📖 Overview
Out From Boneville launches the Bone graphic novel series with the story of three cousins who become separated in an unfamiliar land. After being driven from their hometown of Boneville, Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone must navigate through desert wastes and mountainous terrain.
The story centers on Fone Bone as he encounters strange creatures and new allies in a mysterious valley. From rat creatures who wish to eat him to a powerful dragon who offers protection, Fone Bone's journey brings him into contact with an expanding cast of characters.
While seeking to reunite with his cousins, Fone Bone meets a young woman named Thorn and her grandmother, whose guidance may help him survive in this new world. The winter season approaches as Fone Bone works to establish himself in the valley and understand its dangers.
This opening volume establishes themes of friendship, survival, and finding one's place in an unfamiliar world. The story balances humor with elements of fantasy adventure while setting up larger mysteries about the valley and its inhabitants.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Out from Boneville for its charming characters, clean art style, and humor that appeals to both children and adults. The pacing maintains interest through action and mystery while staying appropriate for young readers.
Fans highlight the expressive character designs and fluid movement in action scenes. Many note that Fone Bone provides a relatable protagonist for children, while the fantasy elements keep the story engaging. Parents often mention reading it alongside their kids.
Common criticisms include:
- Story feels incomplete on its own
- Some find the early chapters slow
- Younger readers may struggle with certain dialogue
- Print is small in some editions
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 4.2/5 (41,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.7/5 (1,100+ ratings)
Common Sense Media: 5/5 (parent reviews)
One frequent reader comment notes: "The art does as much storytelling as the dialogue," while another states: "My kids immediately wanted the next book after finishing this one."
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Knights of the Lunch Table by Frank Cammuso A middle school student faces bullies and challenges with help from his friends in this reimagining of Arthurian legend.
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🤔 Interesting facts
🦴 The Bone series began as a self-published comic by Jeff Smith in 1991 before gaining mainstream success and being picked up by Scholastic
🎨 Smith was heavily influenced by classic comic strips like Walt Kelly's Pogo and Charles Schulz's Peanuts in developing the art style and humor of Bone
📚 Out from Boneville took 13 years to complete as part of the full Bone series, which spans 55 issues collected in 9 graphic novels
🏆 The series has won numerous awards, including 10 Eisner Awards and 11 Harvey Awards, making it one of the most acclaimed independent comics
🎬 Warner Bros. acquired the film rights to Bone in 2008, and Netflix announced in 2019 they were developing an animated series adaptation, though it was later canceled in 2022