Synopsis: The Bone brothers were reunited at the end of volume one, and at the beginning of this one, they are about to hit the road back to Boneville. However, Phoney Bone gets into trouble again by trying to scam the villagers in the Great Cow Race. Mixed up in all of this, of course, are the rat creatures, who are still looking for Phoney Bone. A few more mysteries are revealed about Rose and her granddaughter, Thorn, which make one suspect that there is more to Thorn than is immediately evident.
Rating: Pure genius. I nominate Jeff Smith for a Nobel.
Opinion: Jeff Smith is a genius of comedic timing; of mystery to keep the interest; and of – not to mention – the pure beauty and charm of the illustrations. When Fone Bone climbs the tree to get a honey comb for Thorn and discovers the giant bee guarding the bee hive, I laughed out loud (it doesn’t sound funny when I describe it, but trust me, it is!). The two rat creatures that keep arguing about quiches are back and just as hilarious. I adore this series so much that I think I may have to buy it.
