The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I might seem on the outside like a big, brave basset hound, but...you want to know a secret? I'm a little scared of the dark. Oh - and vacuums. Definitely vacuums. So I was a little hesitant when I heard we were reviewing a book about ghosts. It turns out I had nothing to worry about – The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is an adventure-filled story with very little to fear – at least, not from the ghosts.

For this review, we listened to the audiobook version of The Graveyard Book. When a mysterious assassin kills his whole family, a little boy is taken in by a family of ghosts who live in the local graveyard. They name him Nobody (Bod for short) and care for him as their own, until the fateful day that the assassin finally finds him. While the basic plot might sound like one of a scary story, much of the storyline is devoted to Bod's adventures in growing up and the development of his tender relationships with the ghosts of the graveyard – and a few other characters who are not quite human...or not quite dead. There is irony in the fact that the creatures usually most feared in stories (ghosts, ghouls, vampires, and werewolves) are the “good guys” in this story, whereas the one creature that should be truly feared is a human.

While the storyline itself is unique and artfully told, the unabridged audiobook version truly brings the characters to life. School Library Journal exclaims, “The full cast, including Gaiman, skillfully depicts each character's unique traits and idiosyncrasies...A must-have for fans of the original novel and anyone who enjoys engaging fantasy” (Spino 2014). Audio quality was excellent. While there were no sound effects or background music, the recording did include a brief musical interlude between chapters, which was more than sufficient for ambience. Gaiman describes the scenery in such detail that you can feel the damp, cool stone of the mausoleum and picture the gravestones slowly giving way to nature as the vines and brambles overtake the cemetery. Booklist had high marks for the storytelling as well, praising the “...narration [which] smoothly elicits every nuance of emotion in the complex plot and blends seamlessly with the dialogue performed by a gifted ensemble who bring each character fully to life, including the dead ones...This is a thoroughly enjoyable listen for all ages” (Rockman 2014).

Gaiman does a wonderful job developing the characters. As young Bod grows, he tackles many of the challenges that all young people face, such as making friends and learning to follow rules. The actor voicing Bod even adjusts his voice as the child grows to reflect his journey from little boy to teenager. Perhaps the richest character in the story is the enigmatic Silas, the tall, dark, and broody creature who is allowed to journey between the living and the dead, unlike the ghosts of the graveyard, who cannot proceed out of the bounds of the church grounds. Gaiman slowly gives the reader hints about his true nature, never stating explicitly what type of creature Silas may be, but providing a “breadcrumb trail” leading the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. The character whose voice acting had the greatest impact in the audiobook was the voicing of the Sleer, a shadowy creature guarding a tomb deep within the hillside of the oldest part of the burial grounds. Every one of the Sleer's lines of dialogue was chilling. His voice was a combination of a whisper and a threat, and even I had goosebumps listening to him speak.

This story is written eloquently, was voiced superbly, and will be enjoyed wholeheartedly for years to come. There's no question why this title has won so many awards, including the Newbery Award and the ALA Best Book for Young Adults award. While the easy-to-follow dialogue and inventive plot may be appealing to younger audiences, I would advise parents to make sure their child is ready for some of the darker elements of the story, especially if this book is read around bedtime. The first paragraphs open with imagery of blood dripping from the knife as the assassin murders an entire family in their sleep, and Gaiman does not shy away from the horror of the scene or from describing the cold-hearted ruthlessness required to commit such an act. Furthermore, a few scenes sprinkled throughout the story also have potentially scary elements, like facing the Sleer in the dark or trying to escape a kidnapping. Some children will take it all in stride as part of a big adventure, but knowing each child's emotional maturity will ensure this story is enjoyed to its full potential.

One book that would complement The Graveyard Book nicely is Rudyard Kipling's classic The Jungle Book, as the two coming-of-age tales closely parallel each other. Another resource to help children extend their learning is librarian Maryska Connelly-Brown's Website about The Graveyard Book, complete with a video tour of the actual graveyard that inspired Neil Gaiman while writing the book, writing prompts, a map-making exercise, and a template for creating a comic strip about the book. This website has a little bit of everything for the curious reader!

While this book definitely made my fur stand on end at times, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook. I give this one two paws up – way up!

Wags and Woofs,

Charlie Brown

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References

Gaiman, Neil. 2014. The Graveyard Book. New York: Harper Audio. ISBN: 9780062364463

Rockman, Connie. 2014. “The Graveyard Book.” Booklist 111, no. 8: 64.

Spino, Amanda. 2014. “The Graveyard Book.” School Library Journal 60, no. 12: 78.