The Rag and Bone Shop

Reference: Cormier, Robert.  The Rag and Bone Shop.  Delacorte Press, 2001. 154 pg.

The Rag and Bone Shop is a novel written by Robert Cormier that explores the potential for evil in a person and the choices that influence that potential.  The novel is set in Monument, Massachusetts where a seven year-old girl had just been murdered.  The point of view switches between Jason, a shy twelve year-old boy who was the last person to see her alive, and Trent, an expert interrogator trying to solve her murder.  Jason is the prime suspect for the murder because of his introverted personality.  Trent is brought to Monument to get him to confess.  Using may interrogation tactics and manipulation, Trent achieves his goal, despite Jason’s innocence.  After his confession, the police find the actual murderer and Jason is released.  However, the experience has changed Jason and the readers are left with the question if his innocence has been lost forever.

           

The Rag and Bone Shop is a very quick read, and its writing style is very simple.  However, the loss of innocence and potential for evil in every person are common themes in literature. This novel will introduce younger readers to difficult concepts that will be explored later in their educational career.   It would be very easy to teach this novel to a middle school class, because they would be able relate to a character that is their age.  A teacher would easily be able create lesson plans that would engage the students with debates about the outcome of the novel.