Saturday, May 23, 2009

Odd, but Wonderful, Choice for a Newberry


I'm not really sure why the choice of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book (320 pgs, Harper Collins, 2008) as a Newberry Winner surprised me so much. As a true fan-girl, I know the supreme awesomeness that IS Neil Gaiman. I just didn't realize that others, most notably the CRITICS and NEWBERRY judges, knew it too. Read for both the Once Upon a Time III Challenge and the YA reading challenge, this charming and enchanting book was both dark and beautiful.

The knife had a handle of polished black bone, and a blade finer and sharper than any razor. If it sliced you, you might not even know you had been cut, not immediately. The knife had done almost everything it was brought to that house to do, and both the blade and the handle were wet.

And so begins the tale of a boy named Nobody. Nobody Owens. Or Bod for short. When he was only 18 months old the man Jack slipped into his home late at night and murdered Bod's family. Only sheer luck and happenstance (and the curious wanderings of a toddler) saved Bod's life. He stumbled into a Graveyard, and when the ghosts that inhabited the yard saw him, they knew the little boy was in trouble. The man Jack was trying to find the boy, and his mother, recently deceased pleaded with the inhabitants of the graveyard to protect her son. Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a couple that could never have children in life, took it upon themselves to "adopt" the boy. Since they could not leave the Graveyard, the mysterious Silas (a member of the "Honour Guard") and another resident took it upon himself to be the boy's guardian. He was able to leave, and provide food and clothing for Bod.


As the years went by, Bod learned a lot from the residents of the graveyard. Because his situation was unique, he was given the Freedom of the Graveyard. What this means is that he is allowed to enter places the average human being isn't able to. He is also learning skills such as fading, dreamwalking, and sliding. The ghosts of the graveyard were his friends, his family, his teachers. Each of the 8 chapters is like it's own little story, with Bod progressing from being a toddler to becoming a teenager.

Honestly, I don't think it's humanly possible for me to gush MORE about Neil Gaiman. Every person that reads this blog knows I'm a huge fan. But who knew this book would be something even more special than some of his other books? (oh, yeah...that's right. The people that gave him the Newberry Award!) In typical Neil Gaiman fashion, this book is really dark for a children's book. Death is the absolute core of this book. His family is killed at the beginning, and he spends his life in a graveyard. He is surrounded each day by the dead. If he leaves the graveyard, there are people waiting out there to kill him too, although he doesn't know why. But through it all, Bod turns out to be a real person, knowing his time at the graveyard is limited.

My favorite "stories", out of all the chapters, are probably the ones with Liza, the witch. When Bod was eight, Silas explained to him about Potter's Field, and the people that were buried in the unconsecrated ground. A "witch" lived over the fence in Potter's Field, and her name was Liza Hempstock and when Bod falls out of a tree there, she helps him. Trying to think of something nice to do for her in return, Bod decides he needs to buy her a headstone, for she is buried in an unmarked grave. What starts out as a tiny little trip outside the gates, ends up being a dangerous journey. But Liza had followed Bod. When she found out the reason he was in the outside world, she helped him escape back to the graveyard, and forever had a soft spot for Young Bod. And if I was hard pressed to actually pick one chapter as my FAVORITE, it would probably be the Danse Macabre.....the one day that all the ghosts were allowed outside of the walls of the graveyard, to do the Danse of the Macabray.

A little something for everyone, this book should appeal to kids and adults alike. With an unbelievable cast of characters ranging from a curious little boy to ghosts parents to a guardian that is quite an enigma. Although it never really says, I have a feeling that Silas might possible be a vampire, since his interactions with humans are different than the others in the graveyard. There are also a whole host of ghouls, bad guys, and even a werewolf. And when Bod is allowed to go out of the graveyard to school, he learns the best from both worlds.

Quite frankly, this is one of the best books I've read all year. So far, I haven't met a Newberry that I didn't like. The Graveyard Book is no exception to the rule! Go Read This Book! Right now. Run, don't walk to the nearest library!! 5/5

13 comments:

Debi said...

I thought this was the perfect choice for the Newbery! Of course, I didn't read all the honor books, but what can I say, I can't see anything being better The Graveyard Book is. Though it did leave me an emotional sobbing mess at the end. In the very best way, of course.

Literary Feline said...

I am really looking forward to reading this one. Your enthusiasm for anything Neil Gaiman is so contagious, Stephanie. :-)

Kim L said...

I loved this book. I actually got to hear Neil read a chapter from the book back when it came out. He is an excellent reader! And this book is a fabulous choice for the Newbery. It is so much darker than the typical kid's book, but still very worthwhile.

chrisa511 said...

You know, I was surprised that this won the Newbery too, but in a very good way! It just doesn't seem like your "normal" Newbery book but I'm so glad to see it getting that award. It truly was an amazing book and made my top reads last year! Great review Steph :)

Michelle said...

You've convinced me to pick up a Neil Gaiman book when I'm in B&N the next time!

S. Krishna said...

Wow, I'm glad you loved this book so much! I really want to read it.

Ana S. said...

"I have a feeling that Silas might possible be a vampire, since his interactions with humans are different than the others in the graveyard."

I think so too. In fact, I think Neil has confirmed it in an interview somewhere. I'm so glad you loved this, Stephanie :D And of course, it's no surprise that you did.

samantha.1020 said...

I just finished Coraline which is my first Gaiman read. I will definitely have to pick this one up!

Kailana said...

I was surprised about this win, too... A couple other fantasy/sci-fi awards had a lot of young adult nominees, too. I think it just shows how much better young adult literature is nowadays!

Anonymous said...

Thing sounds fantastic! Haven't come across it yet but has been added straight onto the wishlist. He should pay you commission!

Joanne ♦ The Book Zombie said...

Excellent review!! I love this book to death. What I like most is probably the fact that it is so dark, but at the same time it's saying that dark isn't always bad. I also think it's a book that children can re-read at different stages of their maturity and see things they missed before.

Ladytink_534 said...

I truly adored this book. I actually cried when I finished!

Susan said...

I loved it too! In fact, the longer it sits in my memory and I turn over scenes of it time and again, the better it gets. I can hardly wait to read it to my children when they are old enough. Lovely post, Stephanie!