The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman

Bibliographic Information:
Gaiman, N. (2008). The Graveyard Book. Illustrated by Dave McKean. HarperCollins. ISBN-10: 0060530928

Book Awards:
2009 Newbery Medal
2009 Hugo Award
2009 Locus Award

Plot Summary:
When an assassin kills the toddler's family, he toddles up the street to the big graveyard on the hill. The ghosts decide to keep him safe and raise him, since he has no one else, and the assassin is still after him. Silas, who is neither living nor dead, and can leave the cemetery at will, offers to be his guardian and acquire food for him. The ghosts name the boy Nobody, and they teach him all they know-- both human knowledge and ghostly knowledge. As Bod grows up, he becomes aware that someday, he must find and face the assassin who killed his family, or he will never be safe.

Critical Evaluation:
Gaiman tells a unique story about a boy who straddles the world between the living and the dead. Bod is an interesting character-- a little cool and dark, like his adopted family, but not unsympathetic. The elements of paranormal inside the world of the graveyard are widely varied; there are the ghosts, a vampire, a werewolf, the Sleer (a semi-demonic barrow guardian spirit), the ghouls, the Lady on the Grey, Liza's witchcraft, and the night-gaunts. These paranormal elements contrast sharply with the extreme normality of an English town outside the graveyard fence. Bod moves back and forth between the two worlds, leaving the reader to wonder how they will reconcile.

Reader's Annotation:
Can a boy raised by ghosts and a vampire use his unearthly talents to defeat the assassin who killed his family?

About the Author:
Neil Gaiman was born in November i 1960, and grew up in England. He began his literary career as a journalist and book reviewer. He wrote short stories and comics, including the popular Sandman series. He went on to write children's books as well as adult books. He currently lives in New York city.

Genre:
Paranormal fiction

Curriculum Ties:
None

Booktalking Ideas:
What would ghosts teach a child?

Interest Age:
9+

Challenge Issues:
Paranormal elements
If a challenge should occur,
Read the book! Urge parent to do the same. Cite awards and reviews. Refer to collection development policy. If dispute continues, parents' wishes regarding their own children will be respected.

Reason Included:
Had to read it for class. I'm so glad I did! My kids like it too.