The Graveyard Book

Bibliography

Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The graveyard book. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 9780060530921

Plot Summary

Orphaned as a toddler when his living family was murdered, Nobody “Bod” Owens grows up in a graveyard with his ghostly adoptive family. On the night of Bod’s arrival in the graveyard, the ghostly inhabitants agree to take him in and keep him safe from the killer who is determined to finish the job. One inhabitant of the graveyard, Silas, who is neither dead nor alive and can leave the graveyard, is appointed guardian of the boy. As Silas seeks to find the killer and put a stop to his plans, Bod grows into a bright and inquisitive young boy who chafes at the restriction of staying in the graveyard. Every time Bod leaves the graveyard, he inevitably attracts unwanted attention, attention that could draw the killer straight to him.

Critical Analysis

The morbid plot and setting of The Graveyard Book is lightened with details of the night-to-night routines of a diverse community of ghosts who died over the course of several centuries. The story is sprinkled with fascinating glimpses of British lore, history, mythology, and dialects through the ages. Caius Pompeius, the oldest ghost in the graveyard, describes his funeral procession that included mimes who wore the wax faces of his dead wife and father. Characters are often identified with the epitaphs from their headstones, such as “Thomas Pennyworth (here he lyes in the certainty of the moft glorious refurrection)” who teaches Bod about Elements and Humors. Silas is a particularly mysterious character whose nature is slowly revealed to the astute reader who is familiar with vampire lore, although as Mrs. Owens asserts “He’s not a monster”.

The theme of the book develops slowly and is made clear when Silas tells Bod that the killer is still after him. Bod is unfazed by the thought of dying, after all “all of my best friends are dead”, but Silas explains that Bod has potential, unlike the dead whose potential is finished. It is through the efforts of Silas, the other graveyard inhabitants, and Bod himself, that Bod will have the chance to fulfill the potential of his life beyond the graveyard.

Dave McKean’s illustrations are especially creepy and add to the mood of the story.

Review Excerpts

Kirkus Reviews: “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..”

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.”

Connections

* More by Neil Gaiman:

Gaiman, Neil. 2002. Coraline. ISBN 0380977788

Gaiman, Neil. 2008. Stardust. ISBN 0061689246

* Host a Danse Macabre: Children can come dressed as ghosts from the story, ghosts of their own creation, or as living people. Crafts can include decorating their tombstone and composing an epitaph.