Review: A MUST Read for Younger Readers!  Fun Fantasy!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 18, 2013
Looking for a great story for middle-grade readers? Take a look at this delightful tale from Brian Clopper, an author with a gift for creative story-telling! Graham the Gargoyle is an enchanting tale of a young gargoyle preparing for his big flight test while dealing with the impending death of his beloved grandfather. Not to worry, there is nothing dark and ominous here, on the contrary, this is a sweet story of a young gargoyle, kind of an outcast, facing the same things that human children face, insecurity, impending loss and bullying and how he triumphs against the odds. His best friend is loyal, smart and a troll, another outcast, but Ot always has Graham's back!Graham's grandfather is dying, or "crossing over". (By the way, for all of the pages written about gargoyles, not one ever explained what actually happens to older gargoyles, until now.) Graham learns that when a gargoyle ages, they start to become too stone-like to move and they go to the human realm to become a guardian against evil, protecting others from atop their perches on human buildings. Seriously, what a wonderful way to help ease the fear of dying!Brian Clopper loves his work, it shows through in his easy style of writing, the way the story unfolds and the characters from his imaginary realm of "Cascade" come to life as real as any "mortal" child. With its short chapters, Graham the Gargoyle is a perfect book for younger readers, bedtime reading or summer reading!This is a wonderful story to encourage reading for children! It flows smoothly, but gently challenges a young reader's mind. Brian Clopper has done an outstanding job here!