Review: Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bruchac, Joseph. 2001. Skeleton Man. Ill. by Sally Wern Comport. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 9780060290764

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

After Molly’s parents vanished one night, she is turned over to the custody of her “uncle” whom she has never met and has heard nothing about. Taken to his large house located in an old bed and breakfast near the woods, she is locked in her room every night and is only allowed out of the house to go to school, which has become her refuge. While asleep every night, Molly has vivid dreams based on a Mohawk legend of the “Skeleton Man” told to her by her father who grew up on the Mohawk Reserve of Akwesasne. These dreams lead her to believe that the man posing as her uncle is the real skeleton man, and she believes he has her parents locked away. Molly’s dreams give her the strength she needs to outwit the skeleton man and save her parents.

3.    CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Skeleton Man is a dark, good vs. evil themed tale based on an old Mohawk legend. Molly is the epitome of a strong and intelligent character, and she would make an excellent role model for any young reader. The skeleton man, Molly’s nemesis, starts out as slightly sinister and develops into a full blown terrifying figure. Molly’s parents are only briefly mentioned in the beginning and end of the book, without much in-depth detail beyond their appearance and basic descriptions. The only other character that deserves recognition is Molly’s teacher Ms. Shabbas, who listens to Molly’s fears of her imposter uncle and offers help and support.

Molly describes herself as dark skinned with long think black hair. She believes her face is plain with round cheeks and full lips. In contrast to her traditional, Native American features, the skeleton man does not resemble her or her family members in any way. As Molly explains, “He didn’t look Indian” and his dark skin appeared although it was dyed rather than natural. He wears all grey clothing, and is extremely tall and thin making him resemble the skeleton in Molly’s dreams.

The majority of the action in Skeleton Man takes place in the uncle’s large house or in the woods near Three Falls Gorge in central New York. In Molly’s nightly dreams, she is in the distant past, in the place of a young girl running from the “Skeleton Man” of the Mohawk legend. These dreams are what Molly’s father describes as “aware dreams” in which she is supposed to receive a message of some kind that will help her out of a bad situation. The “dream Molly” lives in a cave with the skeleton man, checks snare traps in the woods, and speaks with a rabbit she frees from a trap. In the dream, the rabbit promises to help her because she set him free, a common theme in many Native American legends. Molly is told that it is the Mohawk way to trust your dreams and listen to the voices inside you.

Though set in modern times, Skeleton Man references a few other Native American cultural markers. In the original Skeleton Man tale explained by Molly in the beginning of the book, the original name of the skeleton man was “Lazy Uncle” and in Molly’s dreams, the rabbit refers to Molly as “Little Sister.” When Molly realizes her parents are missing and is afraid, she sings a song taught to her by her mother, called the “Lonesome Song.” Finally, Molly recalls an explanation of lighting and thunder told to her by her father. He said Henos, the Thunder Beings, throw lighting spears through the sky in order to defeat monsters.

The occasional pencil illustrations by Sally Wern Comport add a spooky aura to Bruchac’s text. During the flashback portions of the text, Comport illustrates Molly in a traditional Mohican outfit. She wears a deerskin dress and moccasins, and jewelry. The skeleton man is rarely shown except for brief illustrations of his bony hand, or his silhouette in shadow. These small illustrations appear at the beginning of each chapter and sporadically throughout the text.

Bruchac does not include further references for the future study of the “skeleton man” legend. Providing a list of sources would have been an excellent supplement to this young adult novel. Due to the scary subject matter and dark themes, Skeleton Man should be for middle grades and older.

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2002-2003

School Library Journal Best Book

ALA Notable Children’s Book

IRA/CBC Children's Choice

Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award

Starred review in School Library Journal: “In the classic horror tradition, Bruchac offers a timely tale that will make hearts beat and brows sweat, and it has the bonus of a resourceful heroine to put the world right again.”

Positive review in Publisher’s Weekly: “The mix of traditional and contemporary cultural references adds to the story's haunting appeal, and the quick pace and suspense, particularly in the last few chapters, will likely hold the interest of young readers.”

5. CONNECTIONS

* This novel could be used during a study of Native American myths and legends. It is also a great addition to non-traditional Halloween literature. 

* Mohawk legends: http://www.native-languages.org/mohawk-legends.htm

* Other young adult books by Joseph Bruchac:

The Return of Skeleton Man. ISBN 9780060580926 (Sequel to Skeleton Man)

Bearwalker. ISBN 9780061123153

Whisper in the Dark. ISBN 9780060580879

The Dark Pond. ISBN 9780060529987

Wolf Mark. ISBN 9781600606618