Took: A Ghost Story

“Though young Lingo doesn’t know it, Auntie is helping him sell that house to the man and the woman in the only way she knows—muttering and humming and moving her hands this way and that way, weaving spells in the air, sending messages as she’s always done. Messages that make folks need things not worth needing. Dangerous things. Things they regret getting.”

This introduction to Old Auntie foreshadows the dangerous nature of the farmhouse and the conflict it will cause Daniel’s family. This quote also shows Auntie’s power over Woodville through her ability to manipulate scenarios in her favor. The farmhouse ends up being a detrimental investment for Daniel and Erica’s parents, as their lives fall apart and Erica disappears after the move.

“My sister, Erica, and I were sick of the back seat, sick of each other, and mad at our parents for making us leave our home, our school, and our friends.”

This quote introduces the theme of The Impact of Family Conflict. Forced to live in a new town, Daniel and Erica are angry at having to leave their old life. The quote also introduces the tension between the siblings, which only escalates as the story progresses.

“Something moved at the edge of the woods. Its head gleamed in the moonlight, as white as bone. I heard the howl again, louder this time, and stumbled backward, slamming and bolting the door.”

This is Daniel’s first glimpse of Bloody Bones, which takes place on his first night in Woodville. This encounter alerts Daniel of something terrifying lurking in the woods. As he learns more about the local folklore, this moment plays in his mind, planting the seed that the stories of Old Auntie and Bloody Bones could be true.