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Fantasy: The Graveyard Book (audiobook)



Bibliographic-


Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. Read by Neil Gaiman. Harper Collins, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4561-0760-4
Summary/ Critical Analysis-
From the very first line, “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife,” The
Graveyard Book draws you into the story of a small boy who’s entire family is killed one
night by The Man Jack. The boy survives by wandering outside and into a nearby graveyard
where he is taken in by the ghosts who live there; they name him Nobody Owens, Bod for
short.

 As Bod grows up in the graveyard, he learns the skills of ghosts such as fading, haunting,
dreamwalking, and passing through walls. A few of the ghosts even tutor him in more
traditional subjects like reading and math.  Like any child, Bod gets himself into trouble
while trying to make friends with a living girl, a ghost witch, and navigate a school outside
of the graveyard. Unlike a normal kid, Bod gets taken on fantastical adventures in the
borderlands between the living and the dead, and frequently needs rescuing from his
guardian, Silas.

Eventually, Bod is old enough to learn what happened to his first family, and promises to
learn all he can to avenge them against The Man Jack. Drama and adventure ensue in this
Newbery Award winning story about leaving the safety of the familiar, growing up, and
defending those you love. Gaiman does an excellent job of balancing horror, fantasy, and a
coming of age tale.

 I listened to the unabridged digital audiobook version of The Graveyard Book narrated by
Neil Gaiman. There are interludes of music, and Gaiman uses different accents and tones
for each character which makes the reading very enjoyable and easy to follow. Honestly, I
could listen to him read off of cereal boxes! The story and reading are engaging right away
and is an excellent way to experience a spooky tale like this. The only thing missing are the
Dave McKean illustrations present in the printed version. It's also worth finding a paperback
copy that contains the transcript of Gaiman's Newbery acceptance speech.
Awards and Review Excerpts-


Newbery Medal
Carnegie Medal
Hugo Award
Boston Globe Horn Book Award
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
World Fantasy Award Nominee
Audie Award Winner
2009 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production
“This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of
ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel's ultimate message is strong
and life affirming. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad
appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages.”--Holly Koelling, Booklist 2008.
“Using a wide range of inflections and accents, Gaiman-as-narrator dramatically brings his
characters to life; his meticulous phrasing and wit are as sharp as the man Jack's blade.
Gaiman delivers an enthralling concoction of suspense, adventure, and humor in a Gothic
fairy tale that's even more memorable as an audiobook.” -- Horn Book 2008.
“What a wicked delight to hear this inventive, sinister story read by multi-talented author
Neil Gaiman. His voice ranges from silky to gravelly and gruff to sharp-edged. Those who
enjoyed Gaiman's Coraline will be eager to hear his inspired reading of this novel.”
-- School Library Journal 2009.
Connections-
Other books for young readers by Neil Gaiman:

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