The Grave of Lainey Grace

by Aaron Galvin

Every year, when the last leaf of summer falls, roses are laid at the grave of Lainey Grace. No one knows who steals into the cemetery after the gates are closed and locked, least of all the head groundskeeper, Bob.
When Bob is warned he’ll be fired if the rose-givers sneak in again, his ten-year-old granddaughter, Briar Ann Wade, decides to find out who the perpetrators are and why they only come each fall.
Briar discovers the answer to the mystery only to learn, as her grandpa says, grief and love take many forms…and there is healing in both.

Genres: Amazon, Fiction

234 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Aaron Galvin learned that he could get away with making up stories at age five and has continued telling them ever since. He is a conflicted Slytherin/Gryffindor, a known rascal, and sometime ne’er-do-well.

Also, he writes. Daily, sometimes, but mostly nightly.

He currently lives in Southern California with his two lovely daughters and an adoring wife, who continues to put up with his antics even though he doesn’t write the kissy-kissy, ‘everyone lived happily ever after’ books of which she much prefers.

Drop him a line ➜ aaron@aarongalvin.com
Visit his website ➜ aarongalvin.com
Send a tweet ➜ @aarongalvin5
Instagram➜ /galvinaaron/
Like the Aaron Galvin Facebook page ➜ facebook.com/aarongalvinauthor/

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful and fresh read! Review coming soon!

Thank you netgalley for giving me a copy in exchange of a honest review!

This gem here is one of the most unique book I've ever read in quite a while. I love how it blends middle grade, fantasy and all of a sudden it just bombs you with so many feels all at while that you are left wondering, "what the heck just happened???"

I love how this book takes place in 3 years time; it's really nice to see how the environment and the characters have changed to become who they are, and how it all contributed to the story. I also enjoyed the addition of new characters later on in the story, as it made me understand the story more and becoming more invested emotionally.

The only thing I didn't quite enjoy is the fact that most of the characters talk in this accent that I quite cannot understand, and I know that it adds authenticity to the novel, but as I am not used to reading, or talking like that, well... it was a little hard for me. Nonetheless this did not really affect me in the long run because I understood what they were saying quite clearly after reading more pages.

Also, this book made me cry. If you have read it, then you would surely understand why. But it was sooo sad :'(

All in all, this book was an amazing and fresh read that I will recommend to everyone in need of a light and sweet reading. Trust me, it's really good.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grave of Lainey Grace by Aaron Galvin

Every year, when the last leaf of summer falls, roses are laid at the grave of Lainey Grace, no one knows who is doing this. Groundskeeper Bob is warned he will lose his job if the flowers appear again. But his granddaughter Briar Ann is determined to find out who is leaving the pile of flowers and why only at the beginning of Fall.

A fantastic story, beautifully told. Briar is very likable, and unstoppable in her quest for the truth. Her Grandfather, wise and knowledgeable is likable as well.

The plot is very original, the attention to details, gives a feel of being there. The story has some plot twists, and a splash of magic/fantasy which adds to the enjoyment. I highly recommend The Grave of Lainey Grace to middle school (and up) readers of all genres. The cover art is fantastic and captures the story perfectly.

[Chris Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! A wonderful mix of family drama, love, mystery and magic. Aaron Galvin has written a beautiful modern tale that has all the soul of the greatest of fairytales and yet maintains a down-to-earth heart. This story has all the tell-tale signs of something personal to the author, and indeed he confirms this in the notes at the end, which I think is the reason it is so successful. There’s a real understanding of the world the story is set in and the people who live there. The story centres on Briar, a young girl who loves nothing more than to help her grandfather as he works as head groundsman at a private cemetery. Every year the cemetery is visited by folks unknown who fill the ground around one particular grave with roses. No one knows who they are or how they get in but each year they visit. Discovering the truth behind the mystery takes Briar on quite a personal journey that the author delivers with great skill bringing the characters, and their lives, to life and somehow mixing in something maybe just a bit special. This is a great read for parents and kids to enjoy together. Another excellent story from an extremely talented author.

[Kriste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard the author, Aaron Glavin, speak at my son's middle school in Noblesville, IN. He was a wonderful speaker and really had a way of catching middle schooler's attention. Since he is a native Hoosier and a fellow Ball State Alumni, I decided to purchase one of his books. He used the tag line of this book in his talk and that sentence, "Every year, when the last leaf of summer falls, roses are laid at the grave of Lainey Grace.", really caught my attention.
I didn't have any idea what kind of story this would be. It started out like a coming of age story, but quickly found its way into a fantastical tale. I only wish we had more time with the Coldwater's and knew more of their story.

[Gene Gosewehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere around 1/3 to 1/2 way through, this book turned from a cute coming of age story to an emotionally gripping fantasy about coping with death and legacy. The descriptions of Trixie and Ferd were terrific and really painted a picture for me. Most of all I loved the time spent building he relationship between Grandpa Bob and Briar. Even if one can’t relate to such a strong grandparent relationship, this book will put you in it and have you wishing for such memories.

Great read, wonderfully written.

[Liz Etnyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! – if a bit soppy at the end, but I still liked it. Deals with death and grieving, but not at all in a maudlin way, nor is it a sad story in the end. Age appropriate for just about anyone. 8 and older, depending on the kid, of course. (My cat, Fred, is now sometimes called Fred the Ferd in honor of one of the characters.) Nice light read for grown ups – maybe even comforting for someone grieving? 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for warm fuzzies!

[Vicki Scullion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique YA fantasy story. I think middle schoolers will love it!

[Sally Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, such a touching story, it made me smile and cry like a baby all at the same time.

[Paige Pell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one grew on me... And by the end I loved it. Magical.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

This was a wonderful story about love and loss. A very warm story about a young girl and her grandfather along with believe it or not fairies and trolls along with other mystical beings. A lost older couple that adds a twist to the story that leads to a great end. I recommend this book to all readers.

[sharon murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting

The more I read the more magical this story became. I'm considered an old person now but I so enjoyed this book. Sometimes it's wonderful to remember how you used to feel as a child believing in things that as an adult just isn't possible. I would highly recommend this book to all ages!

[Brenda Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

This a great book very well written with so many hidden emotions that just grab you . Great characters. Full of great wisdom. Everyone needs to be remembered and loved.

[Alaina Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I went into the book expecting more of a ghost story (when I first read the synopsis the term “rose-givers” seemed very eery), I was delightfully surprised to find a story that very much delved into celtic myth and the like, and did so well. It wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns or whatever the saying is either; it was a great mix of the fantastical and magical grounded in a story of learning about the realities of this unforgiving and sometimes bleak world we live in. I hadn’t realized this until now, but as reality sets in more and more in the novel, so does the fantasy. For someone who likes to believe in grey areas and that maybe there is a little bit of magic out there (or at least there is once the summer leaves fall and we creep towards Christmas), that’s something that really speaks to me.
As a Southerner, I also very much appreciated the setting, especially since we’re pretty open to superstitions and extremely devoted to our folklore down here. I will have to admit though, until I learned that the author was from Kentucky (I think that’s right anyway), I was very much worried for the direction this setting was going to take while I was in the first few chapters. The accents were thick and I was scared to think this was going to be a very stereotypical version of the South. I’ve seen how bad things can be portrayed, even in some of my favorite shows, and I just didn’t want to get burned again. Luckily though, the story grew and grew and things possibly toned themselves down, and I found myself really loving the characters.
I’d love to talk more, but I don’t want to give anything away and I’m sure you’re tired of reading me rant, but if you like magic, mystery, and the idea of a spunky little Southern girl really coming into her own, then definitely put this one on your list. Oh, and it’s a book for all ages, so keep that in mind too. It’s not fluffy, but not super dark either.

[ThatBeMeDiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more of my reviews, please visit Booking an Adventure.

The Grave of Lainey Grace caught me unexpected. I started reading the book assuming to get a heartfelt coming of age story and yet I got more. What I read was something magical. Little Sarah is ten years old and her favorite place to hangout is with her Grandpa while he works at the cemetery. For a majority of the year, the cemetery is what you would expect. Sarah helps her Grandpa rake leaves, collect flower bulbs, and lock up gates. But for one day of the year when the last leaf of summer falls, something happens that nobody can explain. Piles upon piles of roses are laid on the grave of Lainey Grace, a mystery to the town. Nobody knows who puts the roses there, how the person bypasses the locked gates and traps, or who Lainey Grace even is. It’s a magical mystery that Sarah never found the urge until she learns that her Grandpa might be fired from his job if the roses appear again. Determined to help, Sarah sneaks out in hopes to catch the rose givers but found something else. A leprechaun.

The book is split into three parts, for three different years of Sarah trying to catch the rose givers. It’s a story about wonder and the innocence of a child to believe in magical creatures, but it’s also about grief and hurting. Sarah puts so much of her belief into these creatures she meets and is hurt that her parents don’t believe her. It’s enjoyable to read as Sarah learns more about magic and also reality every page. She learns how to grow up but to not lose her curiosity and faith in the impossible. The force that is Sarah is able to affect everyone around her with her honesty and charisma. I recommend this book to middle schoolers and under for an adventure that promotes imagination and creativity in children.

[Hyzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet little coming-of-age story that ended up being more emotionally wrought than I expected.

I was expecting there to be more of a focus on the mystery, and there are attempts to build it up, but by the time the solution is finally given, it was almost too obvious and was also practically irrelevant. The latter is not really a problem--other things came up throughout the course of the story to make the answer to the mystery fall away in focus quite naturally--but it did feel strange after I finished it. In addition, I'm not sure I'm completely satisfied with the answer; it felt like there were an awful lot of people that should have known things they were apparently surprised about.

Briar's relationship with her grandfather was charming to read, and their closeness was the center of the story, really. The other characters were interesting enough and generally well-drawn, although there were a few sudden turnarounds that I'm not sure I really believed.

The setting, in a cemetery, was fun, and definitely the sort of thing I would have devoured as a child. There's a lot to be said for setting a not-creepy story in a creepy place, and it did lend a sense of wonder and mystery just by being the center of the action.

This is definitely fantasy, but a sort of gentle fantasy, very much set in the real world through the eyes of a child. Briar's acceptance of certain aspects of the story would have been strange had she been an adult, but as a child, magic never seems far away, and fairy tales and life intertwine in a way that we forget as an adult. Apparently Aaron Galvin never completely forgot, and for that reason alone I'll be picking up more of his books.

This book was provided to me for free by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Briar Ann, like her father before her, spends a lot of time in the local cemetery. She's no ghost. It is just that her beloved grandfather works there as head groundskeeper, and there is no other place Brian Ann would rather be than with him. Grandfather Bob fills Briar Ann with stories about hope and heartache as he tends his charges in the cemetery, including Lainey Grace. Lainey Grace is something of a mystery and a local celebrity even-though she has been dead longer than Brian Ann has been alive. Each year when the last leaf of summer falls from the trees, someone, somehow, sneaks into the cemetery and piles Lainey Grace's grave with mounds of roses. No one knows why or even who Lainey Grace is, but without missing a year, those roses arrive. This year, however, things are different. Bob's job is in jeopardy if those roses show up because his boss believes Bob is the one doing the delivering. When Briar finally discovers the truth behind the rose-bringers, her grandfather's life, and the death of Lainey Grace, solving the mystery will change the lives of those Briar loves most and even a few of her worst enemies. A beautiful story about death and life, grief and joy. Recommended for grades 3 and up.

[Rachel Stansel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"People mourn in all sorts of different ways."

This is a beautiful, magical story about a girl named Briar. Her grandfather is the caretaker for a local cemetery where each year, when the last leaf has fallen from the trees, the grave of Lainey Grace is covered with roses even though the gates are locked. Who is Lainey Grace, who leaves these roses and how?

The story follows Briar through the year her grandfather is fired for not preventing (or maybe from leaving) all the roses. Through a touch of magic, the story of Lainey and the rose-givers is slowly revealed to us. Along the way, we see how hard it is to have faith in what you don't see, how not everything is as it appears, and how, truly, people all mourn in different ways.

I strongly recommend this beautiful, emotional story. It would be suitable for anyone from late elementary school through high school or for anyone who, like me, enjoys a touching, magical story.

Full disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley and Aames & Abernathy in exchange for an honest review.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is Lainey Grace? That was my question for most of the book. The story begins with the groundskeeper of the cemetery, Bob and his granddaughter Briar Ann, waiting once again for the annual placing of the roses on a random grave of a girl named Lainey Grace. They wonder where the roses come from, especially given the cemetery is locked at night and there is seemingly no way for anyone to get in. Briar Ann stumbles upon a magical secret one night that changes everything--and finally answers the question of who Lainey Grace is, and why she is so important. This was one of my first younger readers' books and I am immensely pleased it was. It was such an enjoyable read, and there were parts that had me laughing, crying, and impatiently waiting for the next scene. I would recommend this to young and older readers alike seeking a magical story with characters they can relate to and a secret that will change the way they see the world.

[Gina Hott]

Growing up as a girl to ran around with her grandfather as well I found The Grave of Lainey Grace to be a refreshing and fun novel, memory, mystery…

This adorable book did make me laugh and cry. There are many powerful lessons contained in these pages children of all ages ate going to want to get lost in Coldwater Cemetery!

(** For me this movie was along the lines of The Bridge to Terabithia or The Spiderwick Chronicles :-) **)

More…
Author: Aaron Galvin
Source: Aaron Galvin in exchange for an honest review
Publisher & Date: September 2nd 2015 by Aames & Abernathy
Genre: Children’s, Middle-Grade, Fantasy, Mystery
ISBN: 1517046971 (ISBN13: 9781517046972)
Pages: 235
Grade: A
Ages: 13+ | A strong word or two
Setting: Coldwater Cemetery, Kentucky

[Teri Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has it all, mystery, family drama, love, leprechauns.

A young girl helps her grandpa in the cemetery, where he is the grounds keeper. They have fun, fierce devotion, hard work, and the mystery of where all the roses come from each year when the last leaf of summer falls.

There is magic, and sadness. Don't you just hate it when tears are running down your face, but you are also laughing? I recommend this very precious book, good clean fun...if you don't mind getting your hands dirty digging up flower bulbs!

[Salla · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the slow introduction to the book's world, the story got full of wonder, love and happiness. It's not only about happy things, it's also about grief, sadness and hurting. It teaches you what it is to love, to forgive, to wonder, to believe in impossible things. And what is the beauty of living.

Go read my full review at http://bookstoldmeso.blogspot.fi/2015/09/review-grave-of-lainey-grace.html

[Ronesa Aveela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a mystery, and the title of this book caught my eye. It's not what I was expecting; it was better. You'll love the characters, especially Trixie the trickster, and Ferd, the sweet, innocent big oaf. Ten-year-old Briar is determined to find who leaves roses at a grave every year. What she discovers is a lesson in believing the unbelievable, and has to convince others of the truth as well. Well worth the read.

[Karie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

From my review: "The Grave of Lainey Grace is absolutely beautiful. Aaron Galvin has brought the essence of being a child and caught between the whimsy of childhood and the sometimes cold reality of adulthood to life with a deft hand."

GO READ IT!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this copy of The Grave of Lainey Grace by Aaron Galvin from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The was a magical book. It caught the attention of the child in me big time. Fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Where the Wild Things Are will love this tale.

[Kerri A Hester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!!

Might be one of the most emotional books I have ever read. I couldn't stop reading through my tears and running nose. A must read for all ages in my opinion.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story

I'm glad I stumbled upon this book. I enjoyed the relationship between Briar and her grandpa, and loved that this story took a different turn than I was expecting.

[kathyenglish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable?

Good book. Different than I am used to. I would recommend it to anybody who can read and likes a bit of fantasy.

[Krystin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a book fair on a whim. The author was there and very kind. The book itself is lovely and a great surprise. I got it without knowing really what it was about, and it turned out to be just my kind of adventure story with fantasy and imagination. Lovely book, I would recommend it to anyone, especially the younger crowd.