Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York: Harper Perennial. ISBN 9780062081551

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The story of Nobody Owens, or Bod to his friends, is a sad tale. The only survivor of a murder spree that eliminated his whole family, Bod finds himself in a cemetery, alone in the world and only a toddler. He is “adopted” by ghostly Mr. and Mrs. Owens, and is raised in the cemetery among the dead with the mysterious Silas as his guardian. Bod develops friendships with many of the ghosts and has supernatural adventures all while attempting to evade Jack, his family’s murderer.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

At first glance, The Graveyard Book may appear to be just like any other classic good vs. evil story, but upon further reflection it is a story about the love of family. In many ways, Bod is a typical child, with the typical problems that affect a young boy. However, as Bod grows up in the graveyard, he is tutored by the mystical Miss Lupescu, befriends a witch’s ghost, and must escape being kidnapped by ghouls. His most terrifying foe is Jack, the murderer of his human family, and the man desperate to get rid of Bod once and for all.

The majority of The Graveyard Book contains small snippets of Bod’s life in each chapter, but the specter of Jack hunting Bod casts an ominous cloud over every page. Gaiman’s descriptions of Jack are terrifying, but are tempered by the loving and fascinating characters that exist in Bod’s cemetery.

Dave McKean’s black and gray illustrations are sprinkled throughout The Graveyard Book and add just the right aura of mystery and intensity to each chapter. This edition also contains a brief interview with Neil Gaiman discussing his motives for writing The Graveyard Book, a question and answer section, and plot summaries for additional books written by Gaiman.

4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Newbery Medal Winner

ALA Notable Children’s Book

ALA Best Book for Young Adults

American Bookseller Association's "Best Indie Young Adult Buzz Book"

IndieBound Award

Horn Book Honor

Hugo Award - "Best Novel"

Starred review in Kirkus: “Childhood fears take solid shape in the nursery-rhyme–inspired villains, while heroism is its own, often bitter, reward.”

Starred review in Booklist: “There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages.”

Positive review in School Library Journal: “This is not yet another silly little fantasy novel, but something with weight and depth. The fact that it just happens to be loads of fun to boot is simply a nice bonus.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Neil Gaiman created a website exclusively for his young readers. It is located at http://www.mousecircus.com/default.aspx

* Other Young Adult/Children's books by Neil Gaiman:

Coraline. ISBN 9780380807345

Odd and the Frost Giants. ISBN 9780061671739

The Wolves in the Walls. ISBN 9780380810956

Blueberry Girl. ISBN 9780060838102