Genre 6: The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0-06-053092-1

Plot Summary

While his family is being murdered by the man Jack, the fourth member of the family, a toddler, escapes from the house through the open door. The toddler makes his way outside and up the hill to the graveyard. Seeing the boy is in danger, and at the request of his now dead mother, the ghosts of the graveyard agree to take him in and protect him from those who mean him harm. Adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, the boy is given the name Nobody Owens, Bod for short. Bod is given the Freedom of the Graveyard, allowing him to live in the real world and that of his ghost friends. One inhabitant of the graveyard, Silas, is neither living nor dead. As he is the only one who can leave the graveyard, Silas agrees to be Bod's guardian and protect him until Bod can protect himself.

With the help of his new parents, his guardian Silas, and the many ghostly inhabitants of the graveyard, Bod learns his ABC's, how to Fade and Dreamwalk, and the history of the world. As he grows older, he yearns to be part of the living world, but somewhere out there lurks a killer who is determined to destroy him and leaving the graveyard could mean death for Bod.

At teh age of 14, Bod befriends a living girl who leads him to discover the circumstances of his familiy's murder. Unfortunately, the girl unknowingly leads the killer straight to Bod. Now Bod must use all the knowledge he has gained in the graveyard to outwit those who wish him harm.

Critical Analysis

While certain parts of this fantasy novel might be scary for younger children, middle school children and young adults will relate to Bod’s experiences of leaving the safety of home, attending school, encountering bullies, and learning the life-lessons that all adults are not worthy of trust and at some point you have to make your own way in the world.

Gaiman relies heavily on dialogue in this book which might prove tedious for reluctant readers, though he does paint a vivid picture of the graveyard and its endearing inhabitants – who are introduced by the inscription on their headstone. Gaimen uses these multi-generational ghosts to add levity to the story. The book also features black and white drawings by illustrator Dave McKean. Gaimen uses a series of puns on the name Jack portraying the villain a bit less frightening than he should be, though it does not get in the way of the story.

The Graveyard Book, while dark with the themes of murder, ghosts, and deception also manages to be uplifting with the themes of love, friendship, family, and good triumphing over evil.

Review Excerpts

Booklist starred review: "This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages."

Horn Book: "Warmly rendered by the author, Bod's ghostly extended family is lovably anachronistic; their mundane, old-fashioned quirks add cheerful color to a genuinely creepy backdrop. McKean's occasional pages and spots of art enhance the otherworldly atmosphere with a flowing line, slightly skewed figures, and plenty of deep grays and blacks."

School Library Journal: "Bod's love for his graveyard family and vice versa provide the emotional center, amid suspense, spot-on humor, and delightful scene-setting."

Connections

As Gaimen states his inspiration for the story as Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, lessons could include a comparison of the two stories.

Related Books

Other books by Neil Gaiman:

Coraline

Interworld

M is for Magic

Book cover from www.librarything.com