Book Review: The Graveyard Book

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Ill. Dave McKean. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0060530928

2. PLOT SUMMARY
When Nobody Owens' family is murdered by a Man Named Jack, the still crawling baby escapes to the nearby graveyard. When he arrives there, the ghosts of the centuries dead Mr. and Mrs. Owens vow to the ghosts of Nobody's newly dead parents that they will raise him as their own. The child is given the lay of the graveyard and receives his education from his guardian, Silas and Silas's friend, Miss Lupescu, but all of the ghosts seem to have something to share. His only completely alive friend is a little girl named Scarlet who thinks that Nobody is just her imaginary friend. Sadly, Scarlet moves away after a brief friendship and Nobody is left to find friendship among the dead. Meanwhile, the Man Named Jack continues to look for the child that got away so that he may finish his mission of death. As Nobody grows up, his curiosity gets him into other worldly trouble with ghouls and a monster called the Sleer and there are a few close calls with the Man Name Jack. He becomes a brave young man and decides that he will avenge his family's deaths. When Nobody is a teenager, Scarlet comes back into Nobody's life. She meets Mr. Frost in the graveyard and a friendship develops. Nobody trusts Scarlet with his secret, and thinking that Mr. Frost could be of help, she encourages him to tell Mr. Frost as well. Unfortunately, Mr. Frost turns out to be the Man Named Jack! Nobody saves the day with an elaborate plan involving most of the graveyard that ends with the Man Named Jack being taken by the Sleer for eternity.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
With magic leagues of men, werewolves, ghosts and vampires, this book is pure fantasy. The pace is quick and the interwoven bits of action keep the reader more than interested. Even though most of Nobody's relationships are with the dead, they are very well developed and easily relatable for the average reader. Teens and adults alike will enjoy this suspenseful ghost story.

McKean's beautiful pen drawings do a wonderful job of echoing the eerie mood of the book. There are just enough illustrations sprinkled throughout the book to appeal to the young adult audience.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Newbery Medal Winner
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family"
BOOK LIST "plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming"

5. CONNECTIONS
* Gather books to share about old British graveyards and the role they played in the social lives of Victorians.
* Older readers might enjoy a chance to read Audrey Neffenger's HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY which is set in the same graveyard and written at the same time as this book. Highly recommended.