The Graveyard Book is the tale of a young boy, Nobody Owens, who is the lone survivor of the night his family was murdered. Bod - his nickname - comes under the protection of the denizens of a local graveyard. Each chapter is a tale in young Bod's life, coming a few years apart as he grows into a young man. We meet the ghosts - and other dark characters - he knows as his family and friends. And we see the return of the man who killed his family and who still wants to finish the job with young Bod.
I went into this story knowing nothing about it and finished it in love with the characters and setting. Gaiman has created a magical little world that you will want to visit again and again. Bod is a real little boy, growing and making mistakes along the way, even with help from the supernatural. And his family and friends are unique and mysterious. And the graveyard itself seems like an amazing place to grow up in and explore
A great book, highly recommended to one and all, it has one the Newbery Medal, the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Carnegie Medal, among other accolades. Let Gaiman himself tell you about it:
A big screen adaptation is apparently in the works, with Academy Award-winning Neil Jordan set as director. Hopefully they capture the magic of this wonderful tale.
