The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, N., & McKean, D. (2008). The graveyard book. New York: HarperCollins Pub.
This is a book about a young boy, Nobody Owens (Bod), growing up in a graveyard and being raised by the dead who are buried there. Initially the toddler boy wandered there after his family was killed by Jack Frost, a member of an evil brotherhood. Throughout the book, Jack’s goal is to find Bod and kill him. Mr. and Mrs. Owens, ghosts in the graveyard, “adopt” Bod, and Silas is his guardian. All the dead in the graveyard help Bod to grow up, giving him guidance and advice. They help rescue him when he is in danger and provide opportunities for him to grow. The graveyard is his home and he is cautioned not to leave it. Bod leaves the graveyard on several adventures, but returns as these adventures usually end badly for him. In the end, Bod grows up and leaves the graveyard after killing Jack and other members of the brotherhood. Bod sets out to make a life among the living. This book is an older child’s supernatural fantasy that creates suspense, excitement, and other strong emotions in the reader. The story is also about a young boy growing up and changing into a young man. The novel is set in an old graveyard in England. There are references to modern day things like computers and cell phones, but the setting is happening in Victorian times. Characters like ghosts, vampires, and werewolves that are often thought of as being evil and scary, are portrayed as kind, protective, and caring. A narrator tells this story (third person) and seems to be able to tell what the characters are thinking and planning. The narrator makes the reader “read between the lines” to become aware of who and what the characters are. There is a conflict between good and evil in the novel and good wins out over evil. The illustrations in the book add to the suspense and feelings that a young person might feel when visualizing a graveyard. The end of the book reveals that there comes a time when young people need to leave behind their youth and move on to the next phase of life which is becoming an adult and experiencing new things in the world. I would recommend “Coraline”, by Neil Gaiman, because it would complement the fantasy theme of “The Graveyard Book”.