The Farming of Bones Review: A Heavy but Important Read My Kid Couldn't Put Down

View on BookSoap

My ninth grader brought this home from school and actually told me about it at dinner, which never happens with assigned reading. She said it was "intense but really good," and that she stayed up late to finish it. That got my attention because she's not usually a voracious reader unless it's fantasy or mystery.

The story follows Amabelle, a Haitian woman working as a servant in the Dominican Republic, and her lover Sebastien, a sugarcane worker. When persecution of Haitians ramps up, their plans for the future fall apart. My daughter said the beginning was a bit slow for her, but once she understood the setting and got attached to the characters, she was hooked. She did mention that some of the historical details about the Dominican Republic and Haiti were new to her, so we looked up a quick timeline online. She appreciated that the book didn't spell everything out but also didn't leave her completely lost. The writing is beautiful but dense, which is probably why it's recommended for high schoolers. She highlighted several passages to share with me, particularly the descriptions of the sugarcane fields and the relationships between the characters.

This one is at a 6.0 AR level with 13 points, so it's on the higher end of the reading level spectrum. The word count is around 80,000, which put it in the category of a substantial novel. My kid is in ninth grade and handled it fine, though I think eighth graders would struggle unless they're strong readers. The interest level is listed as upper grades, which tracks.

This would be great for a kid who likes historical fiction that doesn't shy away from hard topics. If your teen enjoyed things like "The Book Thief" or "Code Name Verity," they'll find something to connect with here. It's also a good fit for readers who want to understand more about Caribbean history and the way communities treat each other when political tensions rise. Parents should know it deals with violence, loss, and persecution, so it's more appropriate for mature high schoolers than younger teens. My daughter said it made her think differently about how people treat each other based on where they're from, which felt like a good takeaway for high school.