#2 Fantasy - The Graveyard Book

Author: Neil Gaiman

Credit: Neil Gaiman

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gaiman, Neil, and Dave McKean. The Graveyard Book. New York: HarperCollins Pub., 2008. ISBN 9780060530945.

PLOT SUMMARY

Nobody Owens is a typical boy, except he lives in a graveyard and ghosts raised him. The graveyard holds many dangers and adventures for Bod. Also, it is risky and dangerous outside the graveyard for Bod, in The Graveyard Book.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Neil Gaiman creates a fantasy novel made up of a cast of characters of ghosts, ghouls, vampires, werewolves, and witches. The setting primarily takes place in Bod's graveyard. The theme is good vs. evil; you have a variety cast of characters in The Graveyard Book such as Jack who killed Bod's family to Maureen Quilling, the bully who are human along with Bod as he grows from a baby to a teenager. The next variety of characters you have is creatures that are good, such as your werewolves and the Hounds of God and evil such as the ghouls. Gaiman's style of writing in The Graveyard Book is unique because each chapter reads like an episode in Bod's life from infant to when he leaves his "home" forever.

The illustrations by Dave McKean add life to The Graveyard Book. Black and white sketches are added to each chapter to showcase important events in Bod's life. For example, at the beginning of the novel when Jack enters Bod's house to kill his family Dave McKean shows you clips of Jack entering the house, going up the stairs with emphasis on the big knife. Another example as Bod leaves the graveyard forever at the end of the novel, his hauntingly beautiful mother (a ghost) is on a horse. The illustration is a simple, pale pencil sketch and is an important event in Bod's life as she wishes him a happy life, to go live life outside the graveyard. 

AWARDS AND REVIEWS

* Newbery Medal - 2009

* Hugo Award for Best Novel - 2009

* Locus Award for Best Young Adult Novel - 2009

* Carnegie Medal - 2010

* British Fantasy Award for Best Novel - 2009

* World Fantasy Award for Best Novel - 2009

* Mythopoeic Award for Children's Literature - 2009

* "Wistful, witty, wise and creepy. This needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a          child." - Kirkus Review

* Lucid, evocative prose and dark fairy-tale motifs imbue the story with a dreamlike quality."      - The Horn Book

CONNECTIONS

Activities To Use With This Book:

* Neil Gaiman has extension questions and activities to go along with his books at the following website: http://files.harpercollins.com/PDF/ReadingGuides/0060530928.pdf.

Book Connections:

* Coraline - Neil Gaiman ISBN 9780380807345

* Stardust - Neil Gaiman ISBN 9780061689246 

* Blog created for the purpose of TWU, Children's Literature Course #5603, and for the love of reading!