Beginning with the cover of the book, " The Kneebone Boy" by Ellen Potter has an air of mystery about it. On it we see 3 children, unsmiling and serious, two dark, the one in the middle has one eye peering out from behind straight longish blond hair, a scarf wrapped tightly around his neck, a cat cradled in his arms. But if you look very closely you see legs dangling down from the tree behind them.
This sets the scene for a story about the Hardscrabbles; two brothers, Otto, the tall blonde, Max, the youngest and their sister Lucia. Perceived by their village to be strange they are usually left alone to their own devices. However adventure calls when their father has to go away and entrusts them into the hands of an aunt in London who is simply not at home when they arrive to stay. After a scary run-in with a Londoner, Otto, who for the past 8 years only speaks with his hands, tells them of a great aunt who they never knew they had. Impulsively they decide to visit her in a seaside village and hopefully she can help them clear up the mystery of what happened to their mother who disappeared 8 years ago. Once there more mysteries seem to present themselves... like who really is the Kneebone Boy?
There are wonderful twists and turns and more twists and turns on this journey and just when you think you might have it figured out it twists again. Lucia, Max and Otto are endearing characters acting like most brothers and sister do; arguing with each other one minute and yet very very caring the next. A wonderful story I know you will enjoy.
What are you reading today?
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