73 pages • 2 hours read
Daniel WoodrellWinter's Bone
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell, sixteen-year-old Ree Dolly embarks on a dangerous quest to find her missing father, Jessup, who has used their house to secure bail, risking her family's home if he fails to appear for his court date. Ree must navigate the criminal underworld of her extended Dolly family, encountering corruption and hardship, while caring for her younger brothers and mentally absent mother. Sensitive topics such as substance abuse, domestic violence, and socioeconomic hardship are depicted.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell offers a gripping, gritty depiction of life in the Ozarks, earning praise for its evocative prose and strong, resilient protagonist. While some readers find it bleak and slow-paced, others appreciate its authenticity and atmospheric tension. The novel's detailed setting and character development stand out, making it a compelling yet somber read.
Who Should Read Winter's Bone?
Readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven stories set in rural America will appreciate Daniel Woodrell's Winter's Bone. Fans of literary noir with a strong female protagonist, similar to those in Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn and True Grit by Charles Portis, will find it compelling. The vivid depiction of family loyalty and survival in harsh conditions resonates deeply.
224
Novel • Fiction
Ozarks • Contemporary
2006
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.