Winner of the John Newbery Medal, Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book is a carefully spun yarn with a beautiful melancholy about it. The beginning is nothing short of chilling, and that chill lingers upon the reader throughout as the story of Nobody Owens is told. The setting of the book is primarily a graveyard, which some might find disturbing. However, knowing that the story is loosely patterned after Kipling’s The Jungle Book is a helpful piece of information that allows the reader to grasp the overall progress and trajectory of Gaiman’s work. It is clear that Mr. Gaiman is masterful at his craft, and the ending of Graveyard leaves an impression that is slow to fade. Given his influences, I wonder what Mr. Gaiman’s outlook on eternity might be, but suspect he is a soul still searching for answers. Appreciating this piece, I look forward to exploring some of his other works.
Parental note: Due to the dark themes and images (including some of the illustrations ) I would not recommend The Graveyard Book for readers under the age of, say, ten. Younger children prone to nightmares will have plenty for their imaginations to dwell upon, so, unless you especially enjoy being awakened in the middle of the night or finding an extra 98.6 in bed with you, I would wait until you think your child can handle them.