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Skeleton Tree

by Kim Ventrella

Subject
Fantasy & Magic
Age
6-8 years
Format
Trade Paperback
Pages
240
Publisher
Scholastic Inc.
Size
13.2 cm × 19.1 cm
ISBN
9781338042719
A staggering debut that will forever change the way you think about life, hope, death . . . and the power of friendship to transcend them all.Twelve-year-old Stanly knows the bone growing in his yard is a little weird, but that's okay, because now he'll have the perfect photo to submit to the Young Discoverer's Competition. With such a unique find, he's sure to win the grand prize.But, oddly, the bone doesn't appear in any photos. Even stranger, it seems to be growing into a full skeleton . . . one that only children can see. There's just one person who doesn't find any of this weird--Stanly's little sister. Mischievous Miren adopts the skeleton as a friend, and soon, the two become inseparable playmates. When Miren starts to grow sick, Stanly suspects that the skeleton is responsible and does everything in his power to drive the creature away. However, Miren is desperate not to lose her friend, forcing Stanly to question everything he's ever believed about life, love, and the mysterious forces that connect us.

About the author

Kim VentrellaAuthor

Kim Ventrella spends her days searching for whimsy and wonder, even in the darkest of times. She is the author of Bone Hollow and Skeleton Tree, which Kirkus Reviews called an "emotional roller coaster tempered by a touch of magic." She lives in Oklahoma City, where her favorite activities include writing stories, working at a haunted house, and racing her dog in the rain.

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What reviewers said

“[An] emotional roller coaster tempered by a touch of magic and a resilient, likable protagonist.”
Kirkus Reviews
“Ventrella’s comforting storytelling reveals a magical world where a skeleton can grow and where a family’s love for each other can provide healing.”
School Library Journal
"Quietly powerful; dark yet whimsical . . .”
Booklist
"Kim Ventrella knows when to be playful and when to break your heart.”
Cassie Beasley, NYT-bestselling author of Circus Mirandus
“Like Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, Skeleton Tree upends the myth of the Grim Reaper. Scary, sad, funny and always so, so sweet, Skeleton Tree will haunt me and remind me that life is miraculous when it’s rooted in hope and empathy.”
Paul Griffin, author When Friendship Followed Me Home
A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids 2019
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© 2026 Peekabooks Inc. All Rights Reserved.