Plot Summary: Nobody (Bod for short) has had a unique life. When he was just 18 months old his entire family was killed, and he found his way to the nearby graveyard, where the ghosts that live there took him in. As the only living member of the graveyard, all of the graveyard is open to him, and he is able to do things that only the dead can do. While Bod loves his ghostly family, and his guardian, Silas (who isn't quite dead, but isn't quite living), he finds that he doesn't quite fit into the world where no one ever ages but him. After meeting his first real live friend Bod is even more uncertain about where he belongs. However, when he makes his first foray into the real world, he finds that not everywhere is as safe as the graveyard, and the people who hurt his real life family might be searching for him too. Bod struggles to find balance and his real place in the world, without losing where he's come from, and all of the cool things he can do.
Critical Evaluation: Gaiman creates a delightful world in a ghostly version of The Jungle Book. The descriptions of Bod, the ghosts, mysterious Silas and the unnerving Jack of All Trades really paint the picture, and draw the reader into the story. The Graveyard Book is the winner of several high awards and the reason is clear from page 1 on. Gaiman shows once again why he's the master and by the 5th chapter or so I wanted to move into the graveyard, or at least adopt Bod.
Reader's Annotation: Bod's always been nobody and his only family are ghosts. But somebody out there is hunting Bod and they're getting closer.
About the Author: Neil Gaiman is a decorated author who writes young adult and adult fiction specializing in fantasy and science fiction. Born in England, he began his writing career as a journalist and went on to become a novelist, a poet, a cartoonist and a playwright. His works cross genre and age lines and are beloved by many many fans across the world.
Gaiman lives in Minneapolis and Coraline has been turned into a successful movie. He recently joined Twitter and has 1.5 million followers.
Information retrieved from http://www.neilgaiman.com/
Genre: Fantasy
Curriculum Ties: N/A
Booktalking Ideas: Gaiman has described The Graveyard Book as a
Reading Level: 11+
Interest Age: 13+
Challenge Issues: N/A
Why is This Included: Neil Gaiman is an immensly popular YA author and this novel provides an interesting story that boy readers will enjoy, and is highly decorated with literary awards.
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