The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. Harper Collins Publishers; 2008. ISBN: 9780060530921.

Plot Summary:
It is the middle of the night, an entire family is murdered in their beds except for the baby in the room at the top of the stairs. The baby wakes and finds his ways outside and to the graveyard. This unsuspecting act saves him from 'the man Jack'. The baby has nothing and nobody. The ghosts of the graveyard decide to keep him and raise him. Because he is 'nobody' they name him 'Bod'. Childhood in the graveyard for a human child is not as strange or difficult as one might think. Silas is Bod's guardian and makes sure he has food and is cared for. Silas is not technically dead or a member of the undead, but he is certainly not alive. The veil between the living and the dead is fuzzy and close, if only we have the eyes to see it. Bod is granted special 'dead' skills to make his life easier in the graveyard. He can see in the dark, make himself hard to see, and walk through walls. As Bod grows he begins to wonder about 'the man Jack' and why he killed his family. A great story! It is easy to see why it won the Newbery Award.

Critical Evaluation:
Neil Gaiman gets an 'A+' for originality with this excellent coming of age story. Bod changes from helpless baby to a capable young man taking control of his destiny in this unique story of growing up in a graveyard with ghosts for parents. Part mystery, part fantasy, this novel is a great example of the current trend to mix genres. The novel is cleverly populated with many interesting characters who just happen to be dead. My favorite convention is when a resident of the graveyard is mentioned for the first time, the author includes what is written on the headstone, "They sleep to wake again". This book is a great read aloud for classrooms or families.

Reader's Annotation:
Bod doesn't fear death, he lives with it.

Information About the Author:
Neil Gaiman was born in November of 1960 is a prolific English author that has written many, many books including fiction, poetry, films, song lyrics, comics and graphic novels. Popular and talented, Neil Gaiman has been nominated and won various literary awards including the Newbery Medal, the Bram Stoker Horror Award and the Hugo Award. His works usually end up on one of the best books lists. Neil Gaiman's award winning graphic novel series, The Sandman is contained in 12 volumes that were printed in 75 issues. These days Neil lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota in an 'Adams Family type house. He has three children with his ex-wife Mary McGrath.

Genre:
Paranormal/Coming of Age

Curriculum Ties:
Literature-Award Winning Books

Booktalking Ideas:
Baby escaping a murder scene and ending up safe in a graveyard.
A baby being raised by ghosts.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
6th+

Challenge Issues:
N/A

Why Include This Book?
I like to read the Newbery winner and honor books.