Skeleton Man is based on a traditional Abenki tale and is Bruchac's only novel where he has set a traditional tale in modern times. Molly, the story's narrator, relays the tale where a man eats his own flesh until he is only a skeleton, and then, still hungry, he waits to devour his relatives who can only be saved by an "obliging" rabbit. Molly finds herself living this tale when her parents disappear and a strange man, claiming to be her uncle, brings her to live with him. Molly is locked in her room and released only to go to school. Molly attempts to secure help from other adults and finds that they are disbelieving and inept. Soon Molly begins having a dream about the rabbit and uses clues from her Mohawk heritage as well as modern skills to free herself and her parents. Molly is a strong and clever protagonist. This is a well-told, suspenseful tale.