The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. 
Illustrated by Dave McKean.
HarperCollinsChildren. 2008.
ISBN 97800605300921.
$17.99. Hardcover. 320 pages.

Readers Annotation
When his parents are murdered, a baby boy wanders into a graveyard where he is adopted by Mister and Mistress Owens. Nobody “Bod” Owens grows up amongst the dead, protected by the Jack of All Trades who hunts him.

Plot Summary
Nobody “Bod” Owens grows up in a graveyard after his parents and sister are brutally murdered one night. Named Nobody because he looks like nobody but himself, Baby Bod escaped by wandering into the graveyard. His ghostly mother pleading for his life convinces Mistress Owens to adopt the youngster and raise him as her own. With the protection of the graveyard, and his guardian Silas, Bod grows up knowing few living people. Silas, neither living nor dead makes sure that Bod receives the food and clothing a living child needs. This denizens of the graveyard provide his early education, and eventually a living tutor is hired to educate Bod when Silas goes away. Miss Lepescu, his tutor, moonlights as a weredog, and is assigned as additional protection for him. There are many dangers in the graveyard for a young man, and Bod experiences most of them. He meets ghouls who take him across the underground desert to their secret city. It is Miss Lepescu who saves him. The dangers in Bod’s short lifetime seem never ending. Bod is thirteen years old when the Jacks of All Trades arrive at the graveyard. It is up to Bod and his friend Scarlett to find a way to destroy them all. Scarlett is one of the few living characters. She appears in the story when Bod is very young, and again when he is a teenager. The prophecy of the doom of the Jacks of all Trades now fulfilled Bod begins to lose his ability to see the ghosts. With Silas’ help, he leaves his home to make his way in the world of the living.

Critical Evaluation
The Graveyard Book won The John Newbery Medal in 2009. The book is a blend of several genres. Its blend of fantasy, horror and mystery makes this book an original. The cast of characters is both creepy and funny. The murderous Jacks of all Trades are creepy villains. However, I never understood just what their job description entailed. Bod’s guardian Silas, who is neither living nor dead, is never fully explained. Although he is his guardian, he is not affectionate. He sees to Bod’s earthly needs, but we are never privy to his reasoning. The Owens’s are the perfect adoptive parents for Bod, kind, loving and loyal, they died childless in the 1700s’. The ghostly characters are interesting because they cover a range of historic periods. Their opinions are always based on the knowledge from their living time periods. While the overarching theme of this story is the affirmation of life, it is masterfully told through the eyes of the dead. Gaiman has left the ending open for a sequel to take place. Although this book is written for younger teens, it is a good read for reluctant older teens.

Information about the author
Gaiman, born and raised in England currently resides new Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has won numerous awards for his work, including: the Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, and Mythopoeic awards. You can find out more about him on his website at http://www.neilgaiman.com/, or on his blog at http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/blood-blood-in-unimaginable-quantities.html.

Genre
Fantasy, horror, mystery

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
None

Challenge defense ideas
There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this book. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could read the book and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have read the book. You can find out more about this book on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Book-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060530928/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258862647&sr=8-1

Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss why Bod is adopted by the Owens’s.
2. Talk about his guardian Silas.

Reading Level/Age
Children and Young Adults. Ages 10 and up.

Why I included this title 
Although this book is written for younger children it has a timeless quality. It is also extremely well written, and it won many awards.