess who just doesn’t notice that darn pea? The Kneebone Boy remains, however, a fun, engaging and original (a word I don’t use lightly) work of fiction and one you should keep fast hold of, lest your child (or parent) attempt to abscond with it before you finish.

(less)

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Jan 25, 2011 Sweet on Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: independent-reader-jr, melissa-g

This story has a sardonic, mischievous edge that sets it apart. There are none of the typical outlandish characters we see these days – no vampires, reality stars or actual murderers - but there are strange and unexpected elements throughout. Potter gives the hint of something unusual on every page. The narrator, one of the three siblings (although they won't say which one) speaks directly to the reader with honesty and an element of humor. The language can be somewhat sophisticated and there ma...more This story has a sardonic, mischievous edge that sets it apart. There are none of the typical outlandish characters we see these days – no vampires, reality stars or actual murderers - but there are strange and unexpected elements throughout. Potter gives the hint of something unusual on every page. The narrator, one of the three siblings (although they won't say which one) speaks directly to the reader with honesty and an element of humor. The language can be somewhat sophisticated and there may be some challenging words like portcullis, precipice or restive. There are questionable ideas like a career in tattooing people’s bums, creepy situations like rats in the dungeon where they sleep, scary moments when they feel they’re being watched and disgusting images like squeezing a giant cyst (ugh) found on their elderly neighbor. Although things tie up a little too neatly, the dark ending is consistent with the rest of the story and could be disturbing to some young readers.

I'll try to give you a good idea as to what you're in for, without giving away any surprises. In a boring town in England, three siblings named Otto (the oldest at 13), Lucia and Max Hardscrabble are leading a pretty sad existence. Their mother had disappeared years ago, their father often leaves them with a nasty neighbor while he travels to exotic locations to paint fallen royalty, Otto hasn’t spoken in years and their community has ostracized them. Is there mother still alive or was she murdered? Did Otto strangle her? Those are questions that plague these children. When their father tells them that he has to leave quite suddenly for a painting assignment, the Hardscrabble kids set off alone to visit their cousin, Angela, in London. When they arrive and find Angela out of town, things take some unexpected twists and turns. Wondering if their dad, too, has ditched them, they face a night alone on the streets of London, getting a first-hand look at the bizarre characters that roam the city streets after dark. One of these characters confronts the kids and a bloody fight results. They refer to their father’s drawings of various figures like the Sultan of Juwi and the Empress Amalie, to give them courage and strength during these types of difficult situations. With nowhere else to turn, they decide to seek out the help of their mysterious Aunt Haddie. It is with her that they discover another mystery, the whereabouts of the Kneebone boy, which actually leads them to some answers to their own personal problems.(less)

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Jan 02, 2011 Charlou Lunsford rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: j

Quirky books will always get an extra star and this one really earns it. The book is written by one of the children, but the writer won't say which one and it's hard to say which. Otto, the oldest, 13, tall, pale, and who doesn't speak; Lucia, that's Lu-Chee-a, dark hair, determined; and Max, the youngest who sees things his own way. Anyway, mom has been missing for years and dad is often gone on long adventures. This particular time, there is a miscommunication as to where the children will sta...more

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Dec 29, 2010 Karissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I got a copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. The synopsis sounded right up my alley; a threesome of quirky siblings with an eccentric father left to their own devices in a mysterious castle... It was a wonderful book. The narrator tells the story in a fun style, the descriptions are wonderful, and the mystery surrounding the children's mother and the folly castle they visit is also fantastic. I loved it.

Otto, Lucia, and Max are all a bit strange. Otto, the oldest, obsessively wears...more

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Dec 01, 2010 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-100-book-challenge, 2010-debut-author, arcs-i-own, mundie-kids-reviews

This is my first Ellen Potter book, and boy have I been missing out on her books. The Kneebone Boy has a voice I've not read before and one that was so intriguing, that it would easily appeal to middle grade, YA and adult readers alike. I'll admit, I was completely memorized with the voice and the story, even though it took me a few chapters to really get into the story.

The Kneebone Boy has a very fascinating setting, that is set in timeless England. The feel reminded me a lot of Lemony Snicket'...more This is my first Ellen Potter book, and boy have I been missing out on her books. The Kneebone Boy has a voice I've not read before and one that was so intriguing, that it would easily appeal to middle grade, YA and adult readers alike. I'll admit, I was completely memorized with the voice and the story, even though it took me a few chapters to really get into the story.

The Kneebone Boy has a very fascinating setting, that is set in timeless England. The feel reminded me a lot of Lemony Snicket's. Though the story is about the three Hardscrabble Children, Otto, Lucia and Max, you have no idea which one is really telling the story. I really liked their characters- charming, witty and a little dark, the children have an independence and sense of adventure I admired. Their father, who often travels for weeks at time to paint portraits of dignified people, leaves the children with a sitter, Mrs. Carnival. This time when their father sends them to stay with his cousin Angela, who lives in London. The children arrive and soon find there's been a huge misunderstanding and Angela is away in Germany. Left with little money and no where to sleep, the children venture to find their Great Aunt Haddie, who's staying in a castle folly in a remote seaside village where rumors of the Kneebone boy have circulated for years.

I really love how the story becomes more twitted once the children arrive to an area rich in Kneebone history, tucked among the edge of the sea called, Snoring By The Sea. Hoping to find answers into their Mum's disappearance, the children are about to realize nothing is as it seems. They have a castle to roam about in, the Kneebone Boy to find, and they seek answers to where their Mum may be, to which their spirited Aunt Haddie has yet to give them. To keep this spoiler free, I will say Ellen Potter has done a beautiful job at telling this story, as her plot twists have left me feeling both satisfied with the story and wondering how I didn't see "that one" coming.

This is truly one of those books where I am left scratching my head and in awe of Ellen's ability to tell a wonderful story. Not only does the cover match the story and the characters perfectly, but it's a well written, well told story and one I will read again. The Kneebone Boy is a clever, fascinating, witty book, and one I highly recommend.(less)

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Nov 27, 2010 Bobby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, kidsstuff, adventure

A gothic mystery about three oddball kids who are frequently left by their father as he works and shunned by their peers because of the disappearance of their mother. After a mix-up as to who's caring for them, the children are left to their own devices away from home and seek adventure on the streets of London. Getting more than they bargained for in the London streets, the children seek refuge with a long-lost aunt who occupies a castle built for children in the village of Snoring-by-the Sea....more

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About Ellen Potter

Ellen Potter (born 1973) is an American author of both children's and adult's books (as Ellen Toby-Potter). She grew up in Upper West Side, New York and studied creative writing at Binghamton University and now lives in Candor in upstate New York. She has been a contributor to Cimarron Review, Epoch, The Hudson Review, and Seventeen. Her novel Olivia Kidney was winner of the Child Magazine Best Bo...more

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“Look, when do the really interesting things happen? Not when you've brushed your teeth and put on your pyjamas and are cozy in bed. They happen when you are cold and uncomfortable and hungry and don't have a roof over your head for the night.” — 32 people liked it

“All great adventures have moments that are really crap.” — 28 people liked it

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