“This book reads like a folktale with the added authenticity of a historical fiction story. Set in 1942 amidst the turmoil of war, the reader is drawn into the anguish of the survivors left at home. Smibert juxtaposes the danger faced abroad with the dangers at home for those who scrape up a living working in the Appalachian coal mines. The gentle movement of this tale pulls the reader into Bone’s struggle to help others while also attempting to care for herself. This thoughtful piece provides a gentle look at surviving life’s tragedies.” -School Library Connection

“The second installment of Smibert’s Ghosts of Ordinary Objects series (Bone’s Gift, 2018) finds Bone continuing to wrestle with the possibilities and limitations of her powers…an evocative presentation of time and place…(f)ans of the first book will…enjoy returning to Bone's world.” - Booklist