The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

My Reaction

I wrote my last post to "The Graveyard Book" without completely finishing the book, I have to admit! So now, I can properly comment! I cried at the end! I loved it! What a beautiful, spooky, yearning, funny, creepy, adventurous, perfect book!!! As I read my way through the book, I really began to identify with the main character, Bod (short for Nobody Owens). There was something special about Bod that made him so different from anyone else -- he lived in a graveyard since he was about a year and a half and was raised by spirits. Many souls in the community taught him about many different aspects from the time periods they lived. I thought this was a very unique point of view!

In the last chapter, I was truly touched by how the spirit world began to fade away and everything was changing for Bod. In a sense, life was gently tell him that it was time to move on and experience the world for what it is. Live freely and experience everything you can.

The last line of the book: "But between now and then, there was life; and Bod walked into it with his eyes and his heart wide open." -Neil Gaiman

John Newbery Award

I always wondered what criteria some books had to possess to win awards the following year. I did a little research and found some answers. I'll be happy to pass these on to you!

The Medal is awarded to the person with the most distinguished contribution to literature in the United States the year previous. There are no limits to the book, but it is required that it be original work. Honor books are also named and those are also quite distinguished.

The award is solely given to American authors or residents of the United States.

The committee considers all types of writing: fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. However, reprints and compilations are not considered.

2009 Winner of the John Newbery Medal

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean, and published by HarperCollins Children's Books.

This book was produced as an illustrated young adult novel. It is 307 pages long and is sure to enthrall people of all ages.

Neil paints a fantastic point of view of a child growing up in a very unlikely place. Nobody Owens manages to escape the murderer and find refuge in the old graveyard. The spirits take on the responsibility of raising the child. The story possesses all the parts of a great book: humor, fantasy, human desire, and full of surprises.

I would recommend this book to anyone who desires a haunting new perspective.