“She descended into the basement, tasked with collecting the bones.” I caught a glimpse of a girl holding a candle in the dark, and from there, I followed her down a twisty staircase to see those bones for myself-and to learn who she was, who tasked her with this strange chore, and, of course, what the bones were used for. The idea for The Bone Garden started with the very first line, which came to me before anything else. A girl who has to be brave and ever hopeful as she navigates the graveyard (and the passageways beneath the graveyard) and seeks the magic that brought her to life-and could return her to dust. The Bone Garden tells the story of a strange dust-and-bone girl named Irréelle whose greatest fear is that she isn’t real. Close the curtains, pull up the covers, and let’s get spooky! I love a spooky middle grade novel as much as the next gal, that’s why I am so excited about this interview with debut author, Heather Kassner. “This magical story―and the brave girl in its pages―will haunt you in the best way.” ―Natalie Lloyd, New York Times bestselling author of Over the Moon an impressive new fairy tale that will appeal to fans of Lisa Graff’s subtly magical stories.” ― Booklist “ the dreamy tone and themes of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and The Graveyard Book. Defying her creator for the very first time, Irréelle flees to the underside of the graveyard and embarks on an adventure to unearth the mysterious magic that breathes bones to life, even if it means she will return to dust and be no more. When Irréelle makes one final, unforgivable mistake by destroying a frightful creature just brought to life, Miss Vesper threatens to imagine her away once and for all. Worst of all, she is unmindful of her crooked bones. She is slow returning from the dark passages beneath the cemetery. Irréelle is forgetful as she gathers bone dust. But for all her efforts to please her cruel creator, the thread is unraveling. Only the finest magical thread tethers her to life―and to Miss Vesper. “Remember, my dear, you do not really and truly exist.” A spooky and adventurous debut illustrated fantasy novel about a girl made of dust and bone and imagination who seeks the truth about the magic that brought her to life.

The Bone Garden by Heather Kassner