When Skeletons Rise

Arlo’s father disappeared during a storm – and storms now feature in Arlo’s nightmares. Their move to Cornwall doesn’t help his sense of being unsettled, alone. Trust is difficult. Gradually however, he does begin to find friendship in his new school. When the skeleton of a sailor is unearthed Arlo is fascinated. Could this be a pirate? He has a new project to research, a long -lost shipwreck just off the coast. But delving into the secrets of the past brings Arlo into contact with a secret in his present – something that he fears could destroy the new life he is now enjoying.

Set firmly in a contemporary world where action is rooted in the everyday – school, shopping, family, – young readers will find an engaging familiarity as they follow Arlo through his story. Here there is no magic, no dramatic catastrophe. Rather we meet a friendly neighbourhood, a sympathetic – if strict teacher – an interesting project; who does not like pirates?  But there is the secret. Coral Rumble understands the fear a secret kept by parents from their children can inspire. Of course it might be being kept for the best of reasons, a wish to protect. This is the case here. Arlo’s father is in prison. For Arlo this is devastating as he imagines his new friends will immediately abandon him. Rumble deals sensitively with the ideas, assumptions, the fears that young people can feel when faced with what will be seen as the stigma of such a situation. Her young characters are very real in their reactions. Her audience will easily empathise with Arlo and his friends. There may be some for whom it will be very real. Adult characters are drawn with equal conviction. There are no great extremes. This is a real community providing realistic background to a narrative that is immediate and extremely readable. Rumble is a poet and well able to handle words. The text is both accessible and contemporary without being simplistic, dialogue retains interest while any description is concise and provides a vivid sense of place.