The Graveyard Girl and The Boneyard Boy

Graveyard girl and Boneyard boy is an excellent book. It has a great pace and great characters. The storyline has a great plot and twists.
I'd class this book as a paranormal romance, yet it also includes adventure, friendship and a coming of age themes. I liked this book from the first pages and feel it has a very satisfying ending.

An excellent well written read. I love books like this. I became immersed and escaped the world for a few days

This was such a great romance, nothing like I expected. I'm not usually a fan of romance, but this was well written.

What drew me to this book initially was the intriguing title: THE GRAVEYARD GIRL AND THE BONEYARD BOY. Then I read the first paragraph and I was captivated. The book begins like this: 

"The first time my sister Brie tried to kill me, I'd been six-years-old. A budding sociopath, Brie's murder attempt had been to lock me outside of the house at noon during a summer heatwave. She had been eight. Now a senior in highschool, Brie's still two years older than me, and she's since graduated to full psychotic, cum laudé."

Hmmm. How would locking someone out of the house be a murder attempt? My interest was definitely piqued.

The story is about a teenage boy who has Oculocutaneous  Albinism, which means Drake Stevenson is an albino.  He also has a condition that often goes hand in hand with albinism which is: hyper-photophobia. This means that light of any kind, but especially sunlight, burns his eyes. Too much light exposure could lead to permanent blindness. This condition forces Drake to have to wear wrap-around sunglasses. His skin is very pale and he describes his appearance like this:

"And my hair isn't blonde, it's the color of freshly fallen snow in the Alps on a cloudless, moonlit night. And no, my eyes are not that pink color...They are, however, a rather striking shade of blue-collar."

I LOVE THIS BOOK. It is a impressive novel by Indie Author Martin Matthews. It is the first time I have read anything of his and I know now that I will be seeking out more of his work.

When Drake's lawyer father has a heart-attack, the family moves away from the city and back to the small town of Centralia where his father has agreed to take over the family business. Just what is that business? Well, they are the caretakers/owners of the largest and oldest cemetery in the entire state.

Shortly after arriving at their new home Drake meets a beautiful girl the same age as he is. Usually he has a hard time talking to girls, but for some reason this girl is different. At first he does not realize why she seems so different, but eventually realizes she is a ghost and she needs his help bringing her murderer to justice.

With so many fantastic twists and turns this book is an enthralling page turner and is populated with marvelously realistic characters. This book surpasses the typical Young Adult novel and rises above - WAY ABOVE.

I rate this book as highly as is possible which is 5 out of 5 Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If I could rate it higher I would. I am willing to put my reputation as a reviewer on the line to say that this is a MUST READ novel. In fact, I am hoping that the author continues on with these characters and turns this book into a series. If he does, I will be first in line to buy my copy.

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On the cover we find Drake and Scarlett. The story tells the story of Drake, a fan of video games, who suffers from albinism. Following the death of his father he is forced to move and at the cemetery of Centralia he will meet Scarlett that few people can see. A beautiful story between his two characters tying him who will do everything to find the truth about a murder that no one speaks. I loved the pen of the author.

An intriguing book with true-to-life characterizations of teenage temperment and angst. Although the sister was definitely unbalanced (why did no one deal with her "murder attempts "). A very interesting plot and well-written. Recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great read, and pretty fun overall. Drake is an interesting character, and the mystery he stumbles upon while not original, is pretty fun. Some things aren't exactly clear like just what exactly is wrong with his sister and why does it take so long for their parents to address it? Does his mother have an affair? What was his dad like in high school, and why is it brought up if it doesn't really connect to Drake's story?
Drake is fun to follow around, and though his so called nerdy behaviour really didn't seem too nerdy in today's Marvel/Disney/pop culture world. He is treated like a typical nerd in a world of typical jocks that feels retro, but somehow modern at the same time. The supernatural elements are believable and the overall message about the afterlife and moving on is positive. If you are looking for a fun read with complex character interactions and a supernatural element, definitely check this out.

the book was well written ,so entertaining i kept me reading until long into the night.

My Opinion:
I enjoyed this tale and found myself laughing - A LOT. I found "Mirror Me" hysterical and found the author's sense of humor right up my alley. The writing was great and had me hooked from the first line of the book. I enjoyed reading this but I didn't like some of the plight of Drake. I really didn't like that he met Scarlet in the cemetery twice and was so in love with her but then was in kissing Sasha at every other turn. I guess it made for a semi-good love triangle but just didn't hit the right spot for me. So, I didn't really enjoy the love story part of this book. But, I did enjoy the other aspects of the book. The mystery, the humor and the detective work of his friends. Even his evaluation of Ms. Piggy, it really had me laughing out loud.

Drake and his family have to move back to the town his father grew up in because of his father's health and the marital problems, only to find that these things follow you. Drake and his sister have this weird sexually/abusive relationship. Which I don't know if at any point in this book I approved of. I didn't feel his parents even cared to take care of their kids and they always seem to be fighting and well just don't care I guess. Never really knew why they were like this, just bad parents, I guess. Anyway, life here seems to be better for Drake, he has made some friends and well, gets a job (father makes him). But, really it is perfect for his condition - he has albinism and photosensitivity to light. He manages it with dark clothing, sunglasses, hats, etc. So a graveyard job at night is perfect for him. Doesn't have to worry about that darn sun. He is a gamer and a recluse by habit and choice which is great. He uses these skills in his life which I thought was great.

He also finds himself talking to a ghost and finds out that ghost has been killed and he needs to find out who the killer is. As he is trying to do this, he is getting bullied and some bad things happen to him. A lot of bad things. Which is fine but just seems like to much. This book keeps you entertained and I did enjoy reading it and did laugh a lot at times like - "Blanco", "Mirror Me", and all the other hidden gem jokes in this book. I would definitely read another book by Martin Matthews, I find his humor delightful and entertaining and will look forward to another book by him.

I give the book 4.5 of 5 stars!

A favorite line in the book - Drake is standing over the grave of the Graveyard Girl looking at the picture on her headstone - "I thought about pulling out my cell phone and snapping a picture of the picture. But even I - mondo freakazoid - couldn't justify taking a photo of a dead girl's grave, no matter how beautiful she had been in real life. Not without changing my name to Norman Bates and borrowing Mom's clothes."

This is an engaging story about a boy who has his life shaken up in many ways by when his family returns to run the graveyard that has always been overseen by their family. As a typical focal setting for a ghost story, it was good to see this place treated with reverence and respect throughout the novel. As the “boneyard boy” faces normal issues like bullying and learning to fit in at a new place, we are also introduced to darker themes, all tied together by the central ghost story.

Some of my issues: I’m not convinced the writer knows who her target audience are. The references and language choices are aimed at a much older audience than I think the plot line would attract. Generally, the ghost story would appeal to fairly young teenagers but there are some moments that are more suited to a slightly older audience, particularly some of the behaviours exhibited by Brie, the caricatured older sister, which bring me ont9 this point. Some of the behaviour exhibited by many of the bit players are just too stereotypical and the adults behave like plot tools not real humans. I also found the love triangle more of a distraction than a helpful nod to the rules of the genre, albeit with some minor twists.

All in all an interesting read, but as so often fits with this audience, a little lazy. I think our young adult readers deserve a little more credit than we generally afford them and this novel is n9 different. They will read and enjoy it, I just thin’ it could have been more. Captivating front cover, though.

Wow. That was an emotional ride, I’m still choked up. Everything about this story is powerful. Ah yeah warning does deal with sexual assault.

I’d say the best thing about this book is its genuine. Immediately you know it’s a teenage boy, you can feel it in the writing. The relationship with the sister is your typical love hate one, but damn I thought my sibling quarrels were bad.

I have two favourite characters in this one, the first is Drake. I like how strong he is despite his upbringing and his condition. The mirror really showed how lonely he was and I think that was one of the first things that got to me.

The second is Chase. Unexpected but he grew on me and by the end I liked them about the same.

All the characters were well written and developed, the main character and the sister had substantial growth throughout. I would happily read this book again- well not happily, I’d be tearing up. It’s a tear jerker, but one with a solid plot, more than enough geekiness, unexpected friends and a first love you’ll never forget.

The Graveyard Girl and the Boneyard Boy is a wonderful story that will draw you right in. The main character is unique and refreshing. The narrator has a great sense of wry humor that makes it a pleasure to read. You will literally laugh out loud at times.

The story is set in Centralia, which in and of itself is an interesting setting. It opens up some good talking points about history and the whole Centralia story. The real Centralia has been almost a ghost town for years, which may be the appeal of setting a story there. The town had to be evacuated after the Centralia Mine Fire began around 1962. The fire has burned underground ever since, popping up in different coal seams and even in another nearby town, which forced another closure. But, the whole Centralia story is not the main focus of this book. In fact, the Centralia of this book is fully populated, has a large high school, a vibrant town, and a huge cemetery. The cemetery is the central setting, but there are other locations as well. In this story, the characters encounter old mine tunnels and things leftover from the heyday of mining in the area.

The main character is Drake Stevenson, a boy who has albinism. This condition comes with a host of issues, including extreme sensitivity to sunlight, poor vision, etc. Thus, he has to dress fully covered up from the sun and wear sunglasses to protect his eyes from bright light at all times, even indoors. The sun can easily burn his skin, so he has to cover himself with sunscreen as well as long-sleeved pants, shirts, and coat. Indoor lighting is even too bright for his eyes, so his teachers have a hard time understanding and allowing him these accommodations. I have never read a novel with a person who has albinism as a character, so it was interesting to learn. I had no idea that these other things would be issues, but it makes total sense. The difficulties Drake encounters with school staff are all because they do not understand the rare condition he has. But, the story really isn’t about albinism. Drake’s family owns the cemetery and he takes a night job there because he is still in high school and has to be in class during the day. At school, he meets a girl, who happens to be the principal’s daughter. She becomes his first real friend. Then, after work one night, he meets another girl, this one in the cemetery.

The girl in the cemetery is a ghost. Drake calls himself a ghost at one point, due to the albinism. So, in a way, his new friend has similar issues to his. That may be why he can see her and others cannot. Even his sister, who is a psycho (really), can’t see her.

As the story unfolds, Drake learns that a tragedy struck the town the previous summer. While battling bullies at school, his crazy sister at home, and his new boss at work, he tries to figure out what exactly happened and why no one will talk about it. It makes for a really tense plot where the reader wants to learn more too, and you just can’t put down the book. It’s that good.

I enjoyed the sense of humor and the believability of Drake’s character. He’s got real-world problems and faces a lot of issues that other young adults can relate to. The novel tackles such issues as bullying, disability, discrimination, teen drinking, mental illness, divorce, death, and more. But, it does not become overbearing or preachy either. The story moves along at a good pace and you are not left feeling that it drags anywhere. The motives of the people involved are totally believable and realistic. Guilt and redemption are central to the resolution of this one. The plot twist at the end is fantastic and will leave you breathless. At times, you will laugh out loud, cheer for joy, feel deep sadness, feel hope, feel fear, and most of all, come away with an understanding of what it means to walk in the shoes of another person.

Very well-written and the plot is awesome. I am calling this the best novel I have read so far this year. It’s that good. Not to be missed. You will not regret taking the time to read this one.

A great book that also gives us insight into living with Albinism. I loved the characters as well as the story line, this book had a brilliant beginning. What I also enjoyed was the elements of video games that we found throughout the book, although I am not into video games I found it refreshing, another perspective in telling a story. I would recommend this book to all readers both YA as well as adult.

3.5 stars.

Sixteen-year-old albino Drake Stevenson is pretty much a loner. He spends most of his time by himself playing video games and reading comics. He must wear sunscreen and be covered up at all times due to his body not having any melanin and he has eyesight issues such as issues with depth perception which means he can never drive a car. He also suffers migraines due to his extreme sensitivity to light and must wear sunglasses. He is often bullied because of being a person with albinism.

To make matters worse, his sister is awful to him and is quite the bully herself not to mention mentally unstable. Their life is turned upside down when their father loses his job after a health issues and moves the family to his hometown to become the Stewardess of the oldest and largest cemetery in the state.

Drake begins school and begins a part time job working at night in the cemetery. He makes some friends at school but at the same time gets some unwanted attention from a bully. His sister continues to be awful and he isn't finding working in the cemetery much fun until he sees someone walking through the cemetery. He soon meets Scarlet, a teenager around his age, who needs his help in finding her killer.

This was an enjoyable YA book which is just that a YA book. I think teens (and adults) will really enjoy this. I also like that this YA book; although it deals with death and how it was caused, it not heavy. It's a light mystery that deals with issues many teens experience (except for seeing dead people and needing to solve crimes). I would let my 14-year-old read it. Not everyone in this book are as they seem, some have secrets, some are good, some are bad, some have hidden agendas, some want to rule the school at any cost. Geez- sounds like a typical high school, right?

Drake is dealing with real issues in this book - bullying, sibling relationship, his parent's marital issues and fighting, teenage angst, moving, starting his first job, making friends, being a person with albinism, etc. He is a likable witty character. Yes, he has the typical teenage angst which makes his character appear more authentic. He has some funny, cute moments and a quirky personality. As he beings to work and make friends, the reader gets to see his personality and confidence blossom even while he is facing some tough issues such as bullying and oh yes! being the only one who can see Scarlet!

As he tries to unscramble the truth, the reader is right there with him, learning things as he learns them. The reader also gets to learn about albinism and what it is like to live with albinism. This book is well-written, sometimes funny, and is entertaining.

Thank you to Black Rose Writing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

16 year old Drake has albinism. His skin is bone white, his hair the colour of snow, and he is extremely sensitive to all light, especially sunlight. To protect himself from the harmful rays of the sun Drake is forced to wear a long coat and a large hat. He wears wrap around sunglasses all the time, even after the sun has gone down. Many people see Drake as a freak because of his light colouring and unusual attire, and so he is somewhat of a loner and, unfortunately, a prime target for bullies and generally ignorant people. So Drake doesn't have friends, spending most of his time alone, immersed in video games, comic books, movies...

Following a move to a small town after his father's illness and semi-retirement, Drake finds himself working evenings at the old family business. A cemetery. And his life will never be the same again.

I really enjoyed this book. Drake is a fantastic character. He narrates the whole story and is so witty, even when things are going wrong for and around him. He has so much to put up with in his life, what with the albinism and people generally being horrible to him. As to his family... ugh. His parents don't really get on and his sister, Brie, is awful, evil and definitely psychotic. I like her a lot. Though perhaps she should be looked after somewhere for her own and everyone else's safety.

This is a supernatural romance with a mystery to solve. Hilarious at times, but also heartbreaking on occasion. Never having had any luck with girls in the past, Drake suddenly has two vying for his attention. Some of the romance is a tiny bit on the sappy side, veering in to YA territory, but the teen angst is not overdone. The romance is the only thing that made this feel like a YA novel for me but, to be fair, romance isn't the biggest part of the story. There are several very 'grown up' issues going on in this story (mental illness, sexual abuse and death), and with all the wonderfully amusing pop culture references there is more than enough to ensure adult readers enjoy it too. I freaking loved it!

Wow! I loved this book! It isn't often that I come across a story that is truly unique. The characters are fresh and new. The setting is new. The dialog feels authentic. The plot twists honestly kept me guessing, something many adult mysteries don't do.

While the character Drake is a special individual, the feelings he has about the situations he faces and the choices, he considers and ultimate makes, have a universal quality. Drake is both different from and the same as everyone else.

This is an exceptionally good book for young teens, middle school students, and young high school students. Thanks for keeping the coarse language and explicit scenes to a minimum. It makes the book appropriate for more young people.

An unusual, fast paced and sweet story! It was very interesting being introduced to a character with Albinoism and the mystery had me intrigued from the first chapter. One I loved reading during my road trip!

Arc provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I was actually really surprised by how much I tended up liking this book. I am actually surprised that more people have not read/talked about this one. The Graveyard Girl and The Boneyard Boy by Martin Matthews is about 16-year-old albino Drake Stevenson lives a life alone in his world of video games and comic books, dreaming of one day saving a real princess. But fantasy becomes reality when his lawyer father suffers a heart attack, and the Stevensons are forced to move to flyover country in order to take up the family business: Stewardship of the oldest and largest cemetery in the state.

In the cemetery, Drake meets Scarlet, an unusual girl who needs his help to find her killer. Drake now has to survive a new high school, make sure his mentally unstable sister bent on high school domination at any cost doesn't end up trying to kill him and find out the truth about a murder no one will speak of, to help a girl no one can see.

I really enjoyed this book, I found myself laughing out loud and actually cared about Drake. I found Drake as a character hilarious and really enjoyed his references to Lord of the Rings and other pop culture. I really liked his I "Mirror Me" concept, that was actually pretty hilarious. This is YA book that I think both teens and adults would like. Drake is a witty and smart individual who has to deal with real life issues such as bullying, family drama, his crazy sister, his crazy mother and the pressure of meeting his fathers expectation, However, this is teenager boy we are talking about and there will be teenager angst which is understandable.

I wasn't a huge fan insta-love, I mean Drake met Scarlet like twice and was "in love" but then was flirting with kissing Sasha. It was an odd love triangle-ish moment in the book that I didn't care for. However, that is because I personally cannot stand insta-love or love triangles. I am sure for those who do like this trope they would enjoy it.

Overall, I really liked this book and I am kicking myself for not reading it earlier!

4 stars.