BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gaiman Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. Read by Neil Gaiman. Prince Frederick, MD: Recorded Books. ISBN 9781436158848
PLOT SUMMARY
After the murder of his family, toddler Nobody Owens (Bod), wonders into a graveyard where he's taken in by a childless, ghostly couple. Bod finds it quite normal to be raised, educated and protected by witches, ghosts and Silas, who is not of the living or the dead. However, Bod must be careful never to leave the graveyard or he'll come under attack from the mysterious Jack, who killed his family. Who is Jack and why is he after Bod? Narrated by the author, this unabridged audio book will thrill you with its ghostly images about a young boy growing up in a very different world from our own.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Graveyard Book is the first book to win both the Newbery (US) and Carnegie (UK) Medals. It also won the 2009 Hugo Award for Best Novel. In this 7 CD, unabridged audio book, the author himself is the narrator and is excellent narrating his own book. His pacing is slow and menacing when telling Jacks story, yet speeds up in a youthful chatter when young Bod. On occasion, the character's accents aren't differentiated enough, but it may just be a case of an American listening to an English accent.
This modern ghost story is about growing up in a graveyard, making friends, and solving the mystery of who killed his family and why. Set somewhere in England, the ghosts, ghouls, witches and other beings speak in the linguistic English in which they died and Gaiman seems to have fun with a variety of accents. The graveyard has been there since the time of the Druids and hasn't had any new inhabitants in over 100 years, and Bod is educated about events spanning from Pagan to Victorian times.
Gaiman has created likable graveyard characters and each have an interesting back story to how they ended up in the graveyard. Jack is both scary (the description of him murdering Jack's family) and comical (he still lives with his mother!) On occasion, Gaiman has Bod and his friend, Savannah, sound too mature for their age, but it doesn't distract from the story. Although the story ends somewhat predictably, the twist about Jack is fun and insightful.
This is a horror story that is enjoyable for children 10+. Although this reviewer's son wasn't interested in reading the book, he definitely enjoyed the audiobook. There are some vivid descriptions that may disturb younger readers/listeners, but nothing is prolonged and Gaiman quickly moves on to Bod's next adventure. Highly recommended.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
The book's power lies in Gaiman's ability to bring to quirky life..the graveyard's many denizens, including a protective vampire and a feisty medieval witch. ...this novel proves rich, bittersweet and very satisfying. - The Washington Post
"The Graveyard Book, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form. In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable enchantment." - The New York Times Book Review
"Lucid, evocative prose and dark fairy-tale motifs imbue the story with a dreamlike quality...this ghost-story-cum-coming-of-age novel as readable as it is accomplished." - Horn Book, Starred review
"This is an utterly captivating take 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...this is a rich story with broad appeal." - BookList, Starred review
"The graveyard book is suspenseful and exciting. It seems dark, but also has a strong message within the ghostly characters which is "listen to your guardians!" Nicholas G. Malanga - reviewer's son
CONNECTIONS
http://www.mousecircus.com/videotour.aspx
-Neil Gaiman is well-known for his strange, creative, and often, creepy, books. Here are just a few of his other books students may enjoy.
-Coraline. 2002. ISBN 0-06-113937-8
-Stardust. 1999. ISBN 978-0-380-97728-4
-Anansi Boys. 2005. ISBN 0-06-051518-X
-M is for magic. 2009. ISBN 1439583447
-Here are two Neil Gaimon's websites which have many interesting links.
- http://www.neilgaiman.com/
- http://www.mousecircus.com/ (for younger students)
- Neil Gaimon has created three games that correspond to the book. Have students play the games after they've read the book to create new connections.
-http://www.mousecircus.com/GraveyardSudoku.aspx (Sudoku)
-http://www.mousecircus.com/CrypticConnection.aspx (Cryptic Connections)
-http://www.mousecircus.com/EternalWords.aspx (Scrambled words)
-There are many types of monsters mentioned in the book, including werewolves, vampires, witches, ghouls, etc. Have books nearby on these topics for students to continue reading. Here are some suggestions.
-Dell, Christopher. Monsters: a bestiary of devils, demons, vampires, werewolves, and other magical creatures. ISBN 978-1-594-77394-5
-Hawes, Jason. Ghost hunt: chilling tales of the unknown. ISBN 0316099597
-Jeffrey, Gary. Werewolves. ISBN 1433960516
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