Bones & All by Camille DeAngelis is a story about Maren Yearly, who is a teenager with an uncontrollable urge to eat people she loves. Maren tries to figure out her past and herself, while the novel talks about loneliness, emotional depth, and identity.
Maren’s relationship with her mother is highlighted, as it shows the pain of her being abandoned, and the trouble of her being different. Maren finds it hard when she wants to connect with others but fearing the harm she might do to them.
During the story, Maren forms a relationship with another cannibal named Lee. Their bond grows through the story, even though their relationship is built ontheir need to eat each other.
“I want you to eat me, bones and all,” she said, her voice trembling, and I felt it like a shudder in my chest. She didn’t want to be alone anymore, didn’t want to carry the weight of it all by herself. It wasn’t just about hunger. It was about the connection, the need to feel something other than the gnawing emptiness inside us. And in that moment, I wasn’t sure if I was the one who needed to eat her, or if she needed to consume me.”
This quote shows the complicated but deep connection between Maren and Lee, leading into their mutual dark desires and deep emotional need for each other. It’s about wanting to be consumed, both physically and emotionally, as a way to find meaning in a relationship.