Book Review: The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book
By Neil Gaiman
HarperCollins
Publication Date: September 30, 2008
ISBN: 9780060530921

“The boundaries are always there—between the graveyard and the world beyond, between life and death, and the crossing of them.” -Neil Gaiman

Bod is an unusual boy who was raised in an unusual place.

As a baby, Bod miraculously escapes from a brutal murderer and makes his way to a graveyard. With his parents and older sister dead, the residents of the graveyard - the ghosts - take him in and vow to protect him. Named Nobody Owens, the boy learns practical things, like reading and writing, as well as otherworldly talents, such as fading and moving through bars and coffins. With a pale complexion and the ability to blend in with his gray surroundings, Bod feels comfortable within his shadowy home. That is, until he wishes to make friends, see the world, go to school.

In short scenes, the book follows Bod as he ages from baby to teen, growing up in contemporary Britain in and outside the graveyard. He learns that ghouls aren't always friendly and the undead still have a lot to teach as he learns his limitations and ages beyond his years. In Gaiman's chilling young adult novel, Bod finds new dangers and new strengths around every corner...and tombstone.

The Graveyard Book is not as scary as it sounds, but it is pretty chilling at times. The book is full of amazingly crafted characters and plots that all weave together in the final climactic moments. From witches to guardians that are dead, but not quite dead, the book has everything to provoke an active imagination. What I love most about Gaiman's writing is that he doesn't change is verbiage even though he's writing for young adults. Instead, he challenges his readers to keep up, giving them far more credit than many other authors would. I find that refreshing.

The Newberry award winning book is a fun journey through the streets of "Old Town" Britain. Although the book does start with a horrific murder, it's not shown, just hinted at and even in the end, the battle isn't too brutal for children to read about. The book, in it's Jungle Book way of a child being raised by ghosts, shows how to learn from mistakes, how to grow and how to follow your instincts. It shows the beauty in learning and the need for connections.

I really enjoyed The Graveyard Book. I loved the characters. Bod was adorable, but it was Silas who I liked most - his mysterious guardian who cared more than one would imagine. I loved Bod's ghost parents, Mr. And Mrs. Owens who I imagined to be happily plump and constantly baking deserts (that is, if they were alive). I loved the graveyard too, as a setting. Gaiman made it just haunting enough to be realistic, but friendly and comfortable enough so you didn't worry about Bod.

The book was a journey - a fun one that illustrated Bod growing up scene by scene. It wrapped you up and kept you interested up to the very last page, with characters and plot lines that are hard to forget. It was incredibly well done and a remarkable edition to Gaiman's already favorable list of publications. And as it's on it's 53rd week on the NY Times best seller list, I'm clearly not the only one to think so.

US official site for the book

UK official site for the book (where you can see the awesome illustrations by Dave McKean)

Excellent article from the NY Times on Gaiman's book

Gaiman's blog (and his reaction to it being a best seller for one year straight)

Listen to Gaiman reading the book at Mouse Circus