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Fern's School for Wayward Fae #1
The Graveyard Gift
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER · Step into Fern’s School for Wayward Fae—where students are part human and part magical. A girl with peculiar abilities discovers nothing is what it seems when sinister forces causes one of her classmates to go missing. Perfect for fans of Wednesday.
A girl who knows how you die. Her banshee roommate who knows when it happens. And wishes that sometimes, maybe, come true. . . .
Rosemary Thorpe has always been a bit different. She has the uncanny and unfortunate ability to foresee people’s deaths, which tends to land her in hot water. Well, not actual hot water—where it lands her is a place between worlds called Fern’s School for Wayward Fae, where Rosemary learns that her powers come from being part fae.
At Fern's School, Rosemary meets others who are part fae—including Trym, her banshee roommate whose screams can kill, and Essie, a djinn who grants wishes. But just as Rosemary settles in, a student vanishes in thin air. And it’s up to all the kids to use their curious gifts to find their missing friend. . . .
A girl who knows how you die. Her banshee roommate who knows when it happens. And wishes that sometimes, maybe, come true. . . .
Rosemary Thorpe has always been a bit different. She has the uncanny and unfortunate ability to foresee people’s deaths, which tends to land her in hot water. Well, not actual hot water—where it lands her is a place between worlds called Fern’s School for Wayward Fae, where Rosemary learns that her powers come from being part fae.
At Fern's School, Rosemary meets others who are part fae—including Trym, her banshee roommate whose screams can kill, and Essie, a djinn who grants wishes. But just as Rosemary settles in, a student vanishes in thin air. And it’s up to all the kids to use their curious gifts to find their missing friend. . . .
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First published October 8, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
September 11, 2024
Wow oh wow oh wow. I absolutely devoured this book. It is perfectly written for the intended age range (middle grade) but I enjoyed it just as much as an adult.
I am a HUGE Piper C.J. fan and this book is a great example of why. This book does a wonderful job of retaining Piper’s usual complex but charming characters and beautifully described settings while using a voice that is appropriate for the intended audience. To me this book read like a TV show—I could very clearly see the setting and the school and each of the characters with their uniqueness and quirks.
Being the first book of the series, quite a bit of the first half sets up the world building and introduces us to all of the characters, but I flew through this book and did not feel like it drug on it all.
If the rest of the series was available, I would have immediately picked up book two. The book ends on a wonderful twist and cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read what happens next!
Thank you so much Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book! I can’t wait for my pre-order to come in the mail!! 💜
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 0/5
I am a HUGE Piper C.J. fan and this book is a great example of why. This book does a wonderful job of retaining Piper’s usual complex but charming characters and beautifully described settings while using a voice that is appropriate for the intended audience. To me this book read like a TV show—I could very clearly see the setting and the school and each of the characters with their uniqueness and quirks.
Being the first book of the series, quite a bit of the first half sets up the world building and introduces us to all of the characters, but I flew through this book and did not feel like it drug on it all.
If the rest of the series was available, I would have immediately picked up book two. The book ends on a wonderful twist and cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read what happens next!
Thank you so much Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book! I can’t wait for my pre-order to come in the mail!! 💜
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 0/5
April 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for the ARC of this book!
I'll start out my review by saying that this is a middle grade book. I requested and read it because I am a fan of Piper CJ and wanted to read what she had created. That being said, I had such a good time with this one. It's basically the fae/magic book I wish I had as a kid. Children who are part human and part magical are chosen to go to to Fern's School for Wayward Fae, where they can learn about their powers, the different realms, and ultimately make a choice on which world to live in after graduation. This is perfect for fans of the Wednesday series on Netflix. Rosemary is the main character in the book who has never quite fit in in the human world, as she has the ability to foresee people's deaths. She tries to "be normal" until one day she's found by Fern and given the choice to leave the human world. Now she's trying to find her place at Fern's school and has a part banshee roommate (the roommate here is the one with the Wednesday Addams vibes). Just as she settles in, a student disappears and some of the others band together to go into the forest to find them. Great setup for a magical series, highly recommend for middle grade readers looking to dive into the fantasy genre.
I'll start out my review by saying that this is a middle grade book. I requested and read it because I am a fan of Piper CJ and wanted to read what she had created. That being said, I had such a good time with this one. It's basically the fae/magic book I wish I had as a kid. Children who are part human and part magical are chosen to go to to Fern's School for Wayward Fae, where they can learn about their powers, the different realms, and ultimately make a choice on which world to live in after graduation. This is perfect for fans of the Wednesday series on Netflix. Rosemary is the main character in the book who has never quite fit in in the human world, as she has the ability to foresee people's deaths. She tries to "be normal" until one day she's found by Fern and given the choice to leave the human world. Now she's trying to find her place at Fern's school and has a part banshee roommate (the roommate here is the one with the Wednesday Addams vibes). Just as she settles in, a student disappears and some of the others band together to go into the forest to find them. Great setup for a magical series, highly recommend for middle grade readers looking to dive into the fantasy genre.
October 5, 2024
A 5 star middle grade novel!
This book was everything I could have hoped for and more for a fae focused middle grade novel. I loved the characters, I loved the school, I loved all the different fae realms, and I loved the way this book cleverly subverted some common fae tropes! It was such a fun book, but more than that, it was such a good book with fantastic writing, pacing, and development. I genuinely loved everything about it... except for the cliffhanger ending! Now I will be impatiently waiting for the next book, and this one isn't even published yet!
Overall, an excellent and enjoyable fantasy adventure series with a focus on found family, friendship, and acceptance that I highly recommend to any middle grade readers!
Pre-Read:
This book sounds like everything I would have wanted to read as a kid, and I'm genuinely so excited to read it now!
Thank you to Libro.fm for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook! Any opinions or reviews are completely voluntary.
This book was everything I could have hoped for and more for a fae focused middle grade novel. I loved the characters, I loved the school, I loved all the different fae realms, and I loved the way this book cleverly subverted some common fae tropes! It was such a fun book, but more than that, it was such a good book with fantastic writing, pacing, and development. I genuinely loved everything about it... except for the cliffhanger ending! Now I will be impatiently waiting for the next book, and this one isn't even published yet!
Overall, an excellent and enjoyable fantasy adventure series with a focus on found family, friendship, and acceptance that I highly recommend to any middle grade readers!
Pre-Read:
This book sounds like everything I would have wanted to read as a kid, and I'm genuinely so excited to read it now!
Thank you to Libro.fm for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook! Any opinions or reviews are completely voluntary.
March 14, 2025
Review Written by 11 Year Old Reviewer:
There was a lot wrong with this book, I don't know where to start. It started really slow with a lot of explanation but the other characters wouldn't explain things for a while- so I had no idea what was going on. It was hard to get through that part but then I thought it would get better and speed up. But it didn't.
There were also a lot of parts that I couldn't tell whose Point of View it was in and thought it was Rosemary and then realized it wasn't, so that was confusing. It also ended in a huge cliff hanger, which is annoying because there's not another book yet. It explained and built up to the big part and then ended- we never got to any exciting or cool parts.
Also, nothing really happened!! There was a lot of stuff that happened for NO REASON (that just added time to the book with no relevance). There needed to be a better plot that connected all of the other loose ends. For example: why did they fall into the ocean? Why did Essie get kidnapped? That was there for no reason and then it sounded scary like something was going to happen but nothing happened and they just left.
*I received a copy of this book for a review*
There was a lot wrong with this book, I don't know where to start. It started really slow with a lot of explanation but the other characters wouldn't explain things for a while- so I had no idea what was going on. It was hard to get through that part but then I thought it would get better and speed up. But it didn't.
There were also a lot of parts that I couldn't tell whose Point of View it was in and thought it was Rosemary and then realized it wasn't, so that was confusing. It also ended in a huge cliff hanger, which is annoying because there's not another book yet. It explained and built up to the big part and then ended- we never got to any exciting or cool parts.
Also, nothing really happened!! There was a lot of stuff that happened for NO REASON (that just added time to the book with no relevance). There needed to be a better plot that connected all of the other loose ends. For example: why did they fall into the ocean? Why did Essie get kidnapped? That was there for no reason and then it sounded scary like something was going to happen but nothing happened and they just left.
*I received a copy of this book for a review*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2025
J’ai lu, au fil de ma vie de lecteur, de très mauvais textes. Des romans bâclés, des intrigues paresseuses, des livres qui semblaient s’excuser d’exister. Mais je ne pensais pas, un jour, tomber sur un tel degré de médiocrité, et encore moins dans un roman destiné à la jeunesse. Car il y a, dans cette catégorie, une responsabilité particulière : celle de former, d’éveiller, de respecter l’intelligence de ses lecteurs. L’École des faes errantes échoue précisément là où elle aurait dû être la plus exigeante. Non par maladresse, mais par un nivellement volontaire, presque revendiqué, comme si l’on considérait que les jeunes lecteurs sont des esprits paresseux, prêts à avaler n’importe quelle promesse tant qu’elle est joliment emballée.
La quatrième de couverture, justement, est une promesse. Alléchante. Presque audacieuse. Deux adolescents dotés de pouvoirs extraordinaires : l’une voit comment les gens vont mourir, l’autre sait quand ils mourront. Voilà de quoi nourrir une réflexion sur la fatalité, le libre arbitre, la responsabilité morale du savoir. Voilà de quoi bâtir un roman troublant, profond, peut-être même dérangeant. Il faudra pourtant attendre plus de soixante-cinq pour cent du récit pour que le fameux pouvoir de Trym soit enfin évoqué. Et quelle révélation… Une déception à la hauteur de l’attente. Trym est une banshee. Une banshee qui sait qu’une personne va mourir si elle se met à crier. Un pouvoir non seulement d’une pauvreté désarmante, mais surtout d’une inutilité totale dans l’intrigue. Il n’influe sur rien, ne transforme rien, ne met jamais qui que ce soit en danger ou face à un dilemme. Il existe parce qu’il fallait bien justifier une ligne marketing. On découvre d’ailleurs que cette nature de banshee était explicitement mentionnée sur la quatrième de couverture de l’édition originale. Autrement dit, l’éditeur français a préféré nous rouler dans la farine plutôt que de nous dire la vérité.
Les incohérences narratives, elles, s’accumulent au fil des pages, comme si le temps, l’espace et la logique avaient été relégués au rang de détails accessoires. Dans le douzième chapitre, l’héroïne est présente à l’école des faes errantes depuis un mois. Dans le chapitre suivant, ce n’est plus qu’« à peine vingt jours ». Un peu plus loin, un personnage laisse une lettre pour annoncer qu’il part à la recherche de Rosemary dans le monde des humains, alors que celle-ci n’y a plus mis les pieds depuis des mois entiers. Quant aux explications entourant la disparition de l’élève censée constituer le cœur de l’intrigue, elles relèvent d’un bricolage narratif si maladroit qu’il en devient presque gênant. On ne cherche pas à comprendre. On demande au lecteur d’accepter.
Je suis parfaitement conscient que ce roman s’adresse à la jeunesse. Mais écrire pour les jeunes ne signifie pas écrire contre eux. Leur proposer une intrigue aussi creuse, aussi peu exigeante, revient à leur dire que l’imagination peut se passer de cohérence, que la magie dispense de réflexion, et que la facilité est une vertu. Quelle distance avec cette époque — pas si lointaine — où l’on lisait Harry Potter à huit ans sans en saisir toutes les subtilités, mais où chaque page ouvrait une porte, stimulait la curiosité, nourrissait l’envie de comprendre davantage le monde, les autres et soi-même.
Un exemple résume à lui seul ce nivellement par le bas : l’héroïne se retrouve en pleine mer, sans savoir nager. Elle pense alors, littéralement : « Ce serait marrant d’être sauvée par une sirène. » Et aussitôt — miracle de la paresse narrative — une sirène surgit et la sauve. Aucun enjeu. Aucune tension. Aucun sens. La scène n’apporte rien à l’intrigue, mais permet d’ajouter quelques lignes inutiles à un récit déjà famélique. La magie n’est plus un langage symbolique ou une métaphore du réel : elle devient un bouton “solution immédiate”.
L’École des faes errantes propose finalement une intrigue qui aurait pu tenir en quelques mots : une fille voit la mort des gens, ce don ne sert à rien ; un élève disparaît ; elle le retrouve et le sauve en trois pages. Et c’est tout. Les deux cent quarante pages restantes n’apportent ni profondeur, ni émotion durable, ni questionnement. On referme le livre avec le sentiment amer d’avoir perdu du temps — et pire encore, avec l’impression que l’on aurait pu donner aux jeunes lecteurs bien mieux, bien plus haut, bien plus juste.
Écrire pour la jeunesse devrait être un acte de confiance. Ici, c’est un renoncement.
Benjamin L. Urbanski – Le Parfum des Mots
13 décembre 2025
La quatrième de couverture, justement, est une promesse. Alléchante. Presque audacieuse. Deux adolescents dotés de pouvoirs extraordinaires : l’une voit comment les gens vont mourir, l’autre sait quand ils mourront. Voilà de quoi nourrir une réflexion sur la fatalité, le libre arbitre, la responsabilité morale du savoir. Voilà de quoi bâtir un roman troublant, profond, peut-être même dérangeant. Il faudra pourtant attendre plus de soixante-cinq pour cent du récit pour que le fameux pouvoir de Trym soit enfin évoqué. Et quelle révélation… Une déception à la hauteur de l’attente. Trym est une banshee. Une banshee qui sait qu’une personne va mourir si elle se met à crier. Un pouvoir non seulement d’une pauvreté désarmante, mais surtout d’une inutilité totale dans l’intrigue. Il n’influe sur rien, ne transforme rien, ne met jamais qui que ce soit en danger ou face à un dilemme. Il existe parce qu’il fallait bien justifier une ligne marketing. On découvre d’ailleurs que cette nature de banshee était explicitement mentionnée sur la quatrième de couverture de l’édition originale. Autrement dit, l’éditeur français a préféré nous rouler dans la farine plutôt que de nous dire la vérité.
Les incohérences narratives, elles, s’accumulent au fil des pages, comme si le temps, l’espace et la logique avaient été relégués au rang de détails accessoires. Dans le douzième chapitre, l’héroïne est présente à l’école des faes errantes depuis un mois. Dans le chapitre suivant, ce n’est plus qu’« à peine vingt jours ». Un peu plus loin, un personnage laisse une lettre pour annoncer qu’il part à la recherche de Rosemary dans le monde des humains, alors que celle-ci n’y a plus mis les pieds depuis des mois entiers. Quant aux explications entourant la disparition de l’élève censée constituer le cœur de l’intrigue, elles relèvent d’un bricolage narratif si maladroit qu’il en devient presque gênant. On ne cherche pas à comprendre. On demande au lecteur d’accepter.
Je suis parfaitement conscient que ce roman s’adresse à la jeunesse. Mais écrire pour les jeunes ne signifie pas écrire contre eux. Leur proposer une intrigue aussi creuse, aussi peu exigeante, revient à leur dire que l’imagination peut se passer de cohérence, que la magie dispense de réflexion, et que la facilité est une vertu. Quelle distance avec cette époque — pas si lointaine — où l’on lisait Harry Potter à huit ans sans en saisir toutes les subtilités, mais où chaque page ouvrait une porte, stimulait la curiosité, nourrissait l’envie de comprendre davantage le monde, les autres et soi-même.
Un exemple résume à lui seul ce nivellement par le bas : l’héroïne se retrouve en pleine mer, sans savoir nager. Elle pense alors, littéralement : « Ce serait marrant d’être sauvée par une sirène. » Et aussitôt — miracle de la paresse narrative — une sirène surgit et la sauve. Aucun enjeu. Aucune tension. Aucun sens. La scène n’apporte rien à l’intrigue, mais permet d’ajouter quelques lignes inutiles à un récit déjà famélique. La magie n’est plus un langage symbolique ou une métaphore du réel : elle devient un bouton “solution immédiate”.
L’École des faes errantes propose finalement une intrigue qui aurait pu tenir en quelques mots : une fille voit la mort des gens, ce don ne sert à rien ; un élève disparaît ; elle le retrouve et le sauve en trois pages. Et c’est tout. Les deux cent quarante pages restantes n’apportent ni profondeur, ni émotion durable, ni questionnement. On referme le livre avec le sentiment amer d’avoir perdu du temps — et pire encore, avec l’impression que l’on aurait pu donner aux jeunes lecteurs bien mieux, bien plus haut, bien plus juste.
Écrire pour la jeunesse devrait être un acte de confiance. Ici, c’est un renoncement.
Benjamin L. Urbanski – Le Parfum des Mots
13 décembre 2025
April 6, 2024
Once in a while, typically after I've had a couple of intense reads in a row, I find myself entering the realm of children's literature as a bit of a palate cleanser. Very often, I find myself immersing myself in the world of middle-grade fiction as I have several friends who've written middle-grade novels and I've grown to love them.
So, I eagerly anticipated the opportunity to check out "The Graveyard Gift (Fern's School for Wayward Fae)," a middle-grade novel by Fern Forgettable as told by Piper CJ.
Early in "The Graveyard Gift," we're introduced to young Rosemary Thorpe, a youth who has always bee more than a little bit different. She possesses a gift of sorts - the ability to foresee people's deaths.
It's not the kind of gift that really makes one popular.
In rather quick order, she finds herself at Fern's School for Wayward Fae - a special school where students are part human and part magical. Surrounded by others who are different just like her, she goes about trying to find her place at the school so that she can find her place in the world.
There's never really a moment when "The Graveyard Gift" doesn't feel like it's moving toward franchise-building. As we're introduced to Rosemary's classmates, we feel the adventures beginning even if they don't feel entirely fleshed out in "The Graveyard Gift." If my assumption is correct, future titles will likely flesh out these characters and this universe.
There's Trym, Rosemary's roommate with banshee screams that can kill. There's Essie, a djinn who grants wishes. There are others. Some are developed better than others.
Just as Rosemary begins to get setttled in, one of the students vanishes. Our adventure demands that are students use their individual gifts to find their missing friend.
"The Graveyard Gift" often feels like a cross of Harry Potter meets X-Men, though it lacks the richness of the Potter novels and especially the complex and layered character development. It's perhaps closer to an X-Men cousin, a story that takes us into a safe place for those who have been outsiders can learn to use their gifts in appropriate ways.
I kept expecting there would come a moment when I found myself immersed in "The Graveyard Gift." That moment, unfortunately, never really arrived. Yet, there's remarkable potential here and I'm intrigued enough that I would likely read future efforts should they arrive. The novel may very well be better recognized as a cousin to "Wednesday," a dark yet brightly realized story with characters who have room to grow and adventures yet to come.
So, I eagerly anticipated the opportunity to check out "The Graveyard Gift (Fern's School for Wayward Fae)," a middle-grade novel by Fern Forgettable as told by Piper CJ.
Early in "The Graveyard Gift," we're introduced to young Rosemary Thorpe, a youth who has always bee more than a little bit different. She possesses a gift of sorts - the ability to foresee people's deaths.
It's not the kind of gift that really makes one popular.
In rather quick order, she finds herself at Fern's School for Wayward Fae - a special school where students are part human and part magical. Surrounded by others who are different just like her, she goes about trying to find her place at the school so that she can find her place in the world.
There's never really a moment when "The Graveyard Gift" doesn't feel like it's moving toward franchise-building. As we're introduced to Rosemary's classmates, we feel the adventures beginning even if they don't feel entirely fleshed out in "The Graveyard Gift." If my assumption is correct, future titles will likely flesh out these characters and this universe.
There's Trym, Rosemary's roommate with banshee screams that can kill. There's Essie, a djinn who grants wishes. There are others. Some are developed better than others.
Just as Rosemary begins to get setttled in, one of the students vanishes. Our adventure demands that are students use their individual gifts to find their missing friend.
"The Graveyard Gift" often feels like a cross of Harry Potter meets X-Men, though it lacks the richness of the Potter novels and especially the complex and layered character development. It's perhaps closer to an X-Men cousin, a story that takes us into a safe place for those who have been outsiders can learn to use their gifts in appropriate ways.
I kept expecting there would come a moment when I found myself immersed in "The Graveyard Gift." That moment, unfortunately, never really arrived. Yet, there's remarkable potential here and I'm intrigued enough that I would likely read future efforts should they arrive. The novel may very well be better recognized as a cousin to "Wednesday," a dark yet brightly realized story with characters who have room to grow and adventures yet to come.
July 18, 2024
A really well written MG book. The characters were all wonderfully quirky, the world was well built, the narrator/“author” was absolutely delightful and original, etc. Only rating 4 instead of 5 stars because of how this book is obviously the first in a series and so spends the majority of its time world building and not much “happens.” All that said, it was a very enjoyable read and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one.
October 8, 2024
I’m so excited to share a new fantasy adventure series for middle grade readers!
A world that feels whimsical and fun to explore alongside an array of memorable characters. Think dark academia meets magical creatures. I too wish I could stroll the halls of Fern’s School of Wayward Fae. Strong themes of found family & friendship…With a bit of a cliffhanger ending that will have you wishing for book 2!
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A world that feels whimsical and fun to explore alongside an array of memorable characters. Think dark academia meets magical creatures. I too wish I could stroll the halls of Fern’s School of Wayward Fae. Strong themes of found family & friendship…With a bit of a cliffhanger ending that will have you wishing for book 2!
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
October 8, 2024
This was so enchanting, if you’re looking for a book that will make you forget reality this is the perfect read. Full of adventure and such a wonderful magic system. Not only the cover is absolutely stunning, the story will swipe you up your feet.
In the beginning we meet Rosemary Thorpe, and she isn’t your typical girl. She has the unique ability to predict when people will perish. Rosemary lives a very lonely life because of this, she is home schooled by her mother and doesn’t have any friends. Until one day, something so unfortunate happens that her mother send her away to a special clinic. Only she never gets there, she is taken to Fern’s School for Wayward Fae. Yes you read right, Rosemary is half human half fae. As soon as she gets there she’ll have to adjust to her new life and learn who to trust and how to control her abilities. I couldn’t believe that ending, now I’ll be patiently waiting for the sequel.
In the beginning we meet Rosemary Thorpe, and she isn’t your typical girl. She has the unique ability to predict when people will perish. Rosemary lives a very lonely life because of this, she is home schooled by her mother and doesn’t have any friends. Until one day, something so unfortunate happens that her mother send her away to a special clinic. Only she never gets there, she is taken to Fern’s School for Wayward Fae. Yes you read right, Rosemary is half human half fae. As soon as she gets there she’ll have to adjust to her new life and learn who to trust and how to control her abilities. I couldn’t believe that ending, now I’ll be patiently waiting for the sequel.
July 14, 2025
współpraca reklamowa z @wydawnictwonowabasn
To był ovos, czego potrzebowałam po długiej przerwie nie czytania fantastyki. Aż żałuję, że jest taka krótka!! Z przyjemnością przeczytałabym więcej i nie znudziłoby mi się. To jest rodzaj powieści, gdzie pragniesz czytać więcej i więcej i nie chcesz kończyć, ciągle myślisz o niej w pozytywach. Lekka fantastyczna młodzieżówka z dawką humoru 🤭
To był ovos, czego potrzebowałam po długiej przerwie nie czytania fantastyki. Aż żałuję, że jest taka krótka!! Z przyjemnością przeczytałabym więcej i nie znudziłoby mi się. To jest rodzaj powieści, gdzie pragniesz czytać więcej i więcej i nie chcesz kończyć, ciągle myślisz o niej w pozytywach. Lekka fantastyczna młodzieżówka z dawką humoru 🤭
April 16, 2025
A fun middle grade story that reminded me a little of Percy Jackson and Chronicles of Narnia. I liked the idea of demifae and it was cool to see each of the kids unique powers.
The story was quick, easy to read and likable.
The story was quick, easy to read and likable.
July 8, 2024
Thanks @randomhousekids for the ARC!
This was a really cute middle grade fantasy story with a creative plot and fun world! I really liked getting to know the students and thought Rosemary was an easy to root for MC. Some of the side characters were more developed than others, but as the first book in the series I would assume that will change in future books. There are some dark topics to the plot, the MC sees how people will die, but it is done in an age appropriate way for middle grade readers. I loved the found family elements and am in need of a pet siboo like Wiggles!!
The only downside for me on this was the ending is very abrupt and left me with mostly unanswered questions. I think there could’ve been a bit more closure while still having a cliffhanger ending. I still really enjoyed this and will definitely look forward to reading the next book in the series.
This was a really cute middle grade fantasy story with a creative plot and fun world! I really liked getting to know the students and thought Rosemary was an easy to root for MC. Some of the side characters were more developed than others, but as the first book in the series I would assume that will change in future books. There are some dark topics to the plot, the MC sees how people will die, but it is done in an age appropriate way for middle grade readers. I loved the found family elements and am in need of a pet siboo like Wiggles!!
The only downside for me on this was the ending is very abrupt and left me with mostly unanswered questions. I think there could’ve been a bit more closure while still having a cliffhanger ending. I still really enjoyed this and will definitely look forward to reading the next book in the series.
June 27, 2025
Varasin tämän kirjan luultuani sitä sarjakuvaksi kannen perusteella. Kirjoistahan voi siis lukea lisätietoa ennen varaamista… Sarjakuvahan tämä ei ollut, mutta jälleen yksi todella satunnainen englanninkielinen lastenkirja josta tykkäsin! Taikakoulu ja hahmokaarti hurmaavat vaikka maailman logiikka ei vielä päätä huimaa. Hurjia seikkailuja ja oman identiteetin kanssa hapuilua ja harjoittelua. Lopussa tuli kohta, josta en oikein ymmärrä että skippasinko vahingossa jotain, mutta luulen että se selviäisi seuraavassa osassa. Olisin aika varmasti rakastanut tätä nuorempana. Nähdäkseni aika nuorillekin lukijoille sopiva. Lue jos haluat jotain maagista.
May 17, 2024
You know it's a good book when you immediately start screaming at the author about how mad you are at them for ending it. How dare. Within just the first few chapters, Piper CJ has managed to create a world and characters that immediately draw you in and keep you invested the whole time. This may be her first foray into middle grade books, but it doesn't feel like it. This is just as magical and engaging as her adult novels and feels just as intrinsically Piper as everything else she writes. I cannot WAIT to read more about Fern's in the rest of the series.
March 10, 2025
dnf @ 14% when a deaf character was introduced as an "excellent lip reader" with a "beautiful speaking voice."
these are macroaggressions and i am so sick of the rhetoric that every deaf secondary character must be good at lip reading because of the deficit of the main characters.
lip reading at expert level is only 70% accurate. a deaf accent is not a bad thing. books like this plant the idea that if a deaf person can lip read, they don't need an interpreter and hurts the deaf community.
i don't even care if this gets better in the book, it's not written by a deaf author so i'm out.
these are macroaggressions and i am so sick of the rhetoric that every deaf secondary character must be good at lip reading because of the deficit of the main characters.
lip reading at expert level is only 70% accurate. a deaf accent is not a bad thing. books like this plant the idea that if a deaf person can lip read, they don't need an interpreter and hurts the deaf community.
i don't even care if this gets better in the book, it's not written by a deaf author so i'm out.
January 30, 2025
I always feel awful about leaving a bad review for a middle-grade book, and since I'm obviously not the target audience for this book, please take this with a grain of salt.
The Graveyard Gift started out promising, but ultimately just didn't deliver. It doesn't do anything original with its boarding school of magical misfits, which would be fine if it didn't have other issues, such as a huge amount of telling without showing (even for a middle-grade book). Rosemary and Essie are best friends suddenly without any build-up, for example. I also was told over and over again that the Seelie versus Unseelie debate was dangerous and important, but it never went beyond a bit of squabbling between kids; I never truly felt the threat. The school itself felt underdeveloped and therefore, unfortunately, rather boring. Add to that that this book's end didn't feel so much as a cliffhanger as the author forgetting to write the final few chapters, and I'm afraid we end up with a novel that just really didn't work for me.
The Graveyard Gift started out promising, but ultimately just didn't deliver. It doesn't do anything original with its boarding school of magical misfits, which would be fine if it didn't have other issues, such as a huge amount of telling without showing (even for a middle-grade book). Rosemary and Essie are best friends suddenly without any build-up, for example. I also was told over and over again that the Seelie versus Unseelie debate was dangerous and important, but it never went beyond a bit of squabbling between kids; I never truly felt the threat. The school itself felt underdeveloped and therefore, unfortunately, rather boring. Add to that that this book's end didn't feel so much as a cliffhanger as the author forgetting to write the final few chapters, and I'm afraid we end up with a novel that just really didn't work for me.
October 25, 2025
Rosemary has an unusual gift that causes her mother and, indeed, everyone she interacts with to be very uncomfortable around her. You see, she can see when and how people die. Her mom sends her away, and as she makes her way to the institution, she gets snatched into a different world of fea and other creatures. Rosemary ends up at Fern’s School for Wayward Fae and learns that she is a Demifae because her mother is human, but her father was some sort of fae. As she makes friends for the first time in her life, she is suddenly thrust into a mystery because one of her friends goes missing. Can she and her new friends find Esse in time and get back to the school unharmed? This cute fantasy book is the first in the Fern’s School of Wayward Fae series, written by Piper C.J.
October 11, 2024
Oh how lucky middle grade readers are to have this story entering their worlds!!
Reminiscent of Home for Peculiar Children, there’s nothing like a bunch of sorta spooky children being carted off to a school to learn more about their abilities and the worlds outside the ones they were born 👀
Great characters coming into their own - what more can you ask for?
Reminiscent of Home for Peculiar Children, there’s nothing like a bunch of sorta spooky children being carted off to a school to learn more about their abilities and the worlds outside the ones they were born 👀
Great characters coming into their own - what more can you ask for?
December 27, 2025
Fun light read. Cute
October 6, 2024
Unfortunately, I'm afraid this book just wasn't for me. their were individual parts and pieces of it that I admired - interesting, complicated characters, fun fantasy world - but it read like a story that had an interesting, intriguing set up, a missing middle and a non-ending. Rosemary is thrust into the strange world of Fern's School for Wayward Fae, which she finds both fascinating and confusing. Readers learn what they can about the school as Rosemary does and are introduced to a colorful and interesting cast of characters. Most of Rosemary's questions (and ours) remain unanswered as the story abruptly jumps ahead several weeks, when her closest friend disappears from the school. Rosemary's convinced her friends is an in danger, and she recruits a few classmates to risk untold dangers to stage a rescue. The group travels through several perilous and fascinating realms in a sequence of the novel which, while episodic, is never dull. The group achieves their goal of rescuing their classmate, who is indeed in peril, and almost home free/back to the school, when Rosemary suddenly winds up in yet another realm that seems to be the most dangerous and sinister...and then the book ends. There is a bookended epilogue (that matches the first chapter introduction of Rosemary) written by "author" Fern Forgettable that teases further adventures in what I gather is planned subsequent books in the series. But I call flag on the play because the book 1 adventure is never really completed, making The Graveyard Gift feel more like a TV series pilot than a legitimate start to a fantasy book series.
I imagine young readers would enjoy these characters and the world(s) they inhabit, but they may be frustrated waiting for subsequent books due to the story's lack of a real, book 1 resolution.
I imagine young readers would enjoy these characters and the world(s) they inhabit, but they may be frustrated waiting for subsequent books due to the story's lack of a real, book 1 resolution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📚 physical book
I don't read a lot of YA or MG books, but as this one was written by one of my favorite authors, I knew I'd want to read this one.
To no surprise, it was absolutely delightful! Easy to read, a sweet story, magic and suspense, all the things you'd want in a middle grade story. If you're looking for a series about kids at a magical school that isn't written by a TERF, this is a perfect replacement!
The next installment will be released in May, and I'm looking forward to picking it up!
Format: 📚 physical book
I don't read a lot of YA or MG books, but as this one was written by one of my favorite authors, I knew I'd want to read this one.
To no surprise, it was absolutely delightful! Easy to read, a sweet story, magic and suspense, all the things you'd want in a middle grade story. If you're looking for a series about kids at a magical school that isn't written by a TERF, this is a perfect replacement!
The next installment will be released in May, and I'm looking forward to picking it up!
December 23, 2025
✨️ Które fantastyczne stworzenia należą do waszych ulubionych?
Ja od zawsze mam słabość do czarownic, i wróżek. Lubię sięgać po książki zarówno dla młodszych (o tym chyba wszyscy wiedzą👀) , jak i starszych czytelników, w których to właśnie oni grają główne role. Dlatego jak widzicie obok tej historii też nie mogłam przejść obojętnie. Kogo tym razem spotkałam na swojej czytelniczej drodze?
Tym razem przeniosłam się do „Szkoły dla krnąbrnych wróżek. Tom pierwszy Cmentarny dar” Piper CJ, gdzie poznałam Rosemary Thorpe, dziewczynkę, która od dziecka nosi w sobie dar raczej przerażający niż wyjątkowy. Rosemary potrafi zobaczyć, jak ktoś umrze, zanim to się naprawdę wydarzy. Jej życie zmienia się, gdy poznaje tajemniczą Fern i trafia do niezwykłej szkoły dla wróżek, duchów, dżinów i innych fantastycznych istot. Tam w końcu odnajduje swoje miejsce, nawiązuje przyjaźnie i wyrusza w podróż między światami o jakiej nigdy nie śniła.
Ta krótka powieść dla młodszych czytelników okazała się wciągającą, ciekawą i pouczającą historią o tym, jak trudno radzić sobie z odrzuceniem przez bliskich i rówieśników. Opowiada też o odkrywaniu własnej tożsamości, o sile przyjaźni i o tym, jak ważne jest, by znaleźć swoje miejsce w świecie. Nie znajdziecie tu rozbudowanego magicznego świata, ale za to poznacie świetnych uczniów magicznej szkoły, którzy zapewnią wam rozrywkę na najwyższym poziomie. Od początku do prawie samego końca książki bawiłam się świetnie. Na zakończenie autorka postanowiła zafundować cliffhangera, za czym nie przepadam 🤣 ale cóż mogę zrobić? Chyba tylko wypatrywać kolejnego tomu, którego jestem szalenie ciekawa.
Komu polecam tę książkę? Zarówno młodszym (9+), jak i starszym czytelnikom. Wierzę, że motywy przyjaźni, odrzucenia, odnalezionej rodziny i magii spodobają się wielu czytelnikom i każdy wyciągnie z tej historii to, co najlepsze z niecierpliwością oczekując na ciąg dalszy przygód bohaterów. Polecam z całego serca🩷.
Ja od zawsze mam słabość do czarownic, i wróżek. Lubię sięgać po książki zarówno dla młodszych (o tym chyba wszyscy wiedzą👀) , jak i starszych czytelników, w których to właśnie oni grają główne role. Dlatego jak widzicie obok tej historii też nie mogłam przejść obojętnie. Kogo tym razem spotkałam na swojej czytelniczej drodze?
Tym razem przeniosłam się do „Szkoły dla krnąbrnych wróżek. Tom pierwszy Cmentarny dar” Piper CJ, gdzie poznałam Rosemary Thorpe, dziewczynkę, która od dziecka nosi w sobie dar raczej przerażający niż wyjątkowy. Rosemary potrafi zobaczyć, jak ktoś umrze, zanim to się naprawdę wydarzy. Jej życie zmienia się, gdy poznaje tajemniczą Fern i trafia do niezwykłej szkoły dla wróżek, duchów, dżinów i innych fantastycznych istot. Tam w końcu odnajduje swoje miejsce, nawiązuje przyjaźnie i wyrusza w podróż między światami o jakiej nigdy nie śniła.
Ta krótka powieść dla młodszych czytelników okazała się wciągającą, ciekawą i pouczającą historią o tym, jak trudno radzić sobie z odrzuceniem przez bliskich i rówieśników. Opowiada też o odkrywaniu własnej tożsamości, o sile przyjaźni i o tym, jak ważne jest, by znaleźć swoje miejsce w świecie. Nie znajdziecie tu rozbudowanego magicznego świata, ale za to poznacie świetnych uczniów magicznej szkoły, którzy zapewnią wam rozrywkę na najwyższym poziomie. Od początku do prawie samego końca książki bawiłam się świetnie. Na zakończenie autorka postanowiła zafundować cliffhangera, za czym nie przepadam 🤣 ale cóż mogę zrobić? Chyba tylko wypatrywać kolejnego tomu, którego jestem szalenie ciekawa.
Komu polecam tę książkę? Zarówno młodszym (9+), jak i starszym czytelnikom. Wierzę, że motywy przyjaźni, odrzucenia, odnalezionej rodziny i magii spodobają się wielu czytelnikom i każdy wyciągnie z tej historii to, co najlepsze z niecierpliwością oczekując na ciąg dalszy przygód bohaterów. Polecam z całego serca🩷.
September 22, 2024
To say I was impressed and entertained by “The Graveyard Gift” by Piper CJ may be an understatement as I devoured the entire thing in one sitting! I was completely drawn into Fern’s whimsical, & slightly spooky, School for Wayward Fae. Fern’s gives off a dark academia vibe akin to “Wednesday,” “Harry Potter,” & “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children;” from the magically altered, & possibly sentient, school building itself, to its menagerie of rehabilitated magical creatures, to the grand library that curiously houses a swarm of luna moths, to the mystical demifae students themselves. CJ continues her trend of masterfully infusing her characters with complex emotions that cut right to the core of the human experience. CJ consistently manages to make the reader feel seen, whether it be through her unique & eloquent detailing of joy, trauma, or even the nuance surrounding the use of sign language due to the hearing loss of one of the characters. The character growth of the FMC, Rosemary, as well as her companions, is beautifully portrayed. The pacing of the book is a solid medium with a slight uptick near the end. CJ’s ability to seamlessly blend world-building with plot & intrigue to move the story forward is part of what makes “The Graveyard Gift” such a compelling read. The book does end on a cliff hanger, leaving a few rather sinister mysteries unsolved while adding some new ones to the list as well! Overall, I highly recommend “The Graveyard Gift” as a cozy, whimsical, & slightly spooky Middle Grade read for children & adults alike. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Fern, Rosemary, & the rest of the gang in book 2!
August 16, 2024
With a touch of "Wednesday", a sprinkle of "Keeper of the Lost Cities" and a smidge of "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" this new series will be a hit with 9-14 year olds for love magic, mystery and a tiny bit of spookiness.
Rosemary has always done her best to be a good child. She helps at home, never makes trouble and tries hard at school but none of that is enough. No-one wants to be friends with the girl who tells you how you are going to die. Over the years Rosemary has learned to stop telling people and instead writes her visions in a journal. Her mother feels that rosemary's only chance is being sent to an institution; after all what normal 12-year-old thinks of nothing but death and dying?
Scared and feeling betrayed Rosemary takes an offer from a stranger.
Dropped into a new, magical world, Rosemary discovers her visions are a gift from the father she has never met and who definitely is not human. With new friends, a school that wants her to harness her power, Rosemary is finally discovering where she belongs but there is a vague threat hanging over Fern's School for Wayward Fae and Rosemary is going to have to learn fast!
This is a promising start for a series and will be great for kids who love a mild level of spookiness with their adventure and action!
Rosemary has always done her best to be a good child. She helps at home, never makes trouble and tries hard at school but none of that is enough. No-one wants to be friends with the girl who tells you how you are going to die. Over the years Rosemary has learned to stop telling people and instead writes her visions in a journal. Her mother feels that rosemary's only chance is being sent to an institution; after all what normal 12-year-old thinks of nothing but death and dying?
Scared and feeling betrayed Rosemary takes an offer from a stranger.
Dropped into a new, magical world, Rosemary discovers her visions are a gift from the father she has never met and who definitely is not human. With new friends, a school that wants her to harness her power, Rosemary is finally discovering where she belongs but there is a vague threat hanging over Fern's School for Wayward Fae and Rosemary is going to have to learn fast!
This is a promising start for a series and will be great for kids who love a mild level of spookiness with their adventure and action!
September 8, 2024
Even though Rosemary has learned to not blurt out her predictions of death whenever she gets a vision, her mother is still uncomfortable and decides to send her daughter away to a mental institution. But Fern steps in and sends Rose to a school for demi-fae instead. Rosemary tries to fit in, but conflicting political alliances and hurt feelings run much deeper than Rosemary can discover, and it seems that the borders aren't as safe as her teachers would like her to believe.
Well, I love the dedication, I love the characters, I love the lore, and the premise is pretty cool. But this absolutely feels like chapter 1 of a much larger book. The epilogue acknowledges that there are quite a few pieces missing, but I still feel let down. We've solved several mysteries that I didn't care about but none that I do care about. This is the worst kind of cliffhanger ending, and I won't stand for it. But I'll absolutely be reading the sequel. Truly, the characters are very compelling, and I want to spend more time in this playful and dangerous fae world. I'm still baffled why the title is "the Graveyard Gift" though?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Well, I love the dedication, I love the characters, I love the lore, and the premise is pretty cool. But this absolutely feels like chapter 1 of a much larger book. The epilogue acknowledges that there are quite a few pieces missing, but I still feel let down. We've solved several mysteries that I didn't care about but none that I do care about. This is the worst kind of cliffhanger ending, and I won't stand for it. But I'll absolutely be reading the sequel. Truly, the characters are very compelling, and I want to spend more time in this playful and dangerous fae world. I'm still baffled why the title is "the Graveyard Gift" though?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 20, 2024
Rosemary is different from other kids, really different, she can see how people die. After years of this her mother just does not know what to do so she calls in the psychiatric Dr to take her to their asylum. Rosemary knows that is no good so when a strange person seemingly pops in and gives Rosemary a choice to go to a special school or go with the Doctor of course Rosemary picks the school, how bad can that be? Maybe having a banshee for a roommate isn’t the greatest but Rosemary does learn where her special sight comes from, her father she’s never known being Fae. But when one of her only friends goes missing she must rely on others to help her get him back.
This is a great book that shows teamwork, trust, and friendship. This book is also a good beginning book to the world of Fae. The language is still plain (words that are English and not fantasy) that will help neurodivergent readers stay engaged. The characters are so well thought out and bring a lot to the book. There is so much action and suspense it will keep you up past your bedtime to see what happens next. I can’t wait to see (read) the team in action again in the next book.
Review copy supplied by Netgalley
This is a great book that shows teamwork, trust, and friendship. This book is also a good beginning book to the world of Fae. The language is still plain (words that are English and not fantasy) that will help neurodivergent readers stay engaged. The characters are so well thought out and bring a lot to the book. There is so much action and suspense it will keep you up past your bedtime to see what happens next. I can’t wait to see (read) the team in action again in the next book.
Review copy supplied by Netgalley
October 13, 2024
Middle grade readers are going to eat this one up!
Imagine Percy Jackson at Miss Peregrine's.
Creepy magic school, teens with secrets - and gifts, but also a tremendous sense of humor!
I mean, this book is dedicated to Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. And every moment that follows is a gem.
"I'm not a liar. Not exactly. But it would be a mistake to expect the truth from a fairy."
Honestly, this book is what we all wanted Artemis Fowl to be. Fae and fun and action-packed. With a dark creeptastic factor (clowns, anyone?).
Rosemary is an absolutely fantastic main character, and readers of every age will love her. (HP who?)
More than anything, this book made me recall my own childhood fascination with finding mushrooms and fairy rings in the woods around my home. What a magical childhood.
Highly recommend this one! Can't wait for more!
"Silence had a sound. It was an odd thought, but in the absence of throbbing music, shrill screams, loud animals, and flashing lights & motion, the Lost Woods practically vibrated with suffocating quiet."
Imagine Percy Jackson at Miss Peregrine's.
Creepy magic school, teens with secrets - and gifts, but also a tremendous sense of humor!
I mean, this book is dedicated to Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. And every moment that follows is a gem.
"I'm not a liar. Not exactly. But it would be a mistake to expect the truth from a fairy."
Honestly, this book is what we all wanted Artemis Fowl to be. Fae and fun and action-packed. With a dark creeptastic factor (clowns, anyone?).
Rosemary is an absolutely fantastic main character, and readers of every age will love her. (HP who?)
More than anything, this book made me recall my own childhood fascination with finding mushrooms and fairy rings in the woods around my home. What a magical childhood.
Highly recommend this one! Can't wait for more!
"Silence had a sound. It was an odd thought, but in the absence of throbbing music, shrill screams, loud animals, and flashing lights & motion, the Lost Woods practically vibrated with suffocating quiet."
October 13, 2024
I absolutely loved this book and this introduction to Fern's School for Wayward Fae. The story starts out with Fern speaking to us the readers and immediately pulled me into the world that I was enthralled by from beginning to end. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book and I felt that they really added to the story. I feel like the reader was left with just enough questions to want to read more (I've already pre-ordered the next book!) and this is a great read for the age group its intended for but also something older ages can enjoy. I did see some reviews that didn't understand certain parts and I feel like they just missed those explanations because I don't feel like anything important was left unanswered. Anything I'm still questioning was intentional by the author to answer in later books. I am a big fan of Piper CJ and any direction she goes I will follow. I can't wait to read more about the kids of Fern's School and dive into the adventures they're bound to go on.
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