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Grave Images
A stylish debut mystery with the perfect balance of sweetness and scares!
Thirteen-year-old Bernie's summer is looking pretty grim. It's hard to make friends when your family runs a monument company, and your backyard is littered with tombstones. It's even harder when your mother suddenly refuses to leave her room . . .
To make matters worse, her father has just hired a new artist to engrave the headstones--the creepy Mr. Stein. Bernie has a bad feeling about him right from the start, and after snooping around his cottage, she discovers an engraved portrait of their neighbor . . . a woman who promptly dies the next day. And it's not just a weird coincidence. The pattern continues, and Bernie realizes that Mr. Stein has begun engraving headstones before people die, which forces Bernie to ask a horrifying question: Is Mr. Stein predicting the deaths . . . or causing them?
Thirteen-year-old Bernie's summer is looking pretty grim. It's hard to make friends when your family runs a monument company, and your backyard is littered with tombstones. It's even harder when your mother suddenly refuses to leave her room . . .
To make matters worse, her father has just hired a new artist to engrave the headstones--the creepy Mr. Stein. Bernie has a bad feeling about him right from the start, and after snooping around his cottage, she discovers an engraved portrait of their neighbor . . . a woman who promptly dies the next day. And it's not just a weird coincidence. The pattern continues, and Bernie realizes that Mr. Stein has begun engraving headstones before people die, which forces Bernie to ask a horrifying question: Is Mr. Stein predicting the deaths . . . or causing them?
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2013
17 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Goebel
20 books64 followersJenny Goebel is the author of GRAVE IMAGES, a forthcoming middle grade novel from Scholastic (Nov 1,2013).
She lives just outside of Denver, and if she's not hiking up a mountain or mothering, or doing both simultaneously, she's probably sitting at her computer writing.
She lives just outside of Denver, and if she's not hiking up a mountain or mothering, or doing both simultaneously, she's probably sitting at her computer writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 14, 2013
Lately I have been on a string of middle grade novels that left a lot to be desired. This one--total joy. I loved Bernie. She is the kind of character that will make your child feel like they have a new friend. Her attitude is often funny and the thoughts she has about the boy who likes her are hilarious.
I think the thing I enjoyed the most about this book, was that it was different. You don't see too many stories out there where the main characters are in the headstone and monument business. This was a perfect backdrop to build an interesting and original story that you older children will surely love.
The story of why her mother was acting as she did was touching but not overly graphic or soppy to the point that it was tear producing. I liked the dynamic between the good hero and the bad bad guy. Bernie is pretty stealthy and smart and Mr. Stein was creepy!
I also really liked that there was a balance of terror and humour, realistic events and child-like feautures to this book.
This was a fun read that I imagine middle-grade students and parents alike will both enjoy. I would definitely recommend it. You don't have to be a child to have fun with it.
This review is based on a digital ARC from Netgalley and the publisher.
I think the thing I enjoyed the most about this book, was that it was different. You don't see too many stories out there where the main characters are in the headstone and monument business. This was a perfect backdrop to build an interesting and original story that you older children will surely love.
The story of why her mother was acting as she did was touching but not overly graphic or soppy to the point that it was tear producing. I liked the dynamic between the good hero and the bad bad guy. Bernie is pretty stealthy and smart and Mr. Stein was creepy!
I also really liked that there was a balance of terror and humour, realistic events and child-like feautures to this book.
This was a fun read that I imagine middle-grade students and parents alike will both enjoy. I would definitely recommend it. You don't have to be a child to have fun with it.
This review is based on a digital ARC from Netgalley and the publisher.
October 28, 2013
Thirteen-year-old Bernie – named after St. Bernadette, but called Bernie because she doesn’t act very saint-like – is spending her summer helping her father and grandma at their monument company with simple things like dusting and filing, while wishing she could do something more worthwhile, like help design monuments and headstones. One day a man named Mr. Abbot Stein comes in with a hand-etching of a woman, asking for a job and place to stay. Despite feeling there is a “wrongness” about Mr. Stein, Bernie sees this as an opportunity to develop her drawing skills. Until, that is, she finds a hand-etching of someone who looks strangely familiar in one of his drawers and learns the next day that they have died. Now Bernie, in addition to continuing to help her father and grandma, and taking trays of food up to her mother who is refusing to leave her room, needs to find out the truth behind Mr. Stein and his etchings – preferably before anyone else dies.
The characters and their motives are realistic, and the main characters are well-developed. There are a few coincidences that I felt might be a bit too much in terms of how easy it is for Bernie to figure out what is going on with Mr. Stein, but for the most part it is a very solid read. Michael Romano – the boy who bothers Bernie until she gets to know him, and sometimes even then – is very likeable and brought a sense of comic relief to the story when needed, especially because of how difficult Bernie’s home life is, but also helped to bring Bernie out of her shell a bit more. Bernie herself, meanwhile, tends to lean more towards the serious side, wants to be able to help her family, and does her best not to put undue pressure on them which some younger readers might not be able to relate to, but is very realistic given the Morrison family’s history.
Jenny Goebel has taken some very serious subjects and melded them together in a great Middle Grade novel with a hint of fantasy. First there is the day to day dealings of death with Bernie’s family owning a monument company and trying to support grieving families through the process of choosing monuments and gravestones. I have occasionally seen something similar with family-owned funeral homes, but never monument companies. By using a monument company rather than a funeral home, Goebel doesn’t need to include an actual body to get us to feel for the grieving loved ones. Instead, we see an upset husband and how Bernie tries to help him through his grief while choosing a picture for the etching he wants on his deceased wife’s monument. These are the little moments that are sometimes overshadowed by wakes, funerals, etc. in fiction and it was nice to see such a small moment at the forefront of the grieving process.
You can read the rest of my review at my blog: http://readerlymusings.com/2013/10/28...
The characters and their motives are realistic, and the main characters are well-developed. There are a few coincidences that I felt might be a bit too much in terms of how easy it is for Bernie to figure out what is going on with Mr. Stein, but for the most part it is a very solid read. Michael Romano – the boy who bothers Bernie until she gets to know him, and sometimes even then – is very likeable and brought a sense of comic relief to the story when needed, especially because of how difficult Bernie’s home life is, but also helped to bring Bernie out of her shell a bit more. Bernie herself, meanwhile, tends to lean more towards the serious side, wants to be able to help her family, and does her best not to put undue pressure on them which some younger readers might not be able to relate to, but is very realistic given the Morrison family’s history.
Jenny Goebel has taken some very serious subjects and melded them together in a great Middle Grade novel with a hint of fantasy. First there is the day to day dealings of death with Bernie’s family owning a monument company and trying to support grieving families through the process of choosing monuments and gravestones. I have occasionally seen something similar with family-owned funeral homes, but never monument companies. By using a monument company rather than a funeral home, Goebel doesn’t need to include an actual body to get us to feel for the grieving loved ones. Instead, we see an upset husband and how Bernie tries to help him through his grief while choosing a picture for the etching he wants on his deceased wife’s monument. These are the little moments that are sometimes overshadowed by wakes, funerals, etc. in fiction and it was nice to see such a small moment at the forefront of the grieving process.
You can read the rest of my review at my blog: http://readerlymusings.com/2013/10/28...
November 16, 2013
Bernie’s family runs a monument company, but her father has not been himself after the death of her own father. Her mother is not much better off; she is unable to get out of bed most days, and is just depressed overall. However strange and saddened Bernie’s family might be, her friend, Michael, still loves coming around and hanging out with Bernie. When Bernie’s father hires new help, Mr. Abbott Stein, and Bernie finds him a little bit creepy and needs to figure out what exactly it is, so she enlists the help of her friend Michael. Mr. Stein is a beautiful artist and has the most intricate carvings on his monuments, but Bernie starts to notice an odd pattern. Mr. Stein carves the names of people into a monument before they are actually dead. This isn’t the best part. After the name has been carved, the person always dies!
I actually read this shortly after Halloween, and have been waiting for the opportune time to write my review. This was the perfect Halloween read, full of suspense and well-developed creepy characters. Mr. Stein was the most well-written character of all. I was immediately entranced by his strangeness and couldn’t find out his secrets soon enough. The cover art is mysterious and leads readers into a greater understanding of the book, its setting, and conflicts.
I like to separate all the adult and young adult books I read with a little middle grade literature every once in a while. Jenny Goebel did a wonderful job of taking some pretty big issues that people deal with every day and putting them into terms that a younger child could understand. The book was creepy, but not creepy enough for someone of that age, and I truly believe this would be a book that parents would enjoy reading with their children as well!
***A copy of this book was sent to me by the publishers at Scholastic Press in exchange for my honest review***
I actually read this shortly after Halloween, and have been waiting for the opportune time to write my review. This was the perfect Halloween read, full of suspense and well-developed creepy characters. Mr. Stein was the most well-written character of all. I was immediately entranced by his strangeness and couldn’t find out his secrets soon enough. The cover art is mysterious and leads readers into a greater understanding of the book, its setting, and conflicts.
I like to separate all the adult and young adult books I read with a little middle grade literature every once in a while. Jenny Goebel did a wonderful job of taking some pretty big issues that people deal with every day and putting them into terms that a younger child could understand. The book was creepy, but not creepy enough for someone of that age, and I truly believe this would be a book that parents would enjoy reading with their children as well!
***A copy of this book was sent to me by the publishers at Scholastic Press in exchange for my honest review***
November 3, 2014
Bernie knows that her family is a bit off. They own and run a monument company whose main clientele are looking for gravestones. Plus her mom hasn't been the most social person of late, spending most of her time locked up in her bedroom crying. When a drifter arrives boasting an impressive skill at etching and looking for room and board, Bernie's father agrees to take him on. At first, Bernie is fascinated by the man's talent and hopes that he may be able to help her better her own. But Abbott Stein isn't interested in helping Bernie. Not one to take no for an answer, Bernie starts to snoop around the man's room and eventually finds an etching of a man who looks startlingly familiar. She'd almost forgotten about the incident when she learns that an old friend of her grandfather has just died. He and the man in the etching are one and the same, but why would Mr. Stein have carved a picture for someone BEFORE their death?
From the start, I was impressed by how well Jenny Goebel brought Bernie to life. From page one, Bernie just jumps off the page. Her voice, mannerisms, and attitude ring clear as a bell! Bernie is a clever kid who quickly figures out there's something wrong with Abbott Stein. Of course the adults are all clueless, but with the help of a fellow schoolmate (and someone Bernie reluctantly calls a friend), she bravely throws herself into investigating.
GRAVE IMAGES is a fun read for someone my age and a great creepy read for a younger audience. Goebel does a wonderful job of building an interesting mystery with some light supernatural elements and even some slightly gory details as well. Given my own reading tastes as a kid, this definitely would have hit the spot for me (it admittedly hit the spot for me as a somewhat grown up 32 year old, too).
From the start, I was impressed by how well Jenny Goebel brought Bernie to life. From page one, Bernie just jumps off the page. Her voice, mannerisms, and attitude ring clear as a bell! Bernie is a clever kid who quickly figures out there's something wrong with Abbott Stein. Of course the adults are all clueless, but with the help of a fellow schoolmate (and someone Bernie reluctantly calls a friend), she bravely throws herself into investigating.
GRAVE IMAGES is a fun read for someone my age and a great creepy read for a younger audience. Goebel does a wonderful job of building an interesting mystery with some light supernatural elements and even some slightly gory details as well. Given my own reading tastes as a kid, this definitely would have hit the spot for me (it admittedly hit the spot for me as a somewhat grown up 32 year old, too).
February 23, 2014
There are two stories happening in Grave Images: Bernie knows a lot about death and not just because her family owns a tombstone company. She knows that the most hurtful kind of death is that when a living person, mother, refuses to live. She also knows that her mother doesn't love her enough to even try. But rather than collapse in her sadness, Bernie perseveres and tries her best to "fix" her family. Her wanting is so strong because her emotional needs are never met, so she is often impulsive. That would not be so much of a problem except for the creepy man who's moved into their carriage house, and whose sculptures seem to portend death. That is the second story...a horror mystery Bernie needs to solve to protect the ones she loves. I like how Jenny Goebel allows Bernie to experience her full range of emotions, including anger and vengeance, before pulling her back. Children often live with their emotions policed by the adults in her life, although Bernie self-polices her emotions because she has been forced to be the emotional adult of the family. But in allowing Bernie her emotions, Bernie is able to understand the darker compulsions of creepy Mr. Stein, and how unabated sadness can turn to bitterness. Despite the dark theme, there is a lot of humor in this book as Bernie's thoughts are expressed with the blunt honestly often only seen in children. Especially fun are the odd, inexplicable feelings she develops towards Michael. Goebel has created a girl with a full emotional life within a dark, suspenseful story.
October 14, 2013
Bernie’s father has a tombstone business. It’s not glamorous. In fact, it’s kind of creepy, and things are about to get even creepier. A stranger by the name of Mr. Stein wants to work there as an engraver. Bernie’s father rejects him on the basis that Mr. Stein’s work is too good. He surely couldn’t afford someone like him. The sample Mr. Stein shows him is so detailed and lifelike, it’s like the person’s face is about to jump out at them. Mr. Stein insists on working there for room and board. Bernie’s father relents and hires him. That’s when the deaths begin to happen.
Bernie knows that Mr. Stein’s presence is related to the mysterious deaths and his amazing artwork. He engraves someone and the person soon dies. She has to prove he’s the culprit, though. The lives of the townspeople are at stake. Also, the boy who’s her friend, but who wants to become her boyfriend, might be his next target.
I liked this book, although the beginning was way too slow. It didn’t get good until I knew for sure Mr. Stein had something to do with the deaths. I think this would appeal to children who are looking for something darker to read. The book is atmospheric and chilling, although not graphic. This is a 3.5 for me, but I’ll go ahead and give it a 4. I read this via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.
Bernie knows that Mr. Stein’s presence is related to the mysterious deaths and his amazing artwork. He engraves someone and the person soon dies. She has to prove he’s the culprit, though. The lives of the townspeople are at stake. Also, the boy who’s her friend, but who wants to become her boyfriend, might be his next target.
I liked this book, although the beginning was way too slow. It didn’t get good until I knew for sure Mr. Stein had something to do with the deaths. I think this would appeal to children who are looking for something darker to read. The book is atmospheric and chilling, although not graphic. This is a 3.5 for me, but I’ll go ahead and give it a 4. I read this via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.
October 29, 2013
A Mystery with Gravestones, Ghosts, and Creepy Scenes
For young readers who might be looking for a title with darker themes - here you go. Bernie is dealing with some challenges at home - not your normal teen challenges... Her dad has hired an assistant to help him with his gravestone carving business and freaky things start happening! Bernie can't bother her parents and must figure things out on her own.
Thank you Scholastic and NetGalley for the review copy of this book.
As you can imagine, a mystery involving graves, cemeteries, and death will be a bit dark. The themes are somber and sad at times. I felt it all was presented well and necessary for the storyline. I don't think it willbe too much for readers, but parents and teachers may want to pre-read.
The highlights of the story were Michael, his cousin (the crazy cheerleader), and matchmaking grandma Mimi. Such fun and spunky characters.
This book is definitely a touch different. It is a fresh, unique storyline and a well done mystery. I recommend it.
For young readers who might be looking for a title with darker themes - here you go. Bernie is dealing with some challenges at home - not your normal teen challenges... Her dad has hired an assistant to help him with his gravestone carving business and freaky things start happening! Bernie can't bother her parents and must figure things out on her own.
Thank you Scholastic and NetGalley for the review copy of this book.
As you can imagine, a mystery involving graves, cemeteries, and death will be a bit dark. The themes are somber and sad at times. I felt it all was presented well and necessary for the storyline. I don't think it willbe too much for readers, but parents and teachers may want to pre-read.
The highlights of the story were Michael, his cousin (the crazy cheerleader), and matchmaking grandma Mimi. Such fun and spunky characters.
This book is definitely a touch different. It is a fresh, unique storyline and a well done mystery. I recommend it.
January 10, 2016
Twelve-year-old Bernie is named for St. Bernadette but can't live up to the high standards, especially with the antics she pulls after her father hires a drifter, Abbot Stein, to engrave portraits of people on the monument headstones which could add money to the family business, especially since Bernie's mom can't help because she is suffering from severe depression after the death of their infant son.
Bernie must find out why her friends and neighbors suddenly are dying after Mr. Stiein has engraved their portraits. Thankfully, Bernie has Michael Romano to help her uncover the mystery, but is he next in line after Bernie discovers his finished portrait?
I really enjoyed the unique premise of the story told through Bernie's special voice, and how Ms. Goebel wove religion into the story. I would have preferred a realistic reason for the deaths but believe kids will enjoy the fantasy element.
Bernie must find out why her friends and neighbors suddenly are dying after Mr. Stiein has engraved their portraits. Thankfully, Bernie has Michael Romano to help her uncover the mystery, but is he next in line after Bernie discovers his finished portrait?
I really enjoyed the unique premise of the story told through Bernie's special voice, and how Ms. Goebel wove religion into the story. I would have preferred a realistic reason for the deaths but believe kids will enjoy the fantasy element.
November 10, 2017
I enjoyed this novel about 13-year old Bernie (Bernadette) who is certain the man her dad just hired to carve images on gravestones is evil. It kept me reading, trying to find out if Mr. Stein was really killing the people with his carvings or whether the deaths were just coincidences. I would recommend this for 4th or 5th graders. I had a hard time liking any of the characters, but I think a 10 or 11 year old would enjoy this scary book.
July 5, 2023
Books I've read and provided detailed reviews over the years but all data is lost after accidental deletion and GD refuse to restore it back.
Adding books back to my library for my own reference and tracking purposes
Adding books back to my library for my own reference and tracking purposes
July 11, 2025
I recommend this book
This book is amazing for kids who loves mysterious and scary stories that are good for young kids this book might seem a bit to scary but is great for all ages👍
This book is amazing for kids who loves mysterious and scary stories that are good for young kids this book might seem a bit to scary but is great for all ages👍
June 22, 2017
Well-written, but some chapters seem to be out of order.
April 11, 2018
Wow, just an amazing book. Perfect job jenny, and another wow cause I can't believe that Bernie actually sends mr. Stein to jail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2018
Moderate.
October 23, 2018
This was only 200 pages, but a LONG 200 pages. It took me a few days to read. The story was heavy and dark. I wish it had been explained a bit better, but it was good enough for the spooky season.
January 12, 2019
Creepy good read.
October 21, 2021
This story was good!
October 23, 2024
It was interesting yet boring.
October 30, 2024
This was really good! I was spooked all the way through and I'm a 61 year old elementary school librarian!
March 20, 2017
Good, thrilling plot with plot twists!
February 21, 2014
EArc Received Via Netgalley
Rev Title-- The High Price of Want amidst Graves
I decided to pick up Grave Images by Jenny Goebel because of its Graveyard centered nature. I was like, Tombstones in her backyard? Heck yes! Generally, Graveyards fascinate me, and I thought that Grave Images would be an interesting read, as it focused on a family who made their livelihood designing the monuments that would adorn the resting places of the dead. Grave art is hot? Interesting doesn’t even begin to do the title justice though. Grave Images wasn’t just creepy, but it also had some unexpected twists, and considerable depth for a title meant for fifth to eighth graders. The tone is quite dark, really.
The story is told in the perspective of thirteen year old Bernie. After the loss of her baby brother, her mother becomes depressed and reclusive, spending most of her time in her room, caring little for Bernie or for life in general, and her once involved father starts ignoring her and focusing only on his work. Desperate for her father’s approval and wishing for a bit of attention from her mother, Bernie is elated when her father hires a man named Abbot Stine to help with the grave art, and she even thinks that he can mentor her since he is such a good artist. As is typical for kids that age, Bernie thinks that if she gets really good and if she does everything right, that she can restore happiness to her family. Unfortunately for Bernie, Mr. Stine completes his etchings before people die, and it becomes her mission to save the people of the town before it is too late for them all.
What I liked about this title is that you didn’t know where the author was going. Was Mr. Stine evil, or was he psychic? Who would be next to die? There was also a bit of a love connection between Bernie and her friend Michael, and it was nice to see how she began to care about him against her better judgment, and how she tried to protect him at all cost.
I wouldn’t say that Grave Images was my favorite book, as I thought the ending left things unresolved. Not a cliff hanger, exactly, but not the most satisfying either, if you know what I mean? Nonetheless, I’d still recommend it to readers who enjoy cemeteries and creepy mysteries, and to those who it maybe wouldn’t hurt to know that sometimes, what you want is not always the best idea. Attaining what you want most may come at a high price…A price much too high to consider paying.
Rev Title-- The High Price of Want amidst Graves
I decided to pick up Grave Images by Jenny Goebel because of its Graveyard centered nature. I was like, Tombstones in her backyard? Heck yes! Generally, Graveyards fascinate me, and I thought that Grave Images would be an interesting read, as it focused on a family who made their livelihood designing the monuments that would adorn the resting places of the dead. Grave art is hot? Interesting doesn’t even begin to do the title justice though. Grave Images wasn’t just creepy, but it also had some unexpected twists, and considerable depth for a title meant for fifth to eighth graders. The tone is quite dark, really.
The story is told in the perspective of thirteen year old Bernie. After the loss of her baby brother, her mother becomes depressed and reclusive, spending most of her time in her room, caring little for Bernie or for life in general, and her once involved father starts ignoring her and focusing only on his work. Desperate for her father’s approval and wishing for a bit of attention from her mother, Bernie is elated when her father hires a man named Abbot Stine to help with the grave art, and she even thinks that he can mentor her since he is such a good artist. As is typical for kids that age, Bernie thinks that if she gets really good and if she does everything right, that she can restore happiness to her family. Unfortunately for Bernie, Mr. Stine completes his etchings before people die, and it becomes her mission to save the people of the town before it is too late for them all.
What I liked about this title is that you didn’t know where the author was going. Was Mr. Stine evil, or was he psychic? Who would be next to die? There was also a bit of a love connection between Bernie and her friend Michael, and it was nice to see how she began to care about him against her better judgment, and how she tried to protect him at all cost.
I wouldn’t say that Grave Images was my favorite book, as I thought the ending left things unresolved. Not a cliff hanger, exactly, but not the most satisfying either, if you know what I mean? Nonetheless, I’d still recommend it to readers who enjoy cemeteries and creepy mysteries, and to those who it maybe wouldn’t hurt to know that sometimes, what you want is not always the best idea. Attaining what you want most may come at a high price…A price much too high to consider paying.
January 17, 2014
genre: fantasy/mystery
summary: Bernie's family runs a monument company (headstones). Her father tries to keep the business going with the help of Bernie's grandmother while, Bernie's mother hasn't left her room in almost a year due to her depression/grief over losing her son (Bernie's two-month old brother). A strange man (Mr. Stein) comes to town with the ability to carve hauntingly, beautiful portraits out of stone. He secures a job with Bernie's father and moves into the family's carriage house. While snooping through Mr. Stein's things Bernie finds an etched portrait of her neighbor. The next day, her neighbor dies of a heart attack. Bernie begins to wonder if Mr. Stein is responsible. As more people die, she becomes more desperate to figure out what is going on...she and her "friend" Michael search for the truth.
notes: a little creepy (may get to younger children or those who are easily scared)
for kids who like: Doll Bones, Goosebumps, spooky stuff
age group: age 9+
my review: creepy, i think kids who like the genre will love it. i'm only giving it two stars because it was kinda of predictable....there were no major plot twists. you kinda knew everything from reading the book jacket. also i thought the Michael/Bernie romance was unnecessary but i could see how a tween girl would like that aspect.
summary: Bernie's family runs a monument company (headstones). Her father tries to keep the business going with the help of Bernie's grandmother while, Bernie's mother hasn't left her room in almost a year due to her depression/grief over losing her son (Bernie's two-month old brother). A strange man (Mr. Stein) comes to town with the ability to carve hauntingly, beautiful portraits out of stone. He secures a job with Bernie's father and moves into the family's carriage house. While snooping through Mr. Stein's things Bernie finds an etched portrait of her neighbor. The next day, her neighbor dies of a heart attack. Bernie begins to wonder if Mr. Stein is responsible. As more people die, she becomes more desperate to figure out what is going on...she and her "friend" Michael search for the truth.
notes: a little creepy (may get to younger children or those who are easily scared)
for kids who like: Doll Bones, Goosebumps, spooky stuff
age group: age 9+
my review: creepy, i think kids who like the genre will love it. i'm only giving it two stars because it was kinda of predictable....there were no major plot twists. you kinda knew everything from reading the book jacket. also i thought the Michael/Bernie romance was unnecessary but i could see how a tween girl would like that aspect.
February 22, 2014
Grave Images by Jenny Goebel is a great suspense story, a little "Twilight Zone" for middle schoolers.
Bernie's(Bernadette) father owns a grave stone company. They have grave stones on exibit in their yard. Definitely not your typically backyard.
Abbott Stein arrives suddenly and Bernie has a funny feeling from that 1st meeting. Her dad lets Abbott in the carriage house. The next thing you know is Abbott asked for a job doing grave stone etchings. The problem? He does the etchings before the person dies. "dodododododo" (Twilight Zone music here).
Bernie reluctantly let her pesky neighbor, Michael, help figure out who Abbott Stein is. She is intrigued by an itching that Abbott brought with him. She figures out, with the help of Michael that it is Isabelle. Who once owned the tools that Abbot uses.
While all of this is going on with Abbott, Bernies as issues with her home life. Her dad is distant and her mom is suffering severe depression of the loss of her baby boy.
Everything comes to a head on the 1st anniversary of Thomas' death. Through in a dark night, storm coming in, creepy Abbott trying to kill Bernie, an ghost appearance and her mom appearing in the graveyard.... turn up the creepy music again.
Great story of middle grade students.
Bernie's(Bernadette) father owns a grave stone company. They have grave stones on exibit in their yard. Definitely not your typically backyard.
Abbott Stein arrives suddenly and Bernie has a funny feeling from that 1st meeting. Her dad lets Abbott in the carriage house. The next thing you know is Abbott asked for a job doing grave stone etchings. The problem? He does the etchings before the person dies. "dodododododo" (Twilight Zone music here).
Bernie reluctantly let her pesky neighbor, Michael, help figure out who Abbott Stein is. She is intrigued by an itching that Abbott brought with him. She figures out, with the help of Michael that it is Isabelle. Who once owned the tools that Abbot uses.
While all of this is going on with Abbott, Bernies as issues with her home life. Her dad is distant and her mom is suffering severe depression of the loss of her baby boy.
Everything comes to a head on the 1st anniversary of Thomas' death. Through in a dark night, storm coming in, creepy Abbott trying to kill Bernie, an ghost appearance and her mom appearing in the graveyard.... turn up the creepy music again.
Great story of middle grade students.
December 20, 2014
Sigh...I held out to the end of this book, hoping the supernatural mystery would have a good payoff in spite of everything that annoyed me. But it didn't. Here's what went wrong:
*The "romance" - puppy love is probably a better term - between Bernie and Michael is really forced and unnecessary.
*Speaking of Michael, the way the author describes him is just weird. He has a freakishly large head and his fingers look like - and I quote - "five fat popsicles." Poor Michael must have some serious medical condition, because that does not sound normal.
*Bernie's family troubles are just - not well handled. She has this completely unjustified inferiority complex - thinking she isn't a good kid while demonstrating no evidence of this. The author draws out Bernie's mother's depression by not telling us why she's depressed - but it's so obvious you wish she'd just spit it out. And then, it's resolved at the end far too quickly.
*Speaking of Bernie's family - I don't find it realistic that her father would let a creepy guy stay on their property when his pre-adolescent daughter is obviously scared of him. No matter how good he is at his job.
Read Instead:
Scumble and Savvy by Ingrid Law
Anya's Ghost
The Shadows
*The "romance" - puppy love is probably a better term - between Bernie and Michael is really forced and unnecessary.
*Speaking of Michael, the way the author describes him is just weird. He has a freakishly large head and his fingers look like - and I quote - "five fat popsicles." Poor Michael must have some serious medical condition, because that does not sound normal.
*Bernie's family troubles are just - not well handled. She has this completely unjustified inferiority complex - thinking she isn't a good kid while demonstrating no evidence of this. The author draws out Bernie's mother's depression by not telling us why she's depressed - but it's so obvious you wish she'd just spit it out. And then, it's resolved at the end far too quickly.
*Speaking of Bernie's family - I don't find it realistic that her father would let a creepy guy stay on their property when his pre-adolescent daughter is obviously scared of him. No matter how good he is at his job.
Read Instead:
Scumble and Savvy by Ingrid Law
Anya's Ghost
The Shadows
September 1, 2016
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Review written by Peyton, my ten year old daughter.
Grave Images is a book about a girl named Bernie and the events that took place during her summer break. Her dad works crafting gravestones, while her mom stays in bed, battling depression. Once upon a time, Bernie’s family was happy; until a man named Abbot Stein comes and asks for work. People in the town start dying. All people whom have had their portraits etched by Mr. Stein. Will the mystery be solved or will people keep dropping dead like flies? I loved Grave Images. It is a mystery book with romance at the most awkward times. The book was very funny and it felt like a ghost story you would hear around the campfire at summer camp. The author created characters that were very funny and while there were some characters I found annoying, I found myself missing them once they had died. There were a few parts of the story that were a little slow and hard to get through, it felt like there was a little bit of repetition, however a great story and a happy ending, make this a five star book!
Review written by Peyton, my ten year old daughter.
Grave Images is a book about a girl named Bernie and the events that took place during her summer break. Her dad works crafting gravestones, while her mom stays in bed, battling depression. Once upon a time, Bernie’s family was happy; until a man named Abbot Stein comes and asks for work. People in the town start dying. All people whom have had their portraits etched by Mr. Stein. Will the mystery be solved or will people keep dropping dead like flies? I loved Grave Images. It is a mystery book with romance at the most awkward times. The book was very funny and it felt like a ghost story you would hear around the campfire at summer camp. The author created characters that were very funny and while there were some characters I found annoying, I found myself missing them once they had died. There were a few parts of the story that were a little slow and hard to get through, it felt like there was a little bit of repetition, however a great story and a happy ending, make this a five star book!
May 5, 2015
Thirteen-year-old Bernie’s family runs a headstone business. She desperately wants her father to help her mother through an awful depression brought on the by the death of their infant son, Thomas. But when her father hires the scary and cruel Mr. Stein to help out at the monument shop, Bernie soon realizes the headstones he carves are of living people who mysteriously die soon after he completes their tombstones. As the townspeople start to die, Bernie sets out to solve the deadly mystery with the help of her friend Michael. They uncover a frightening connection between a small carving of a woman that Stein carries and some mystical carving tools. Unfortunately, the expected scary cemetery confrontation between Bernie and Stein never materializes into anything really scary. The story is too long and tedious with very little payoff at the end. The relationship between Bernie and her mother is uninteresting, and the budding romance between Bernie and Michael seems contrived. Although this book targets middle-schoolers, those readers always asking for a scary story will be sorely disappointed with this one. It fails to deliver anything spine-tingling. Order if desired.
December 30, 2013
Thirteen-year-old Bernie just wants to know that she matters to someone. Not only has her mother taken to her bed after the death of Bernie's younger sibling, but her father is busy with the family's monument business. When the mysterious and talented Abbot Stein arrives on the scene and offers his services in carving headstones, Bernie doesn't trust him for a minute. It turns out that she's right to be suspicious of Stein since the town's citizens die as the result of his carvings or something even more mysterious. The determined, intrepid Bernie enlists the services of Michael Romano, a young neighbor who likes her despite her own quirkiness, in getting to the root of the mystery that surrounds Stein. Despite her intelligence and persistence, though, Bernie may have underestimated Stein. The book is filled with all sorts of spooky passages and supernatural goings-on. Middle grade readers may enjoy this one for the chills it will cause to run up their backs even while wondering what makes Stein take the chances he does.
May 14, 2014
This was a good story. The plot, climax, and ending were all great. However, this story was INCREDIBLY slow. Seriously, it could've been cut in half. I figure it was this way to have character development and set up the story, but it was too much. Too much time went by with nothing happening, or with not enough happening. I was on the verge of quitting the book because of how slow it was, but I was too interested to know what was going on to stop. So, the story was good and draws you in, but the rest is too slow.
I also didn't like that the author used incorrect grammar in order to make the character sound southern. For example, there was a sentence that said something like, "I didn't like him none." It really got on my nerves, especially since this book is for kids. The last thing we need to do is teach kids incorrect grammar.
I don't know, if I was kid like the target audience, maybe I would've liked it better and not minded the slow pace. Anyway, the plot is great, but the story is really slow. So I thought the book was just okay.
I also didn't like that the author used incorrect grammar in order to make the character sound southern. For example, there was a sentence that said something like, "I didn't like him none." It really got on my nerves, especially since this book is for kids. The last thing we need to do is teach kids incorrect grammar.
I don't know, if I was kid like the target audience, maybe I would've liked it better and not minded the slow pace. Anyway, the plot is great, but the story is really slow. So I thought the book was just okay.
June 14, 2016
This was an ok book. It was a good lead up, but the ending was just ok. It seemed so perfect that mom came to rescue her. While I liked the book, I don't feel invested into the characters.
School connections: history of monuments, etchings
Grades: 5-6: Girls
Google:
Thirteen-year-old Bernie's summer is looking pretty grim. It's hard to make friends when your family runs a monument company, and your backyard is littered with tombstones. It's even harder when your mother suddenly refuses to leave her room . . .
To make matters worse, her father has just hired a new artist to engrave the headstones--the creepy Mr. Stein. Bernie has a bad feeling about him right from the start, and after snooping around his cottage, she discovers an engraved portrait of their neighbor . . . a woman who promptly dies the next day. And it's not just a weird coincidence. The pattern continues, and Bernie realizes that Mr. Stein has begun engraving headstones before people die, which forces Bernie to ask a horrifying question: Is Mr. Stein predicting the deaths . . . or causing them?
School connections: history of monuments, etchings
Grades: 5-6: Girls
Google:
Thirteen-year-old Bernie's summer is looking pretty grim. It's hard to make friends when your family runs a monument company, and your backyard is littered with tombstones. It's even harder when your mother suddenly refuses to leave her room . . .
To make matters worse, her father has just hired a new artist to engrave the headstones--the creepy Mr. Stein. Bernie has a bad feeling about him right from the start, and after snooping around his cottage, she discovers an engraved portrait of their neighbor . . . a woman who promptly dies the next day. And it's not just a weird coincidence. The pattern continues, and Bernie realizes that Mr. Stein has begun engraving headstones before people die, which forces Bernie to ask a horrifying question: Is Mr. Stein predicting the deaths . . . or causing them?
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