The Graveyard Book By Neil Gaiman
Ranked #284 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #13,129 overall
The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman's Fantasy Novel For Children
The Graveyard Book is the story of Nobody Owens (called "Bod" for short). At the start of the story, Bod is a toddler who witnesses the murder of his family by a mysterious man known as "Jack". Bod escapes from the family home before the murderer reaches him and stumbles into a nearby graveyard where the resident ghosts and other supernatural creatures "adopt" him and protect him from the evil Jack and his associates who continue to hunt for Bod.
Each chapter of the book is a short story in itself detailing events that occur as Bod grows up in the graveyard.
Neil Gaiman has stated that The Graveyard Book is an analogy of "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling with ghosts, werewolves, witches, ghouls and other supernatural creatures replacing the animals who raise a human child.
The Graveyard Book has won numerous literary awards, including the prestigious Newbery Medal in 2009 for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature.
The content of this page is copyright of CDT (author) February 2012. Please DO NOT copy or reproduce elsewhere either in print or online. Neil Gaiman Describes The Graveyard Book
"It's kind of like The Jungle Book, only instead of a jungle it's a graveyard. It's about this 2-year-old whose family is killed, and who is adopted and brought up by dead people and taught all the things that dead people know." - Neil Gaiman
source: Time Magazine
The Graveyard Book - Index
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
- The Graveyard Book Taster!
- Plot Summary & Reviews Of The Graveyard Book
- The Graveyard Book - Chapter List
- Neil Gaiman Reads Chapter 1 Of The Graveyard Book
- What The Critics Said About "The Graveyard Book"
- Who Is Your Favourite Character In The Graveyard Book?
- Will There Be A Film Version Of "The Graveyard Book"?
- WANTED - Your Opinion Of The Graveyard Book!
- More Children's Books By Neil Gaiman
- Graveyard Guestbook!
Quotes From The Graveyard Book
"There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife. 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 that you had been cut - not immediately.
The knife had done almost everything it was brought to the house to do and both the blade and the handle were wet... "
The Graveyard Book Taster!
Trailer outlining the plot of The Graveyard Book narrated by the author Neil Gaiman, featuring original illustrations by Dave McKean
Plot Summary & Reviews Of The Graveyard Book
Synopsis of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
An ancient organisation known only as the "Jacks Of All Trades" believe in an ancient prophecy - that a certain boy will bring about the downfall of their organisation. They watch and wait until it seems that they have discovered the boy destined to bring about their end. They send their most ruthless operative to dispose of the boy who is only two years old. The killer slips into their house at night and murders the boy's parents and sister but he cannot find the boy himself.
The little boy has fortuitously chosen that night to climb out of his cot and go exploring. He toddles out into a nearby graveyard. There he finds friends amongst the supernatural creatures who inhabit the cemetery. A couple named Owens who were unable to have children when they were alive fall in love with the child and gain permission from "The Lady On The Grey" (Death Herself) to adopt the boy. The little boy is named "Nobody Owens", known as "Bod".
In addition to his adoptive ghostly "parents" Bod is protected by the other ghosts and undead creatures in the graveyard, including the undead Silas who becomes his tutor and guardian, Miss Lupescu a werewolf and Liza Hempstock, the ghost of a witch. In addition to his supernatural friends, Bod meets a human girl Scarlett Amber Perkins who comes to the graveyard to play and they become firm friends. The graveyard folk teach Bod supernatural abilities such as Fading From Human Sight, Haunting and Dream-Walking. Scarlett's parents know she has a friend called Bod, but because of his ghostly abilities, they cannot see him and believe he is an imaginary friend.
The graveyard folk know that the Jacks Of All Trades are still looking for Bod and they tell him that he must NEVER leave the graveyard - they can protect him and keep him safe, but only within the graveyard itself.
Years pass and Bod becomes a teenager. He eventually realises that there must be more to life than hiding in a graveyard and with the help of his only human friend Scarlett, he decides to finally confront the evil force that threatens him...
UK readers can buy The Graveyard Book online from Amazon.co.uk
US readers can buy The Graveyard Book online from Amazon.com
Neil Gaiman Talks About The Background To The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman explains how he came to write The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book - Chapter List
Each chapter of The Graveyard Book is a self-contained short story relating an episode in Bod's life taking place roughly every two years as Bod grows up.Chapter 1 - How Nobody Came To The Graveyard
Chapter 2 - The New Friend
Chapter 3 - The Hounds Of God
Chapter 4 - The Witch's Headstone
Chapter 5 - Danse Macabre
Interlude - The Convocation
Chapter 6 - Nobody Owens' School Days
Chapter 7 - Every Man Jack
Chapter 8 - Leavings And Partings
Quotes From The Graveyard Book
"Rich man, poor man, come away,
Come to dance the Macabray,
Time to work and time to play,
Time to dance the Macabray,
One and all will hear and stay,
Come and dance the Macabray,
One to leave and one to stay,
And all will dance the Macabray,
Gracious lady, this I pray,
Join me in the Macabray,
Step and turn and walk and stay,
Now we dance the Macabray"
The Danse Macabre - The Dance Of Death
Death Taking the Bishop and the Nobleman, from the Danse Macabre, Published Paris, 1485 Giclee PrintBuy at AllPosters.com
Neil Gaiman Reads Chapter 1 Of The Graveyard Book
Extract from The Graveyard Book read by it's author, Neil Gaiman
What The Critics Said About "The Graveyard Book"
--The Darkside
'You cannot fault the sheer inventiveness in this brilliantly paced and plotted fantasy novel'
--Books for Keeps
`Funny, touching and haunting'
--SciFi Now, January 2009
`If asked to put The Graveyard Book into a genre, I'd have to say: this is a Neil Gaiman book. It's in the Genre of Excellence'
--Fortean Times
`It is probably the best children's book published in 2008'
--Learning Support
`The highly skilled craftsmanship of Neil Gaiman's expertly joined plotting is constantly fascinating. With The Graveyard Book he appears to have exceeded even his own exacting standards, seeming to revel in creating the improbable and layering on impossible convolutions. The impossible he deals with through mind-twistingly clever links and attention to the most minute of details, the improbable becomes totally convincing through the sheer brilliance of the writing' --The School Librarian
`Few novels about the dead have entranced me as much as Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book'
--Amanda Craig, The Times"
The Graveyard Book Quotes!
"There are the Living and the Dead
There are Day Folk and Night Folk
There are Ghouls and Mist Walkers
There are the High Hunters and the Hounds of God.
...also there are solitary types..."
Miss Lupescu
Who Is Your Favourite Character In The Graveyard Book?
Which character did you like best?
Will There Be A Film Version Of "The Graveyard Book"?
Plans were announced for a movie version of The Graveyard Book to be directed by Neil Jordan, but in January 2010 it was announced that due to "finance issues" the project has been put on hold!
WANTED - Your Opinion Of The Graveyard Book!
Have you read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman? What did you think of it?
Listen To The Graveyard Book Online - FREE!
You can watch and listen to Neil Gaiman reading each chapter online at his website
Mouse Circus
More Children's Books By Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman has written LOTS of books for children!
Did YOU Enjoy Reading The Graveyard Book?
What did you think of The Graveyard Book? Did you enjoy it? Do you hope there will be a film version? Tell us your thoughts...
Did you enjoy The Graveyard Book?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byLoved it - The Graveyard Book is a great read!
Lord_Sid says:
gREAT READ
Posted November 08, 2010
Kevin311 says:
I loved the Graveyard Book. I've been a fan of Gaiman for over a decade. I consider The Sandman to be his magnum opus, but The Graveyard Book is certainly nowhere near mediocre. It's a magnificent, original story, one that could only be told by Gaiman...
Posted September 13, 2010
Lord_Sid says:
Not everyone seems to like this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Posted September 24, 2009
Didn't like The Graveyard Book (please tell us why!)
The Graveyard Book Buzz!
The latest news and views about The Graveyard Book
- Nevada Barr's 6 favorite books
- This is a book less about zombies than about war, government, politics ? and individual courage and cowardice. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins, $8). In growing up, too many of us leave behind our love of the drama, fantasy, romance, ...
- LONG 'SPAWN' DISPUTE SETTLED: Neil Gaiman says case is good for creators ...
- Gaiman ? widely known for such works as ?Sandman,? ?Coraline,? ?American Gods? and ?The Graveyard Book? ? hailed the case as a victory for not only creators, but also for the clarity of copyright law. ?The main thing is, I feel like an awful lot of ...
- 'Screwball mystery' by Jack Gantos wins oldest children's books prize
- Hugh Lofting won in 1923 for The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, Madeleine L'Engle took the medal in 1963 for A Wrinkle in Time, while Neil Gaiman won in 2009 for The Graveyard Book. Like the UK's Carnegie medal, the Newbery is chosen by children's ...
- Teen literature has fans of all ages
- Many young adult books are also Newberry Award winners, such as Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and Katherine Paterson's Jacob Have I Loved. The Public Library of Westland owns a large collection of young adult novels. Some other authors to try are ...
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Graveyard Guestbook!
Have you read The Graveyard Book? Would you like to?
Sanniyah wrote
i liked it and im 12 so thats a good sign xP
Posted September 02, 2011
Cocaine wrote
ITS THE BEST BOOK.
Posted May 16, 2011
BFuniv.com wrote...
I just saw a short interview video of Neil Gaiman and thought you might find it illuminating: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110211/00384413053/how-neil-gaiman-went-fearing-piracy-to-believing-its-incredibly-good-thing.shtml
Posted February 11, 2011
rockstarrr wrote
[in reply to brebre12] i know i agree!! such a good book!!
Posted December 12, 2010
mysticmama wrote...
I love Neil Gaiman!
I've never read any of his children's books, but he writes wonderful books for grown ups as well ~ can't wait until my gandbabies are old enough for his children's books. :)
Posted November 18, 2010
mrsquidoo wrote...
I've actually never read any of Gaiman's prose, but I did read much of his Sandman run. I should look into picking up one of his books, the next time I am looking for something to buy on my Kindle.
Posted September 16, 2010
CDT wrote...
[in reply to Satyajit "Sherlock Baggins" Deb] I hope you enjoy it - please come back and let me know what you thought :)
Posted September 01, 2010
Satyajit "Sherlock Baggins" Deb wrote
I am looking forward to read this book as soon as I finish the book which I am reading these days. Can't wait.............
Posted August 31, 2010
CDT wrote...
[in reply to nuno sousa]
Hugo Awards are given for the best science fiction or fantasy works, so given that The Graveyard Book is a fantasy novel, it falls into the categories covered by the awards.
As far as a story set in a graveyard being "unsuitable for children", have you ever read any of The Brothers Grimm tales? They've been read to and by children for an awfully long time and they're far less "suitable for children" than The Graveyard Book...have you actually read the book or are you simply anti-Neil-Gaiman?
Posted August 18, 2010
nuno sousa wrote
Hugo Award for this book!?What's happening? Is there some very powerful Neil Gaiman lobby?
Science fiction must be vary bad these days!
And a story for children, happening in a cemetery!?Give me a break!
I liked American Gods, though I didn't find it too much Hugo Award material.
Posted August 18, 2010
brebre12 wrote
oh my god that book was the best book ever i had to read it for my school and i love it sooooo much i could not of pick a better book i cant wait till the movie comes out :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Posted March 30, 2010
Yogirty wrote
OMG! i had 2 read a book 4 school that won a newbery prize. so i choose The Graveyard Book. and it was probally the best book ever!!!!!!!!!
Posted March 23, 2010
arncyn wrote...
What a great review! I'm a huge Neil Gaiman fan and will definitely read this book, it's on my list of books to read for this year. I love how he is able to mix horror with children's lit - simply amazing. He was in my country again a week ago and so I had the pleasure of meeting him (again), such a lovely, gracious man he is. this lens has been *blessed by an angel*
Posted March 22, 2010
SEAdee wrote
it was interesting in a way!
nice decriptions
Posted March 01, 2010
lostinfiction wrote...
well done with this page! I love Neil Gaiman's books, and it's nice to see such a great collection of info like this. I wanted to write something about him on his Infloox page but then realised shamefully that I didn't really know all that much about his literary influences :( Maybe you can add some info there too seeing as how I totally failed :P
Posted December 12, 2009
enslavedbyfaeries wrote...
My 9 year old daughter's teacher read this book in class and although she thought the first chapter was absolutely terrifying it is now her favorite book. We checked it out at the library so she could read it again and eventually she bought it with her allowance because she really, really wanted her own copy. Highly recommended!! Great lens, (even though you beat me to it)!
Posted November 03, 2009
Lord_Sid
Not everyone seems to like this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it
Posted September 24, 2009
KimGiancaterino wrote...
Wow, very nice! I'm featuring your lens on my Squid Angel Diary this week.
Posted September 21, 2009
KaraLynnRussell wrote...
I liked this book very much and Coraline, too. My daughters also liked them and it's nice when we can talk about books together.
This is a great lens with lots of interesting details.
Posted September 06, 2009
Nestel wrote
Gaiman appears to spend more time on his press releases than his books. The Graveyard Book is a rough read with an unlikable protagonist and a plot that disintegrates, as all Gaiman plots do, either because he is bored or doesn't believe in what he's writing. Like Madonna, Gaiman's great talent is spinning a minor idea into a publicity blitz, but it makes for a poor read.
Posted September 06, 2009
MeganCasey wrote...
It's in my backpack as we speak (or, as I type). So far, my favorite Gaiman has been American Gods. Just saying. Thanks for the cool lens!
Posted July 28, 2009
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