Twelve year old Bernadette "Bernie" has a lot on her plate these days with helping out around the house and with the family business of creating grave monuments. In addition, her mother is in a state of depression that renders her non-functional. Then there's Michael Romano, son of the new sheriff in town. He seems to like her; maybe too much for her comfort.

One day, things get even more complicated for Bernie. That's the day that Mr. Abbott Stein arrives looking for a job at Alpine Monuments. He has a gift; it seems, of carving perfect portraits in stone of the dead. While this may be all well and good, there's just something spooky about Mr. Stein. It gets spookier still when Bernie realizes that Mr. Stein is carving portraits in stone of people before they die!

She confides in Michael mostly because he's always around her, and the two of them do some investigating into the mysterious Mr. Stein's past to gain help in stopping his evil gift in the present.

Bernie is one of the spunkiest twelve year olds that any one is likely to meet. Mature beyond her years due to necessity, she sees things that others might miss. But she's got an excellent grasp on life whether she knows it or not. It was a pure delight to get to know her in GRAVE IMAGES.

Author Jenny Goebel knows how to write in a way that will get kids excited about reading and she's written a wonderful book in GRAVE IMAGES that will interest even the most stubborn non-reader. Written in a no nonsense fashion, the mysterious plot is explored by the two young protagonists in a realistic manner. I could see Bernie and Michael going about their investigation as I went along with them. These two are smart kids, but not so smart that they never make any mistakes.

GRAVE IMAGES is an entertaining read even for adults but kids everywhere will love the characters as well as the plot. I, for one, was a bit sad to see the book end. Bernie and Michael are characters that would be perfect for children to get to know and grow up with.