A young boy grows up in a graveyard, surrounded by spirits and ghouls.

I love me some good children's lit, and I love me some Neil Gaiman even more. Put the two together, and I'm a happy girl indeed.

THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is a creepier take on THE JUNGLE BOOK, but you don't need to have read Kipling's classic to enjoy Gaiman's version. It's a wonderful little book that reads like a collection of interconnected short stories. Bod ages at least a year between chapters, and one - "The Witch's Headstone" - was in fact published as a short story a couple of years before the novel was released. His adventures are episodic, but there's a definite sense of growth and change running beneath the narrative. Gaiman shows us how Bod matures as the story unfolds, and we see how his potential for change sometimes puts him at odds with his ghostly friends. There's a lot of flashy surface stuff here, but there's also a deeper thread that parents and educators are bound to appreciate.

Be aware, though, that it is a darker story. Gaiman writes horror, and he doesn't pull many punches even when his books are for younger readers. The book begins with a murder, and many of the ghosts died unpleasant deaths. Bod's adventures are scary as well as fun. Religious families may also take issue with the fact that the graveyard seems to be the final destination for most folks.

I'd certainly recommend this, though. It's an entertaining read with a lot of heart, and the more I think about it, the more I like it. I'd love to read more about Bod, but I don't imagine there'll ever be a sequel to this. I suspect that the anticipatory feeling the reader gets as she finishes may be part of the point.

(A slightly different version of this review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina). ( )

Wonderful, beautiful, hilarious. Almost makes the Harry Potter series look clunky and contrived in comparison. ( )

After his family has been killed and the killer has failed to find the baby, Nobody Owens is granted refuge in a old graveyard which has been turned into a nature preserve. As he is raised by the Owens and helped along by a host of other spirits, a witch, Silas, and a Hell Hound/Russian tutor, Nobody grows up.
There was humor and cleverness throughout this book, although it was a pretty dark story about trying to protect a boy from a power-hungry group of Jacks who were determined to kill him. ( )

Plot Synopsis
The man Jack failed in his mission to kill the boy, lost him in a graveyard, which is where this boy stays. Called Bod, short for Nobody, this boy lives between worlds, a graveyard where strange beasts live in deep hills, ghoul-gates guard other worlds, and young girls come to play. But Bod is alive and belongs in the world of a living, a place he can not go because some still want him dead.

My Thoughts
I caved. I completely, utterly, and uncontrollably caved. I had promised myself - no buying books. I have more books in my TBR pile than most have in their homes, so I was determined to get through a large chunk of them before buying a book. But everywhere I turned, there were wonderful reviews of this book. And I thought, well it does count for like three of my challenges, and I do so love Gaiman, and then I caved. Just this one book, I promised myself. Then at the bookstore, three other books managed to jump into my hands...but more on that later. Back to this book.

While many gushed compliments like the Las Vegas Bellagio Fountains, my compliments are a bit more tempered. I enjoyed the book, absolutely enjoyed it, but when it comes to Gaiman, I'm a bigger fan of American Gods, Good Omens, and the like. As a rule, I enjoy 'adult' books more than 'kids' books.

The Graveyard Book, a kid's book, tells a wonderful story in a unique setting with memorable characters. I felt a part of the graveyard community, found myself wanting Freedom of the Graveyard, and more than anything I wanted to know more....more, more, more. The mini-plots and adventures ended too soon and begged for more detail, the characters cried out for further exposition; I wanted backstory, mini-plots rich in detail and action, intricate weavings of history and present. In other words, I wanted something that isn't a kids book. I do think it is a mark of a master creator for a book to capture me so intensely that I don't want it to end, that I am unsatisfied with what I've been given.

Memorable Scene: *PLOT SPOILER* I can't get the end scene out of my head. The image of Bod leaving the graveyard in burned in my mind. It is a moment bittersweet and yet filled with such potential.

Memorable Quote: You're always you, and that don't change; and you're always changing, and there's nothing you can do about it. ~ I love the seeming contradiction in this quote; it's obviously perfectly correct and perfectly contradictory at the same time. ( )

I love Neil Gaiman's books, and this is no exception. A young boy escapes the slaughter of his family and ends up taking refuge in the local graveyard, where the ghosts bring him up.

The book dips in and out of his life as he grows up and learns, each chapter being a particularly important part of Bod's life.

I found this charming, an easy read, and entertainingly quirky. ( )

I've read so many things that advertised as being the new Harry Potter. This does not, yet it seemed so reminiscent, but that minimizes the brilliance here. Gaiman is a master storyteller and I loved this. ( )

i loved this book! it was easy to read, and catches your attention form the very beginning. the first page is a very simple, but strinking sentence..."There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife...". oooooh, spooky. in reality, this book is exciting because its a spinoff of the jungle book classic, only its not in a jungle, its in a graveyard raised by friendly ghosts. a samll boy escapes form his home during his family's murder, and wanders to the graveyard on the hill and is greeted by an old ghost woman who convinces the rest of them that it is their duty to protect the child. the boy grows into young adulthood with full access to the graveyard and its inhabitants and secrets. children 4th grade and up could appreciate this book as a quality alternative to goosebumps...no offense mr. stine. it would be awesome as a precurser to halloween, and an interesting silent reading core book sure to grab attention. ( )

Raised in a graveyard after his family is killed, Bod (short for Nobody) Owens has ghosts for parents, a werewolf for a teacher, and a strange not-quite-dead, not-quite-alive man for a guardian. But all is not entirely well in the graveyard, because the man who killed Bod's family has never given up searching for Bod in order to complete the job, and in any case, a living boy can't stay in a graveyard forever. Written in Gaimain's usual charming and imaginative style, it's a delight from beginning to end. ( )

Yeah, this was definitely good. I do not, however, understand the people who say they desire a sequel. There is no way to continue the story without diminishing it. It ends exactly where it must. ( )

Really an excellent book (great audio book too). Nobody Owens is a sympathetic main character, and the book covers the macabre well. A true October book. ( )

Bod, although named Nobody Owens, isn’t a nobody. Someone wants him dead. The Man Jack killed his parents and sister one dark night. Bod was just a toddler and narrowly escaped The Man Jack’s knife when he wandered off into the cemetery just across the way from his parent’s home. It was highly unprecedented, but Mr. and Mrs. Owens, both ghosts who have already lived in the graveyard for many years, agree to adopt Bod when the ghost of his mother begs Mrs. Owens to care for him. The graveyard as a whole did not agree to accept Bod and give him the freedom of the graveyard only after Silas also agrees to be his guardian. Silas, unlike the ghosts inhabiting the cemetery, has access to the world outside of the graveyard and can ensure that Bod is fed and educated. Thus begins Bod’s unconventional upbringing. Despite the circumstances, Bod is a typical boy and that often gets him into trouble. It is just that which teaches him what he needs to know to survive within and without the walls of the graveyard.

I had intended to read Neverwhere as my first Neil Gaiman novel, but when I found myself with a credit at Audible.com and noticed that the author himself narrated The Graveyard Book, I had to buy it. Once it was on my MP3 player, I couldn’t stop myself from listening to it. I couldn’t be more thrilled that book was my introduction. It was alive in place and character. I loved Bod, Silas, Mrs. Owens, Scarlett, and Liza. I even enjoyed the less savory characters Bod meets along the way. One of my favorite chapters was when he meets up with the ghouls. I loved the imagination that went into creating their existence, their means of transportation, and their names: The Duke of Westminster, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Lord High Mayor of London, and The 33rd President of the United States (poor President Truman – I had to look that up because I had to know). The dialog was equally delightful – not just with the ghouls, but with all of the characters. While I’m sure that the dialog would have stood out if I had read the print version of this book, Gaiman is fantastic in his narration and really brought out the interplay and poetry in his prose.

I cannot say enough about this book. I listened to it on audio as narrated by Neil Gaiman himself. I listened to Bod’s story on my way to and from work and whenever I got a chance in between. I was enthralled by the different worlds I got to explore along with Bod. It really captured my imagination. I looked forward to my time in the graveyard and was very impressed by the author’s narration. In many ways, I think that made the experience for me. To hear the accents of the ghouls, the Owens’, Silas, and Scarlett made them all come to life. I have a print version of this novel as well and I found myself going to it to reread what I had heard that day and getting excited all over again. The ending, in so many ways, was bittersweet for me. I miss Bod, all of his friends, and all of the things to see and explore in his adoptive home. I look forward to the day that my daughters are old enough to listen to this story along with me, not that I think I can wait that long to read The Graveyard Book again for myself. ( )

Reviewed by Claire E. Gross in Horn Book Magazine (Nov/Dec2008, Vol. 84 Issue 6, p703-704) Found review through HW Wilson collection http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta...

As always Mr. Gaiman takes us to an interesting, usually unique world. In this case the Jacks are bad guys, Jack Frost, Jack Ketch, every man Jack of them! Bod is the toddler that escapes an attack by one of the Jacks by toddling into the graveyard and being adopted by a couple of ghosts, and tended by various creatures including a werewolf as well as the ghost of a witch and much more.

He has his adventures within the graveyard and occasionally outside it too. He makes friends, and eventually works to defeat the Jacks. But, and in a wonderfully handled and surprising way, his actions are not without consequence.

Brilliant.

The pictures at the start of each chapter are a delight too. ( )

A great blend of the funny (the tombstones!) and the creepy (that opening sentence!) The chapters had a fairly episodic feel, but each moved the story along as well, and I was surprised to find myself all choked up at the end. I almost really liked the illustrations, since they added nicely to the mood of the book, but any time a character was depicted, the illustrations clashed with the images in my head. I would definitely recommend this to kids who can handle a little creepy. The premise is really great - a boy being raised by a graveyard - and I'm happy to say the execution lives up to the premise. ( )

I'm not going to give this a star rating because I shouldn't have picked it up in the first place. From the description, I thought it was a young adult book but, in fact, it's a children's book, which I can't finish.

There might be an additional tiny problem too - it's a children's book and yet the content seems to be a bit on the mature side -murder, ghosts, graveyards - for children.

The main character is a child, acts like a child and has a child's problems. Since I haven't been one of these for a very long time, I cannot relate to the character, his tribulations, or his "story". I also am not a big fan of ghouls and ghosts doing things just because they would be "scary" for children.

I'm sure a 12 year old would find that it's a great story. If you like suspense, action, or a plot that has events which have a purpose other than to shock or scare children (i.e. to advance the story, perhaps, or to develop a character...) then I'd recommend you find a different book.

really enjoyed this book, its pretty dark but has some great comic moments ( )

The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman, won the Newbery Medal for 2009, so I had high hopes. While those hopes weren't dashed by any means, they weren't lived up to. The book starts out as a murder-mystery (which makes me question its genre as Children's literature, but who am I to judge?) and I was hooked.

This is the story of Nobody "Bod" Owens, a toddler who escaped from the man who killed his family and is taken in by the occupants of the local graveyard - a hodgepodge of ghosts and spirits. Bod is well cared for and brought food by his guardian, Silas, who is not quite of the spirit world, but not of the human world, either.

Eventually, of course, Bod must come face to face with his family's murderer, and I have to say there was an unexpected and greatly appreciated twist concerning that. But I found the middle part of the book was a bit boring. It seemed like Gaiman was trying to pass the time between Bod's toddler years until he was old enough to face off against his nemesis. There were a few bits of information or experiences that were important later on, but as a whole I thought it could have been a bit more exciting. The climax, however, was great, and the ending was emotional, so that definitely brought it back up to the expectations I had in the beginning.

Maybe I'm being overly critical. It has been awhile since I've read Children's literature, and I'm guessing this book is just right for a lot of kids - mystery, suspense, a coming-of-age tale where the main character feels what kids his age feel - but for me, it wasn't my favorite. Good, but not great.

3.5 out of 5 stars ( )

This book is a fantasy book. It tells the story of Bod, whose family is killed when he is just a little baby. He is taken in by a graveyard full of ghosts and raised to be an intelligent young man. He must face the man who killed his family and then live amongst the living, but is he ready? A great book that keeps you interested throughout the entire story. Have the children create a drawing of a specific character in the book. Like a bio-form for a character. Ex. Goblins

This is about a boy whos family was murdered and so he is raised in a graveyard. It tell his adventures and the line between death and human life. I wouldn't use this in my classroom. If i was I was leave this as an optional read. Students would be asked to write a book report on it.

Harry Potteresque.

I’m sure that ‘The Graveyard Book’ will appeal to people who really enjoyed the Harry Potter series because there are quite a few things in common.

Neil Gaiman is a brilliant author in his own right and I wouldn’t like to suggest he’s riding the wave of Harry-Potterism. Nevertheless, Rowling is part of the same trend. Both The Graveyard Book and the Harry Potter series of the same genre: contemporary young adult (cross-over) fantasy. The main characters both have parents who have been killed by things from another world, in which Bod/Harry have miraculously managed to escape. Their education comes not from people in our world but from the other: in Harry’s case, Hogwarts; in Bod’s case, The Graveyard spirits. Both Rowling and Gaiman use language in a masterful way, though Gaiman is possibly a little more inventive in his use of words and uses fewer adverbs (but only just).

It’s not surprising they all come from the same publisher: Bloomsbury.

The blurb on my edition of The Graveyard Book tells me that this is Gaiman’s best work yet, but I don’t agree. I preferred Coraline. I felt this one sagged a bit in the middle and I forced myself to finish it. Fortunately for me, the book isn’t very long.

But then, I’m no Harry Potter fan either. I can still see that this is wonderful example of its kind and that it will be loved by many the world over. ( )

Creepy, touching, and thoroughly enjoyable! ( )

Intriguing ( )

thoroughly enjoyable also for adults! ( )

Nobody Owens, Bod for short, is a very alive boy who happens to call a graveyard home. After his family was murdered when his was only a baby, Bod found himself adopted by ghosts and given the freedom of the graveyard. This freedom not only lets him explore things the living never could but also keeps him safe from the man who killed his family and still looks to finish his job—murdering Bod! But this is only inside the gates of the graveyard, outside is a whole alive world where Bod cannot be protected.

The 2009 Newberry Medal. Suggested ages are from 8-12 but this book could easily be enjoyed by teens either on their own or read to them. ( )

Surprising story. Seems to start out like Harry Potter and takes the reader a totally different place. ( )