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Reviewed by Paul F. Murray for Readers' Favorite
I enjoyed reading The Grave of Lainey Grace by Aaron Galvin. It is good, lighthearted reading for fans of slice-of-life narration with a touch of fantasy. The main character, Briar Ann Wade, is 10 years old at the start, 12 at the finish. Briar Ann’s Grandpa Bob is caretaker of the Coldwater Cemetery, owned by the Scrooge-like Mr. Coldwater, who blames Grandpa Bob’s alleged negligence for the yearly visit of an unknown stranger or strangers who lay roses in late autumn at the grave of Lainey Grace. Ultimately, Mr. Coldwater fires Grandpa Bob. Briar Ann blames Mr. Coldwater for her Grandpa Bob’s death not long after his dismissal, since the cemetery was Grandpa Bob’s life focus. With the help of a mischievous leprechaun and a troll, Briar Ann continues to try to solve the mystery of who is laying the roses at the grave of Lainey Grace, and why, and she convinces her skeptical father to help her. The final answer to the question is something straight out of the world of fantasy and believing in make-believe, and Mr. Coldwater — like Ebenezer Scrooge — has a life-transforming event.
Although The Grave of Lainey Grace by Aaron Galvin centers on the adolescent Briar Ann, the story is probably suited more for teens and adults. The novel will allow teenagers and adults to revisit the world through the eyes of a pre-teen, and will have them ultimately believing that leprechauns, trolls, and other fantasy creatures actually do exist. The story also contains a heartwarming rapprochement between daughter and father that will give hope to many for mending fractured relationships.
