“Silas hesitated. ‘…they are, for the most part, done with the world. You are not. You’re alive, Bod. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything. If you change the world, the world will change. Potential.’” p. 179
Reader's Annotation
Nobody Owens is a boy who has grown up in a graveyard. From the ghosts and other creatures there who have raised him, he has learned many amazing and incredible skills. But sometimes what he’d like most is just to have a friend who’s alive like him.
About the Author
Neil Gaiman was born in Portchester, England. As a boy, he read his way through the entire children’s collection, and part of the adult collection, of the local library. After high school he worked as a journalist. As a writer, he first penned short stories and then comics for adults. He has gone on to also create fiction for adults and children, poetry, song lyrics, drama, and film. He won both the 2009 Newbery Medal and Hugo Award for The Graveyard Book. Some of his other works for children include Coraline, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, and The Wolves in the Walls. He has a son and daughter, and now lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Genre
Supernatural, Horror, Fantasy
Reading Level/Interest Age
12-14 years
Plot Summary
One night in a place called Old Town, a father, mother, and their daughter are killed. The only member of the family who survives is the youngest, a baby. The infant, adventurous by nature, crawls up the hill to the local cemetery, where at his mother’s frantic urging, the deceased Mrs. Owens agrees to protect him from the killer and raise him. The baby is given the first name of Nobody – or Bod for short -- and is brought up by the late residents from beyond the grave, and a mysterious and wise figure who agrees to be his guardian, Silas. In his childhood, Bod makes one friend, Scarlett Amber Perkins, but she soon has to leave and move to Scotland. But while childhood is somewhat lonely at times for Bod, he learns many ghostly skills, such as fading in plain sight and dreamwalking, and gains experience in other worlds, such as that of the ghouls. In these adventures, he relies on his knowledge, Silas, and his tutor, Miss Lupescu, to keep him safe. But Jack, the man who killed Bod’s family, is still after him, and when Bod becomes a little too well known at the local school, Jack picks up his scent. Now Jack will stop at nothing to find the boy he should have killed long ago, and Bod will need to call upon all his training and courage if he is to survive and rid the world of the darkness that Jack and his kind represent.
Critical Evaluation
This is an utterly unique novel which had me enthralled from start to finish. What I enjoyed most was the description of the setting and the characters: the great detail with which Gaiman depicts the world of the graveyard, its residents, and the many fantastical creatures that Bod encounters. Bod’s adventure after passing through the ghoul gate stands out in particular for the masterful way in which Gaiman creates a setting of bleakness and dread, punctuated with moments of humor based on the personalities and strange habits of the ghouls. And he also manages to include social commentary, such as noting that one of the ghouls is the 33rd President of the United States -- Truman, who devastated Japan with the atomic bomb. Another notable aspect of Gaiman’s storytelling is that he doesn’t always state everything explicitly, but instead provides enough detail for the reader to piece things together. A prominent example of this is Gaiman’s periodic mention of Silas’s traits and habits, clearly suggesting -- but never actually stating -- the type of being that he is. Although the plot is fast-paced and quite suspenseful at times, I enjoyed the fact that for the most part, Gaiman allows us to dwell in scenes a bit while Bod gets to know new characters or learns a life lesson. However, I do wish that we had come to know the inner thoughts of Bod in more depth. Many may argue that we have, but I guess I like my protagonists more introspective than most. But on the other hand, to make Bod more introspective might have ruined the unique perspective that Gaiman has created: that of the reader seeing the world directly through Bod’s eyes, but with their own conclusions mixed with his. This novel is a must-read for 12-14 year olds – and even younger tweens who can handle the scary moments.
Booktalking Ideas
• Give a character booktalk as Scarlett, mentioning her thoughts about Bod.
• Give an episode booktalk about Bod’s visit past the ghoul gate.
Curriculum Ideas
• Literature: Students read The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling, which Gaiman indicate as a great influence. Have class discussion on possible similarities between the two novels.
• Language Arts: Students write their own stories about what their lives would be like if they were raised by fantastical or supernatural creatures.
Potential Challenge Issues & Defense
Violence:
• Become familiar enough with the book’s content to promote its literary merits.
• Refer to library’s collection development policy.
• Refer to book reviews from authoritative sources such as ALA, School Library Journal, etc.
• Obtain book reviews from tweens who have read it.
Why I Chose This Book
I had planned to read this book in August due to the fact that it won the Newbery and for its intriguing premise, but held off for a few months when I learned we’d be discussing it in class.
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