A Turn in the Grave is the first book in the Misadventures of Danny Cloke series by Bowvayne. Danny Cloke is, in essence, a boy Cinderella…he’s got the evil wicked step mother (who makes him call her Aunt Mildred) with her dreadful pet hyena (Cuddles, ostensibly filling the role of the evil step-sisters). His father is present, but never seems to notice the abuse that is heaped upon Danny and is largely out of the house. Within it’s pages, readers are treated to a world where there is a conspiracy to make school children miserable and where one Cyril Specter is spending his afterlife attoning for the many evils he perpetuated against the world’s youth…waiting for someone to take a turn in his grave…and maybe, just maybe he’s found that person in Danny Cloke…will Danny be willing to pay the ultimate price for help asking Cyril’s help in taking revenge on his vile step-mother…and what of Cuddles, the vile and vicious pet his step-mother loves to torture him with??!!? You’ll have to read to find out how it all works out and I promise you it’s humorous, somewhat nonsensical and slightly irreverent! You won’t regret picking up A Turn in the Grave! I’d highly recommend it as a light and entertaining read for children ages 8-12 or so. It probably has a broader appeal for boys than girls, but my 9 year old daughter enjoyed it and thought it was some of the funniest stuff ever! I did it as a read aloud for my son (age 7) and he also love it and can’t wait for me to get the second in the series so I can keep reading it to him. A Turn in the Grave has some illustrations and comes in at 144 pages, so it makes a good chapter book for readers who are ready to step beyond beginner chapter books, but not quite ready for longer chapter books just yet. ( )