Continuing the story from where Moby Dick left off, this compelling boyhood adventure, penned by beloved author Jane Yolen (Owl Moon), hearkens to timeless coming of age tales of yore. Lovingly illustrated by Ruth Sanderson, the journey of a boy and his dog comes to life on the page, renewing the joy of a classic tale. "The Hans Christian Andersen of America"--Newsweek When a rough sailor called Ishmael turns up on a family's doorstep, even loyal dog Zeke knows that the news is ruinous. Ishmael comes bearing the tragic tale of the Pequod: the whaling ship that fourteen-year-old Josiah's father served on as first mate. Ishmael presents himself as the sole survivor of the deadly journey, fatally lead by the vengeful Captain Ahab and his obsession with the legendary white whale, Moby Dick. But Josiah is not so certain his father's death was that simple. Especially when Ishmael looks so boldly at Josiah's devout Quaker mother. Josiah is almost of age in Nantucket, and he still cherishes his dream of following in his father's footsteps. He is yet too young to sign on to a ship's crew, but he yearns to be at sea. Yet adventure has a way of finding a boy and his dog. The true vision of his father's death--as well as the difficult tasks of surviving, growing up, and finding his strength--await Josiah, when he and Zeke discover the secrets of the Pequod at the mysterious Arch of Bone.
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Arch of Bone picks up some threads from Moby Dick and weaves them into a children's adventure story about a boy (the son of Starbuck from Melville's classic) stranded at sea with just his dog for company. Before we get to the adventure story, though, there's a not inconsiderable amount of summary of the original, via Ishmael explaining to Starbuck's widow and child what took place on the ill-fated whaler. It’s a novel (pardon the pun) way to abridge a story, and works relatively well, essentially recapping Moby Dick for children who can’t reasonably be assumed to have read it, before moving into the original story that’s focused on Starbuck’s son, Josiah. Some of the little asides and bits of commentary from Josiah and his mother during this recap portion are amusing (like snide comments on how long-winded Ishmael’s own asides on whale anatomy are), others feel heavy-handed, a mix that characterizes the entire book. There’s the drama and excitement of a boat lost at sea, a sailor (well, dog) overboard, a boy trying to survive in the wilderness. But there are also some slightly tedious repetitions that feel unnecessary in a fairly short book, and the slightly more...spiritual, I suppose, aspects of the story feel like they come out of nowhere. The first half of the story doesn’t really set one up for paternal spectres and psychic dreams, so it feels kind of disjointed.
On the whole, I’d say Arch of Bone does its job of creating a Moby Dick-esque tale for younger readers competently, albeit not brilliantly. But I honestly wish there was less attempt to drag so much of the actual Melville into it - let it be a spin-off or sequel, but let it stand on its own a little, too. Kids who read and love Arch of Bone might read Moby Dick someday (speaking from experience, as the kind of kid who was obsessed with historical and especially nautical adventure stories!), but this feels a little too much like trying to teach the classic by means of a more child-friendly tale.
Thanks to NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
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