The Graveyard Book

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gaiman, Neil. 2008. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Ill. Dave McKean. Harper Collins Publishers. New York,
ISBN 9780060530821.
Also included: an Audiobook Review

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Young Nobody Owens, nicknamed “Bod,” was the lone survivor of a vicious attack on his family by a man named “Jack,” when he was merely a toddler. He escaped his parent’s and sister’s fate when he climbed out of his crib, unnoticed by the killer, and found his way out an open. door. He tottered up the hill, toward a dark graveyard. When the orphan arrived, he was met by a gathering of ghosts. After some debate, they decided Mr. and Mrs. Owens (ghosts who always wanted a child when they were alive), would raise the child as their own. Silas, a "man" living between the living and dead, would be his guardian, bringing him necessities from the “other” world and offer words of wisdom.

As the book progresses Bod grows to teen hood. He learns many lessons along the way, from inside the graveyard, and when he ventures outside the gates (to school and to search for his family’s killer, Jack). As he ages his confidence in himself grows as he learns life’s lessons and grows to understand his restrictions. The graveyard is his safe place, his home where he is loved and protected. The outside world is scary and Bod has his ups and downs as he learns the ways of the living.

Eventually, Bod grows up and ventures out into the world, somewhat reluctantly, but not before eradicating the world of the man who killed his family and the other “Jacks” in the organization that planned their demise. With a heavy heart he bid goodbye to the dead, the ghosts, witches, werewolves, and caring citizens of the Graveyard. With a little money and the passport Silas offered him, Bod began his new life, “with his eyes and heart wide open.”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

I fell in love with Bod and his ghostly family. This story has heart. Not only does it have heart, it’s a page turner because the reader can hardly wait to see what happens to young Bod and the dangers lurking for him in the world outside the graveyard. Gaiman somehow works magic by having the reader believe it is completely possible for ghosts, witches, ghouls, werewolves, and dead people to love, care for, and raise a loving, bright, thoughtful, somewhat ordinary boy.

Staying true to a fantasy, Gaiman offers Bod obstacles to overcome and villains to vanquish. This is not unusual in a fantasy, but the graveyard setting is described in such detail the reader might be able to find his or her way around the confines, if it really existed. Each character Gaiman introduces has their own unique, quirky personality that is enduring to the reader, (with the exception of the "Jacks" and Bod's classmates). I must admit, I cried when Bod said goodbye to his graveyard family to venture out into the world.

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK has charm and humor. I found myself laughing out loud at Bod’s adventures and encounters with his ghostly friends. Gaimen kept his book emotionally honest. Although he had a host of otherworldly characters, he describes feelings that teenage readers can relate to. As Bod came in and out of the graveyard, he learned love and lessons to carry him through to the real world until the time he returned. I, myself, would love to see another book with Bod as the main character and his adventures outside the graveyard.

I was a bit disappointed with the some of the illustrations in the story. Although most are perfect with ghostlike qualities and some help the reader understand the text, as an adult reader I had a vision of what Bod looked like and it was not the boy illustrated in the book.

Overall, however, I loved this book and would recommend it to young adolescents and adults alike. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I checked-out the audiotapes from the library so I could hear the author read his own words.

4. AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

Narrated by the author, unabridged, 7 CDs – 7.75 hours, Slipcase packaging checked out from the public library,

I enjoyed this book so much I decided to listen to it on audio. I was delighted to read the author was the narrator of his own book. I am always overjoyed to hear authors read their own work because they know the way it was intended to be read. Gaimen has the perfect voice to narrate his book. It is deep and clear, soft-spoken, and mesmerizing, which results in the listener concentrating on the words being read. Gaiman’s phrasing is perfection.

The sound quality of the CD’s are excellent, lively string, plucky instruments begin and end each CD. The clarity of Gaiman’s voice is perfect, with his slight accent. Gaimen changes his voice for multiple voices, credible for men and women’s alike.

The reading is highly engaging. The book is so wonderful it is difficult to stop listening even when life pulls the reader in other directions.

I listen to many books on tape and truly enjoy the experience. Rarely, however, do I enjoy a tape as much as I enjoy turning pages of a book myself. I have not enjoyed listening to a tape as much as I did THE GRAVEYARD BOOK since I heard Khaled Hosseini’s 2003, THE KITE RUNNER.

5. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From School Library Journal - …Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family.

Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)…this gothic fantasy almost lives up to its extravagant advance billing. The opening is enthralling. The author riffs on the Jungle Book, folklore, nursery rhymes and history; he tosses in werewolves and hints at vampires — and he makes these figures seem like metaphors for transitions in childhood and youth. When the chilling moments do come, they are as genuinely frightening as only Gaiman can make them.

Booklist (starred review) (THE GRAVEYARD BOOK) is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel's ultimate message is strong and life affirming.

Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) - Wistful, witty, wise — and creepy. Gaiman's riff on Kipling's Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening...to the melancholy, life-affirming ending...[T]his needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child."

The New York Times – THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender shows Gaiman at the top of his form…The story's language and humor are sophisticated, but Gaiman respects his readers and trusts them to understand…In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable.
Review-a-Day – THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is one of Gaiman's best novel…this book is a joy to read. The scenes and characters spring vividly to life in a way that helped mark Gaiman's reputation as a comic writer but doesn't always happen in his prose. Don't be surprised to find yourself wishing you could trade places with Bod and grow up in a cemetery, yourself.

2009 Newbery Medal Winner
2009 Hugo Award Winner for Best Novel
2010 Carnegie Medal Winner Boston Globe–

Horn Book Award Honor Book

ALA Best Book for Young Adults Children’s Book Award

ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice Horn Book Fanfare

Kirkus Reviews - Best Children’s Book Time Magazine Top Ten Fiction

Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

New York Public Library Stuff for the Teen Age


6. CONNECTIONS

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK as been chosen to be written into a major motion picture. It will be interesting to have the students watch the film when it emerges to compare the plots and watch the visual effects in the film.

There is an excellent trailer of THE GRAVEYARD BOOK narrated by the author at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_UUVwTaemk. Along with the use of the book’s illustrations and a dark “virtual tour” of the graveyard, a short summary of the book is exposed.

Have the students create their own posters to “sell” other students on the merits of the book.

Encourage the students to choose their favorite scene from THE GRAVEYARD BOOK and illustrate it. Suggest they attempt to evoke different moods – “scary, creepy, funny, or mysterious.”

Gaiman uses intriguing vocabulary in his novel. Have the students look for interesting words, determine the definitions, and place them on a bulletin board or anchor chart to choose for their own writing. (For example: diffuse, drear, expostulate, gorse, mausoleum, obelisk, unflappable, abate, macabre, pearlescent, reprehensible, gargantuan, palpable, transpire).