skin & bones: a novel
Best Book of May 2024 by New York Post. Finalist for the 2024 Westport Prize for Literature. From the acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a soulful and lyrical novel exploring sisterhood, motherhood, faith, love, and ultimately what gets passed down from one generation to the next At 40, Lena Baker is at a steady and stable moment in life--between wine nights with her two best friends and her wedding just weeks away, she's happy in love and in friendship until a confession on her wedding day shifts her world. Unmoored and grieving a major loss, Lena finds herself trying to teach her daughter self-love while struggling to do so herself. Lena questions everything she's learned about dating, friendship, and motherhood, and through it all, she works tirelessly to bring the oft-forgotten Black history of Oregon to the masses, sidestepping her well-meaning co-workers that don't understand that their good intentions are often offensive and hurtful. Through Watson's poetic voice, skin & bones is a stirring exploration of who society makes space for and is ultimately a story of heartbreak and healing.
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Community Reviews
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Renée Watson delivers a beautifully raw and deeply felt story in Skin & Bones. Through poetic and intentional prose, she explores self-image, family, grief, and the quiet resilience of young Black girls navigating the weight of the world. Set against the backdrop of Portland, the novel weaves in Black historical significance, shedding light on the often-overlooked stories of a community that has long shaped the city’s identity. The characters feel achingly real—flawed, tender, and searching for healing in places they least expect. This book is a gentle but powerful reminder of how art, love, and self-acceptance can help piece us back together. A must-read for those who appreciate introspective storytelling, emotional depth, and a rich cultural narrative.
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