The bone people/YMMV


 * Everyone Is Jesus in Purgatory: The book is full of Maori and Christian symbolism. Kerewin is a literal virgin, making her the Virgin Mary to Joe's Joseph and Simon's Christ.
 * Mary Sue: Kerewin. She's an expert Aikido martial artist, a brilliant artist, guitar player, a chess whizz, she can drink anyone under the table and she wins the lottery before the book starts.
 * True Art Is Angsty: This novel has and more.
 * True Art Is Incomprehensible: The prose at times, though Your Mileage May Vary.
 * Unfortunate Implications: The way child abuse is portrayed.
 * Values Dissonance: None of the characters see anything wrong with letting the eight-year-old Simon drink and smoke.