Bone Talk

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And LUKI! Luki was one of the fiercest characters in this book, yet in the end, she never got what we all wanted her to be: a warrior! Following Samkad we’re shown what happens to this group when they are taken over by the Americans invading their country. I’m glad you enjoyed it! Bone Talk is totally different, set in a real place at a real time. But my heroes struggle with the same issues: identity, culture clash and coming of age. Buy here! That being said Candy's use of language is impressive. The descriptions are beautiful and a picture is painted for you so its easy to imagine this place that feels so removed from the world we see around us now. With its vivid description and clear words, the story makes me feel as if I'm on the highlands of Bontok, too. Samkad's journey is told through powerful simplicity and engaging scenes. The story taught me to be more aware of the world outside of my own, to value my family and friends, and to face the challenges that will make me into a better person. "Bone Talk" was an awesome read.

Don't get me wrong, there were interesting parts and the characters and intrigue were nice but the story seemed a bit messy like it was telling you lots of things without focusing on one. But maybe that's just a good reflection of real life. Sometimes things get in the way of your goals. In this case it was the Americans. Beth Goodyear, The Scotsman ‘Great Reads to Entertain and Inspire DevelopingMinds’. Candy Gourlay is a master storyteller, capable of transporting her readers competelyinto her world … Bone Talk is a richly wrought novel that feels cinematic in scope. Thereader is transported to a different time and place and feels completely engulfed bythe sights, sounds and smells of this lost wilderness. The book gave me a variety of emotions to ponder on. Some, even extreme emotions of wishing death. Lols I think it goes with the age and my angst with the kupal na Amerikano sa mundong ibabaw. We are thrilled to welcome author Candy Gourlay into The Reading Realm today to discuss Bone Talk, Shine, and Is It A Mermaid? I also feel like nothing really happened for the majority of this book. There was a slight adventure at the end, and a plot twist that I wasn't expecting, but didn't really satisfy me all too much. I didn't see any message in this book, except maybe "you don't need a cut to be a man" which was kind of a rubbish message.

Marion Rose, Historical Novel Society. Wonderful and unusual ...Beautifully crafted, this story draws on different spheres – political, social, spiritual and emotional – in the way of a true classic. A truly brilliant read for boys and girls of 10+. Candy Gourlay (b.1962) is a Filipino author who lives in London. As a child she loved to read, particularly historical novels, like Oliver Twist and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but noticed that none of these books were set where she grew up or feature children like her.

The three American soldiers were well balanced by Mister William. Our author, Candy Gourlay, gave an unflinching account of how some soldiers could have acted in the Philippines. Demoralising the locals, using them for their own gain, but she also showed that not every person from the invading country are arrogant and cruel. In the same way, Gourlay told of the clan wars between the neighbouring villages - letting the reader experience not only racial war but tribal too.Apart from your own book, is there another book or author you would recommend to children that you’ve enjoyed recently? It was such a mixing bowl, churning with people of every colour, every story ever told, every work ever spoken. So easy to dive in, mix in, disappear into that melting pot. No fingers pointing, nothing to hide…’

I try to all my “pretty” writing done in the morning when I’m still feeling fresh. After that, I lose my focus somewhat and I can do “ugly” writing – I constantly revise my synopsis, I write outlines, sketch out chapters, write things up badly. I left Facebook last Christmas and it has really helped me keep my writing at the centre of the day. I love doing events and school visits but the interruptions really make my writing suffer and I get super tired now. So I’m trying to be more careful about my schedule. Ms. Gourlay claims that Bone Talk is not history. True, but fiction can lead readers to a broader understanding of other disciplines and life lessons embedded in the material either intentionally or otherwise. In the end, I realized, that while Samkad earned his rightful place in the village, it is his father who learned a great lesson as well. This for me is the most beautiful part of the novel. The horror comes not from the death rituals of the Bontok people, or from the animal sacrifices, or from the tree of bones, but from the monstrosities carried out by the American soldiers. Candy is an ardent member of the international "kid-lit" organisation, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She is currently serving on the Children’s Writers’ and Illustrators’ Group of the Society of Authors. She lives in London with her family, where she wages war on the snails in her garden. Candy Gourlay once again dazzled me with her humor, wit and storytelling. I literally laughed out loud at one point when she started a chapter with this line, ...no talk of my manhood, after a series of action filled narratives. This is Samkad speaking and there I find the typical teenager. Irrational. Emotional. Impulsive. Self centered. I remember myself at twelve years old during the height of the People Power Revolution. I worried about my grade school graduation. Never mind if tanks and soldiers were moving and marching on EDSA. I need to graduate by March!

The cultural exploration within this little gem allows young readers to explore how others lived, happily, without western culture forcing itself on them. However, it also tells the age old story of a privileged and advanced society taking advantage of the local civilization they've invaded. Little do I know that I wasn't able to put it down, when I read about Mangili, the tribal war context, and the arrival of the Americans. Those Americans.