Title: The Graveyard Book

Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrations by: Dave McKean

Genre: Modern Fantasy-Special Fantasy Situations

Awards:
Newbery Honor Medal, 2009
Booklist Starred, 2008
Horn Book Starred, 2008
Kirkus Review Starred, 2008

Plot Summary:

While a triple murder is taking place elsewhere in the house, a toddler scales the railings of his crib and makes his way down the steep staircase and out the front door into the street. The babe, the killers prime target, has escaped and is now making his way up the street, through the small spaces between the fence gate and into a small hilltop ancient graveyard. The inhabitants of the graveyard include a paranormal "motley crew" cast of characters, whom after some debate and a plea from the ghost of the child's mother, become the young boys family, providers and protectors.

A couple, (Mr. and Mrs. Owens) who had been married over 250 years in life-and-death, never had children of their own and agreed to act as his the child's parents. A tall distinguished man in all black (Silas) agreed to act as the child's guardian between the living and the dead. Several additional well developed characters, and I mean "characters" play an influential role in the child's upbringing. Having not a name that anyone knew they called him "Nobody", "Nobody Owens"

Bod, as he was known, spent his entire childhood having adventures interacting with his paranormal family and friends. He also made acquaintance with a young girl (Scarlett) who would frequent the area near the graveyard with her mother. The setting is in England and in the midst of what at times is a spooky tale, the nomenclature and old English sayings were quite lighthearted and rather humorous. In the closing chapters, the killer of Bod's family had returned, this time with friends, to finish the job and Kill Bod. The ending is one that is both hair-raising and thrilling.

My Reaction:

I enjoyed the book. While reading it however I did become bored during several chapters when there were lulls in the action and the plot. Each character was well developed to suit their particular role. The setting descriptions were vivid, demanded by a good fantacy. Character interactions were quite witty and also well described, realistic and use of regional language was delightful and humorous. The use of intermittent vague illustrations enhanced the setting and developed the characters more completely. The thrilling encounters made the lulls worth stumbling through, because it was at these times that I could not put the book down. While thrilling and at times somber, the book also presents underlying themes of family, friendship, morality and loss.

Reader Recommendation:

While the recommended ages are YA 11-16, I believe that more mature readers would also enjoy the book. The vocabulary and nomenclature are at times advanced, humorous, and the spooky paranormal situations are definately descriptive and captivating, worthy maintaining the attention of more advanced readers. Reluctant readers may shy away from the story when they see the 307 pages contained within.

Book Talk Hook:

The best way to get students hooked on this book is to get them into it by paraphrasing the early pages of the book.

While the Father lie on the floor and the mother in the bed, both freshly dead, the older child also had been murdered as the killer ("The Man Jack") headed upstairs to the baby's room. As "The Man Jack" Lifted his hand, the knife blade shown in the moonlight. He focused on the dark figure in the crib, aimed for the chest, and lowered his arm, He had pierced the chest of a teddy bear. But.....Where was the killer's main target? Where Was The Child??!!!......."