To the Bone

Praise

A Junior Library Guild Gold-Standard Selection 

“A tale of graceful devastation. Alena Bruzas’s flawless prose embroiders one of the most brutal periods of our country’s early history with a pure and glinting thread of humanity. A chilling, unforgettable story.”—Gillian French, author of Sugaring Off and The Lies They Tell
 
“Tragic, harrowing, and raw, To the Bone is fraught with tension, longing, and an increasing sense of dread that makes it difficult to look away.”—Erin Bowman, author of Vengeance Road
 
“Alena Bruzas has spun a tale that will crawl under your skin and refuse to leave. To the Bone is a unique and unforgettable read.”—June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace

“Via first-rate prose, Bruzas seeds pockets of tenderness, warmth, and romance throughout, lending emotional weight to the unfolding horrors. ”—Publishers Weekly

★ “Alena Bruzas pulls no punches with her lean, lyrical prose. Ellis’ voice is entirely convincing, her quiet observations of people and situations around her perfectly embedded in her own experiences even as they elucidate for a contemporary audience the brutal harm done by her settlement. Ruthless and tender by turns: a triumph of historical fiction.” —Kirkus, starred review

“The story tackles notions around homophobia, abortion, and gendered societal expectations during a time when very few could buck the roles they were born into.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“By combining historical and archaeological facts with a compelling love story, Bruzas has created a powerful, engaging tale that illuminates social, economic, and moral lines in colonial America.  Bruzas skillfully uses the weather to set the mood, while building believable and empathetic primary and secondary characters through connected relationships and events.” —School Library Journal

“From its first pages, Bruzas’ tragic, brutal historical novel is steeped in hunger, fear, and yearning. Bruzas anchors her story firmly in the historical record. Her writing is spare, even elegant, using repetition and sensual, visceral descriptions to inspire dread and hope in turn as circumstances reveal each character’s true nature. This macabre novel will lead readers to a fresh fascination with colonial history.” —Booklist