Module 4: Book 1, The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, N. (2008). The graveyard book. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

What's in a name?

Summary:

Living among the dead, Nobody Owens narrowly escaped his own death as a young child after his parents were murdered by a man named Jack.   A childless couple, who happen to be ghosts and live in a graveyard, adopt and raise young Nobody, giving him a new identity and a new home.  "Bod" learns important lessons about life, death, and what it means to be a part of a family, all within the tenuous setting of a graveyard and the dangers that linger within its realm, including the constant threat of discovery by the man named Jack.    

Impressions:

The Graveyard Book is well-written with a surprising amount of depth and care.  The story itself has strong themes of identity, community, and the timeless concept of good verses evil.  I can see why it was awarded the Newbery medal; it's very intellectual, and other than the presence of ghosts, ghouls, and a graveyard, which may attract young readers, this book and its insightful references and complex plot will appeal to older readers too.

Reviews:

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* While a highly motivated killer murders his family, a baby, ignorant of the horrific goings-on but bent on independence, pulls himself out of his crib and toddles out of the house and into the night. This is most unfortunate for the killer, since the baby was his prime target. Finding his way through the barred fence of an ancient graveyard, the baby is discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a stable and caring couple with no children of their own—and who just happen to be dead. After much debate with the graveyard’s rather opinionated denizens, it is decided that the Owenses will take in the child. Under their care and the sponsorship of the mysterious Silas, the baby is named “Nobody” and raised among the dead to protect him from the killer, who relentlessly pursues him. 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. --Holly Koelling

Citation: Koelling, H. (2008). The graveyard book. Booklist, 105(2), 54. 

From Kirkus Reviews:
Wistful, witty, wise--and creepy. Gaiman's riff on Kipling's Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening, in which a toddler accidentally escapes his family's murderer, to the melancholy, life-affirming ending. Bod (short for Nobody) finds solace and safety with the inhabitants of the local graveyard, who grant him some of the privileges and powers of the dead--he can Fade and Dreamwalk, for instance, but still needs to eat and breathe. Episodic chapters tell miniature gems of stories (one has been nominated for a Locus Award) tracing Bod's growth from a spoiled boy who runs away with the ghouls to a young man for whom the metaphor of setting out into the world becomes achingly real. Childhood fears take solid shape in the nursery-rhyme-inspired villains, while heroism is its own, often bitter, reward. Closer in tone to American Gods than to Coraline, but permeated with Bod's innocence, this needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child. (Illustrations not seen.) (Fantasy. 10 & up)

Citation: Kirkus Reviews. (2008). The Graveyard Book. Kirkus Reviews, 76(16), 123. 

Library Activity:

One of the central themes in The Graveyard Book is identity.  Host a genealogy class after school or a special library seminar during the day.  Invite parents and grandparents.  Highlight Web sources and library resources that help develop family trees.  Students are fascinated about their own family histories, and with today's technology, tracing our roots is easier than ever.