The Boneshaker

By Kate Milford
Rating: 4 1/4 stars

The boneshaker of the title refers to the new refurbished bike that her dad got for Natalie--but that secretly she can't figure out how to ride yet.  At least, that is what you THINK it refers to for much of the book.  In truth, this book is about a small town near a crossroads where some mystical things can happen.  It is about making bargains you were better off not making and about choosing sides.  It is about a traveling medicine show that comes to town with the appearance of wanting to heal people but with very different motives indeed.  It is about a thirteen year old girl learning that she knows things she couldn't possibly have known  and that perhaps her entire town may be counting on her to stand up and save them.  By turns it is atmospheric, and a tad creepy, and exciting and it is always involving as we discover along with Natalie what is really going on.  A supercool story.