The Graveyard Book Summary and Reviews

The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book
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Book Summary Information

Author: Neil Gaiman
Brand: Harper Collins Publishers
Illustrator: Dave McKean
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-09-30
ISBN: 0060530928
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: HarperCollins

Book Reviews of The Graveyard Book

Book Review: "Ask For Me Tomorrow and You Shall Find Me a Grave Man!"
Summary: 4 Stars

Interestingly, Neil Gaiman says THE GRAVEYARD BOOK is his homage to Rudyard Kipling's THE JUNGLE BOOK. Apples and oranges, you say? Consider this: an orphaned boy (Bod here, Mowgli there) is taken in and raised by completely different creatures, only in this case, the surrogate parents are ghosts instead of animals. The conceit allows Gaiman all manner of creative maneuvers, too, from the main plot line of a mad killer pursuing his protagonist (Bod's family is killed by a man named Jack in Chapter One) to adventures in the graveyard with ghosts, witches, ghouls, and even buried treasures being protected by a curse.

Bod, short for Nobody, is well-protected in the graveyard but of course yearns to explore the land of the living outside its gates. This natural yearning enables Gaiman to create suspense as Jack, who has a preternatural sense of smell, seems to sniff the boy's presence out each time he leaves the safe confines of the graveyard. Luckily Bod has an immense mentor named Silas, best developed of the minor characters, who constantly comes to his rescue and offers sage advice. Silas is neither ghost nor living man. It's not explained exactly what he is, but this only adds to his allure.

Although a few chapters read almost like detachable short stories (especially the ghoul one) and a few of the characters are left undeveloped when they have so much promise (his pert teacher, Miss Lepuscu, for one), the book is overall must-read material with a roaring finish that will embrace even the most reluctant readers. It is also one of those enviable YA books that adults will be equally charmed by (meaning, in the Harry Potter vein). Recommended, whether you are a Halloween freak or not.

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