2009 Newbery winner, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is the tale of a boy called Nobody (Bod for short) who was rescued and raised by the ghosts of a graveyard when he was a baby. Part fairytale, part retelling of The Jungle Book, this book takes its place among the great works of children’s fantasy literature by British authors like JK Rowling, Roald Dahl, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, E. Nesbit, Phillip Pullman, JM Barrie, AA Milne, Lewis Carroll, Richard Adams, Lloyd Alexander, Brian Jacques, and Elizabeth Goudge. Neil Gaiman also joins the ranks of another British-born but American-residing (and publishing) fantasy author Susan Cooper in winning the American Newbery award. Susan Cooper also won the Welsh Tir na n-Og Award for her Newbery The Grey King, while Neil Gaiman won the British Carnegie Medal, making it the first time a Newbery and a Carnegie Medal were given out simultaneously to the same work (that’s a pretty big deal).
What I liked/interesting . I love the history and rooted feeling of this book. The history of the graveyard, stretching back thousands of years is just so wonderfully British and leads to so many unique and vivid characters. Also, Neil Gaiman just seems to feel so at home with weaving nursery rhymes, history, scary stories, and sweet moments all together seamlessly. I listened to the audiobook, which he narrates and does an amazing job on, and it’s just one of my very favorite books of all time. I will say it is definitely my favorite Neil Gaiman, who I respect and think is brilliant but most of his work is for adults. (I do love Stardust, but again that is NOT a book for children, although in many ways I wish that he could have reworked about 10% of it to make it for appropriate for children.)
In the Graveyard Book there are so many characters I just adored, like Silas and Bod and a whole host of ghosts, although my favorite character is Miss Lupescu. I’d argue that the best chapter of the whole book is the Hounds of God with Miss Lupescu, and you could have taken that chapter out, and I bet the book still would have won the Newbery, it’s just that good of writing and a story. Plus, it has a great and satisfying ending where lots of pieces come back together and good triumphs.
What were some limitations. I don’t think there are limitations, just probably the right age to read it. Maybe 12 for a sensitive reader, the publishing recommendation is 10 to 12, and common sense media says 9+ with the helpful information to parents: “Parents need to know that this is mildly creepy with a bit of violence, suspense, and menace, including a man who murders a family and tries to murder a toddler and a teen boy and girl.” It’s totally worth the wait to have the book come into a kid’s hands at the right time. I would say it’s about as intense as the second half of the Harry Potter series.
Similarity to other Newbery winners. It does share some characteristics with Welsh writer Susan Cooper’s The Grey King. Although the setting and tone are different, it reminds me of Holes, The Tale of Despereaux, and A Wrinkle in Time a bit as a fantastical coming of age tale that’s partially set in the ordinary world and partially a completely other fairytale one.
What it teaches me as a writer. Oh, there are so many things in this book that inspire me as a writer. I think there overall is just a sense that Neil Gaiman is in control of his story, that he is very comfortable making it warm and creepy and weird and classic at various turns, but that you know you are in good hands as a reader. Also, he just is the best narrator.
Have you read The Graveyard Book? What are your favorite modern fairy tales?
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