We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(1) Sea Level
Doll Bones is a quick read with a straightforward plot. The inner lives of the main characters aren't simple, exactly, but they're clearly presented, meaning there's not a lot of ambiguity or gray areas—as readers, we understand their motivations and feelings. We also aren't asked to do any hard thinking about the difference between right and wrong. When the characters do something immoral or illegal (like stealing or breaking and entering), we're not asked to make complex judgments about their behavior. So sit back, relax, and just go with the flow.