Zero at the Bone (Puffin Novel) [Paperback]

Michael Cadnum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1998 | Series: Puffin Novel

Anita is missing. Any minute now, Cray expects his sister to walk through the door and make everything all right. But no one knows where Anita is, not her parents, not her boyfriend, not even the police. As the hours stretch into days, Cray's hope fades into fear and the realization that Anita may never come home. Taut, tense, and tightly plotted, this intimate portrayal of a contemporary nightmare is much more frightening than a generic horror tale. -- Booklist, starred review Michael Cadnum is the author of several young adult novels including Taking It (Viking and Puffin) and Edge, his latest novel from Viking. He lives in Albany, California.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When a teenage girl disappears, her family goes into crisis. "Fans of intense psychological dramas can expect to be emotionally drained by the time they reach the last chapter," said PW in a starred review. Ages 12-up. (Aug.)r
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10?Cray Buchanan, high school senior, narrates this taut, waking nightmare of contemporary American life. When his 18-year-old sister Anita fails to come home from work one night, all normal, daily events and problems abruptly lose importance. Cray's fleeting hopes of becoming the varsity quarterback and a fire at his father's furniture factory fade into obscurity. Days stretch out in a litany of tension and futility?police interviews, searching dumpsters and alleys, and MISSING posters. Poignant scenes unfold as Cray invades the sanctity of his sister's room and diary to uncover clues to her disappearance. Cadnum's character portrayals resonate. Torn between grief and anger, the family tries to make sense out of the senseless. The mother, a practical scientist, retreats into her study and her research, with periodic raids on the refrigerator, all the while preparing for the worst. The father clings to the optimistic high ground, leaving no person or organization untapped, and passes his days in a frenzy of activity, but no resolution is in sight at novel's end. Cray delves deep into his sister's secret self, a direct contrast to his earlier inattention. His regret over not knowing her better allows him to reevaluate his friends and family. Exquisite descriptions cruelly juxtapose the unbearable open ending, leaving each reader with "zero at the bone."?Alice Casey Smith, Sayreville War Memorial High School, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140386289
• ISBN-13: 978-0140386288
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,379,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Cadnum is the author of thirty-five books, including the National Book Award finalist The Book of the Lion.  A two-time Edgar Allen Poe Award nominee, and an award-winning poet, Cadnum's work is widely acclaimed.

He lives in Albany, California, across the bay from San Francisco, with his wife Sherina.

For more of the latest on Cadnum and his work visit his website www.MichaelCadnum.com
 

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Bad, August 16, 2009

By 

L. Hoppough "LMNO" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zero at the Bone (Puffin Novel) (Paperback)

I'm sorry, but I thought this book was bad. Approaching awful. The premise was interesting enough--a boy's sister goes missing, and it (as it always does) affects his family. But the truth is that the whole thing--plot, dialogue, character--was tedious. All of it.
The family made assumption based on nothing, and although the grief they were going through seemed true and thought-out, in the end it became a simple game of repetition and whininess. And though I wasn't going in expecting the book to end all happily ever after, I WAS wanting at least the tiniest bit of it to be resolved; but no. The book ended abrubtly and with questions unanswered.
In the end: two stars. It was bad, but the concept was good and the sadness was portrayed well enough.

4.0 out of 5 stars Tami's Review, December 7, 2002

By 

Tami Fontaine (Canton, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zero at the Bone (Puffin Novel) (Paperback)

Setting- Oakland, California neighborhood
Main Characters- Cray, brother of the missing girl, Anita; Mom-bone researcher; Dad-lumber business owner, Kyle- Anita's boyfriend; Detective Waterman.
Plot summary- Anita, Cray's sister, goes to work and doesn't come home. Cray tells of the day his sister turned missing and the days following as he struggles with trying to deal with it. He goes through the stages of denial, numbness, anger, into grief. He searches his sister's diary for clues. He hopes that she just ran away from home and is angry that she did that. He tells of how his future desires change and life because more precious, relationships deeper. His parents choose different ways to deal with their loss and the culminating scene is one in which they bring her dental records to determine if a murdered girl is Anita. It isn't, but the reality sinks in.
Author evaluation- The thoughts and actions are extremely realistic. Characterization is strong and so is the emotional progression. Extremely helpful information to develop empathy. A short read but excellently written.
Audience- Since the main character is at least 16 years old, it is recommended for 10th grade and up. Younger, but mature readers would enjoy it too. There is not much action so it is not recommended for those who like action/adventure.

5.0 out of 5 stars Zero at the Bone, March 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Zero at the Bone (Library Binding)

In the book Zero at the Bone, Cray jokes about his sister being gone but that night she doesn't return home and his dad gets worried as the days go by.Then a few months later they find a body at the morgue that looks like Cray's sister.... If you like suspence you would like this book