THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman

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Gaiman, Neil. 2010. The Graveyard Book. Illus. by Dave McKean. St Louis: Turtleback Books. ISBN 9780606148832


Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book is a delightful work of supernatural fiction for young adults. In the story, a baby survives the grisly murder of his entire family and is raised by the ghosts of the graveyard. Adopted by a couple Mr.  & Mrs. Owens, the child is named Nobody Owens and thrives under the care of Silas who takes care of his basic needs. The series of chapters read like short glimpses into the life of young Bod as he comes to terms with growing up in a graveyard. The paranormal coming of age story also follows Bod’s very human desire to exact revenge on the killer Jack for the deaths of his parents and sister. 


The cast of characters in the novel are at once believable and relatable making the jump between the worlds of the living and dead all the more plausible. Ghosts, ghouls, vampires, and witches all play a role in Bod’s upbringing, making his childhood journey a fantastical one. The challenges and desires of the protagonist are in tune with the struggles of a normal child of that age. Library Journal succinctly says, “Imagine Kipling’s The Jungle Book set among a forest of graves.” While seemingly set in a modern day graveyard in the English countryside, the story could have easily occur during an earlier era. In the same manner, the book fits well in the genre of a modern day fantasy, one which upholds the sweeping universal themes of good versus evil and fate versus free will. All of this is deftly done by the author’s writing style which blends elements of suspense, magic, and humor. Booklist notes, “there is plenty of darkness, but the novel's ultimate message is strong and life affirming.” Gaiman creates a unique world which is simultaneously charming and childlike as well as mysterious and macabre.

The Graveyard Book is the winner of the Newbery Award.


Readers of The Graveyard Book can connect Bod's adventures with the tale of Mowgli in The Jungle Book, noting the strong allusions to similar moral lessons found in Rudyard Kipling's classic fable. 

Books in Print. TWU Library. Accessed December 2, 2013 http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/