LS5603: Fantasy 1—“The Graveyard Book" By Neil Gaiman

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2008. ISBN 978-0-06-053092-1

2.     PLOT SUMMARY
In the darkness of the night, the assassin Jack comes to put an untimely end to a family. Despite his careful planning, one of the family, a boy barely old enough to be a toddler, escapes the murderer's clutches and finds himself in a graveyard. Like all graveyards, it's full of dead people and their ghosts. However, these ghosts do something very unusual; after finding out what happened to the boy's family, they decide to raise him in the graveyard. As the boy grows, the only living one among his family of dead people, he gains supernatural powers to help him deal with the dangers of the graveyard and the inevitable return of Jack. 

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Graveyard Book's characters are memorable by their very nature of being so different. The book spans about 12 years, and many characters come and go, but even the minor characters have distinct personalities, often given by the time period they died in. Many of the characters speak with different accents according to the time they died, which helps distinguish the many ghosts the main character interacts with. Bod, the main character, seems to be a very different main character, almost otherwordly because of his upbringing, but teens will empathize with his feelings of loneliness and not belonging.
Unlike many traditional fantasy books where the call is obvious and the quest spelled out, Gaiman's book meanders down the plot. It reminds me of the movie Spirited Away by Miyazaki; the journey is one that all people take through coming of age, not by an actual quest. It might seem slow at first to a reader, but it moves faster as Bod starts growing older.
The setting, like Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series, is on our own world, if our world had magic in it. The theme of family is strong throughout the book, and the struggles of growing up are universal. This book may seem a little daunting for younger readers, as Gaiman is not afraid of using bigger words when appropriate. 

4.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• Newbery Medal winner
• Carnegie Medal winner
• Hugo Award winner for Best Novel
• From School Library Journal: "Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family."
• From Booklist: "This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages. Grades 6-10."

5.     CONNECTIONS
Other children and YA books by Neil Gaiman:

• The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel: Vol. 1 ISBN 978-0062194817
• Coraline ISBN 978-0380807345
• M is for Magic ISBN 978-0061186479
• Stardust ISBN 978-0061689246
• Fortunately Milk ISBN 978-0062224088
• Please note that Neil Gaiman also does a great deal of novels meant for adults and is possibly most famous for his graphic novel series, Sandman. While an excellent series, plese don't assume that just because it's a graphic novel it is appropriate for children. Sandman is meant for mature readers and while I do not discourage teens from reading it, please be aware it was not meant for teens and has a corresponding amount of adult material in it.