Guest Book Review: The Bone Collector’s Son

(Since it’s summer we invited our middle school age son to read and review a book for us. He read “The Bone Collector’s Son” by Paul Yee. Paul Yee is a Chinese Canadian author and historian and this book is set in Western Canada a little over 100 years ago. The book does have some ghost elements so might not be right for younger or sensitive children. We hope you will enjoy his perspective!)

I recently read The Bone Collector’s Son and found it to be an intriguing story. Set in Canada around 1910, the book follows a Chinese teenage boy named Bing. He and his father encounter a skeleton missing its skull. After that, trouble plagues them wherever they go. It is up to Bing to figure out why. 

You learn some of what life was like for Asians in Canada in the early 20th century.  Before I read this book I didn’t know what a bone collector was.  I learned about the riot of September 7th, 1907, during the Asiatic Exclusion League’s parade. 

The story is full of suspense and keeps you turning the pages.  It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.  It was a mild ghost story and not very scary.  (I think the book fits more into the category of a suspenseful mystery than a ghost story.) I recommend it to anyone who enjoys an exciting mystery with historical and cultural elements.