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| Cover Art retrieved from its record in Worldcat |
Bibliography
Gaiman, N., & McKean, D. (2008). The graveyard book. New York: HarperCollins Pub.
Summary
Nobody Owens, Bod for short, once had another name but no one knows it. Not even Bod. As a toddler, he lost everything when a man entered his home and killed his parents and older sister. Climbing out of his crib and exploring the opened door saved him from being killed. Finding refuge in the graveyard among its inhabitants saved his life, gave him an unusual family, and he received an education no other children have. Being under the protection of the graveyard required he stay in the graveyard, which posed problems for a growing and inquisitive child who has a thirst for knowledge and information about the world especially after meeting a girl who visits the graveyard. .
My Impressions
I loved this book so much that I read it in one sitting. I can see why it won the Newbery Award. The characters and the plot is interesting. I was able to see the parallels between Bod, the ghosts, and his supernatural guardian and the characters in Kipling's Jungle Book.
Reviews/Awards
The Carnegie Medal 2010
The Newbery Medal 2009
The Hugo Award 2009
"A child named Nobody, an assassin, a graveyard and the dead are the perfect combination in this deliciously creepy tale, which is sometimes humorous, sometimes haunting and sometimes surprising," said Newbery Committee Chair Rose V. Treviño.
"THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form. In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable enchantment." ---New York Times Book Review
Suggested Activities
This would be a great book to display at a public library during October for Halloween. In a school library it would be a great introduction to ghost stories and other legends.
