Grave Expectations    by Charles Dickens & Sherri Browning Erwin Order:  USA  Can Simon & Schuster, 2011 (2011) Softcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Wanda Plourde Young orphaned werewolf Pip lives with his sister (who has a nasty temper) and her husband Joe. A blacksmith with a generous and gentle nature, Joe tries to be a father to Pip and to protect him from his sister. One night when Pip is visiting his parents' grave, with a full moon in the sky, someone grabs him. A scary stranger orders Pip to help him or be killed. So Pip obtains supplies for the man, unaware that he is a convict. This act ripples through Pip's life. A lawyer arrives, announcing that Pip has a benefactor, who will pay to turn him into a gentleman. Pip has no idea who this person is, nor is he allowed to ask. Pip has his own suspicions as to the identity of his benefactor and tries to do the right thing. He goes to Miss Havisham's house to say goodbye and to thank her for all she has done. He also bids Estella, with whom he has fallen in love, farewell (Pip and Estella met at Miss Havisham's house, and played together under a watchful eye.) Pip heads to London, to be schooled with his own werewolf kind, to become a gentleman. He undergoes many trials and tribulations, and also has a lot of growing up to do. Pip has many expectations and does not realize that there are pitfalls ahead of him. He will try to overcome his wolfish ways in order to become the gentleman Estella desires. This excellent story takes readers on the life journey of a young werewolf boy, learning about love, society and friendship. It makes us think about prejudices against the different and the untamed. Grave Expectations (a reworking of the Charles Dickens classic, Great Expectations) was a pleasure to read, and is a pleasure to recommend to others. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Fantasy books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews