This was such a joy to read from beginning to end. The themes of finding a place where you belong and people who understand you are so universal they will resonate with a wide variety of younger readers. There is a good amount of mystery and action that should keep readers engaged and the pacing keeps things moving along well. I really liked Rosemary and she was the perfect character to lead us into this new fantastical world. Her ability to pretty much go with the flow when it comes to learning about her ability and all the other fae is a good example to younger readers on how to adjust to difficult situations. I also really liked that some of the characters are a little ambiguous when it comes to determining how friendly/trustworthy they really are. I loved the cliffhanger here - it definitely makes you excited for book 2 to find out how Rosemary gets out of the pickle in which she finds herself, what Fern is really up to, and who Rosemary's father is (although I do have a guess on that one). This is definitely a must-have for middle grade libraries!

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.

A wonderful start to an adventure for young readers, I can't believe how long I'll have to wait for book two. This first book did a great job building the world Rosemary resides... or worlds you could say? As someone who is always thinking about death, I can't help but love our main character and her gift. This was an enjoyable read and I'll be waiting impatiently for book two.

A captivating read for fans of dark, whimsical, and mystical tales, particularly those who delight in the eerie and the unknown, as embodied by the beloved characters of Wednesday and the Addams Family.

Fantastic novel at the upper end of middle grade, a mix of Narnia and Seanan McGuire's Home for Wayward Children with touches of Dianna Wynne Jones's style. The age of the main characters (12-15) combined with the slightly more elevated language than most middle grade books--and the length of the book squarely between chapter hooks and the behemoth middle grade books of late--make the book perfect for middle school readers as well as more advanced younger readers. The characters are compelling, the themes relatable and not heavy-handed, and the plot picks up pace after first teasing us with mysterious clues and getting us (and Rosemary) acclimated to the fantasy world.

The Graveyard Gift is a fun middle grade fantasy novel. The characters were fun and easy to root for! I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

Enjoyable middle school fantasy book about a girl, cast out by her own mother and society for being different. She is then taken to a school where she discovers her gift is not a curse, but something more special than she could ever imagine. She meets other kids at the school with gifts different than her. Teachers are on edge though as something strange is going on and she and her friends must discover what it is by using their gifts.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Books for Young Readers through NetGalley.
Readers meet a young girl, Rosemary, who has a rather interesting ability. She can tell people how they will die. When she tries to warn others, they get upset. Even her mother doesn't know what to do so makes arrangements to send her away. Fortunately, a mysterious person rescues her and brings her to a special school. Rosemary discovers she is half human, half fae. She also meets a variety of other children and teens studying their gifts and history. When one of them disappears, Rosemary joins with several others to find them and rescue them. I appreciate the ending and the final reveal in the last chapter and Epilogue. This opens the path to the next book. The author paces the revelations as the story unfolds. Som characters share more about themselves while others keep their secrets safe. Broad hints are provided for how they will behave on future adventures but I wonder if there are more twists coming. A delightful read for middle graders who appreciate magic and fantasy.

Good book, great characters. I enjoyed this story as a reviewer and will definitely purchase. I would also recommend this to patrons and will include in our weekly book talk program.

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's Gift" though?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a book that was enjoyable at times. Rosemary Thorpe gives us a neat beginning with a lot of promise - a teen that can predict your death. I can see how this will be a series, plenty of characters and plot building to feed one.

That said, in this book there's some characters we don't spend enough time with and some parts that drag. Also in the beginning it reads very young, like a European style classic children's lit, but then I found out she was in her teens- this was a big surprise as based on the opening I thought she was 10 or 11. (Or, I missed it).

Extra credit for dialogue and neat characters.

Fern is such an interesting character see at the set up of this story. I also found our main character of Rosemary to be such an interesting kid to follow. If you are an adult who loves the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire and looking for something that deals with similar topics and vibes I feel like this is a great option. I also loved the representation of our deaf character and the use of sign through out the book. I also enjoyed that this book explored the differences between the Seelie and Unseelie courts of Fae. If your child is looking for a spooky book this spooky season I would highly recommend this book. I can not wait to see where these characters go from here.

A great spooky and full of life story that will make you fall in love with everything about it. I look forward to continuing this series.

The Graveyard Gift was an interesting read. Fern Forgettable tells the tale of Rosemary who doesn't know that she is a supernatural being. Through the story, the reader will encounter many variety of other supernatural beings, which sometimes felt a bit too much. Readers who like quirky characters and easy reading will enjoy this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. The Graveyard Gift was a cute, cozy middle grade fantasy adventure. I think that this story will be perfect to pick up for adults and children alike during spooky season. A wonderful story for the outcasts and misfits looking for a place to fit in. Fern's school for Wayward Fae is a wonderful place to escape to!

This was a super cute, fun read. It's exactly what you'd expect - whimsy with a tad bit of "dark." By that I mean the gift but the book itself isn't dark.

I loved this magical and mysterious book. After arriving at Fern’s School for Wayward Fae, Rosemary meets the other students, who all seem to have some dark or hidden secrets. She begins attending classes to learn about the realms and her gift, but it’s very clear something concerning is lurking. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of Fern’s, with the fantastical buildings, gardens, and unique magical fauna. The students and their powers are very unique, and the dynamics (age, parental lineage, court, powers, etc.) really brought a lot to the story. I am really looking forward to more stories in this world and with these characters!


Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Immediately sucked into this new world! Twists and turns all over the place. I look forward to the continuation!

Fern’s School for Wayward Fae by Fern via Piper CJ was a great story, and definitely an intro to a series as I was left with too many questions. Rosemary is the fresh blood the fae need. She does not care about labels…Seelie or Unseelie. She looks at how treat others, and who you are not your lineage. Rosemary,Tyrm,Essie, and Henry you can tell have good intentions and big hearts. Iris? Something was up with her actions, and I hope some light is shed regarding her behavior, the Seelie courts intentions, and Rosemary’s father. Honestly can’t wait until the second book comes out.

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.