#25--The Graveyard Book

Bibliographic Information

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. HarperCollins Publishers. (2008).

Price: $17.99 for hardcover

Pages: 312 for hardcover

Plot Summary

Nobody Owens (Bod for short) doesn’t know his father, mother, or older sister as they were all murdered by a sinister, mysterious man. The only reason he escaped was because he was saved by two ghosts who had always wanted a child of their own and were more than willing to save a baby from a murderer. While Bod regrets not knowing his birth parents and sister he is happy living with his adoptive ghost parents in their cozy tomb. He is granted the Freedom of the Graveyard which allows him some of the privileges of the dead such as seeing in the dark, walking through solid objects, and the ability to Fade, Dreamwalk, and Frighten. Bod enjoys learning about the world, playing with his ghost friends, and spending time with his Hound of God instructor Miss Lupescu and his guardian Silas. But Bod longs to spend more time with the living, a privilege Silas eventually grants him through letting him attend school. Bod, however, cannot seem to fully fit in in the worlds of the living and the dead and finds difficulties in both. But he will have to become proficient in living in both if he is to foil his parents’ murderer who, after all these years, is still searching for him.

Critical Evaluation

Told in a series eight vignettes with an interlude in between, Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book, is a deliciously good read. Heavily inspired by Kipling’s The Jungle Book Gaiman explores the meaning of family as Bod is raised by a community as well as by his two adoptive parents. He is considered the pride and joy of the graveyard with its 300 awake inhabitants (not including those buried in the Potter’s field). Not only does his guardian teach him the skills of the living but ensures he learns those of the dead—fading from sight, walking in dreams, and frightening people who wish him harm. It’s difficult to choose the most delightful element of Gaiman’s book as the setting is unusual with its slight spookiness and many hidden nooks and crannies, the episodic plot is ideal for those looking for a short bedtime story, and the main characters are a blend of fun, mysterious, and intriguing. No doubt those who read the book will have their favorite story within the story; mine is a tie between chapters two and three, The New Friend and The Witch’s Headstone, as they show Bod at his finest—a boy who is kind, giving, and gracious. Overall, The Graveyard Book is a wonderful book filled with funny and touching moments that are sure to please all of its readers.

Side Note: If you look at the American cover (the one to the right) you will find a boy's profile in the blue space on the right side of the tomb stone.

Reader’s Annotation

After the murder of his family, Nobody Owens lives in a graveyard protected by otherworldly beings.

About the Author

Honored with multiple awards including the Newbery, Carnegie, Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Bram Stoker, Locus, and Mythopoeic, Neil Gaiman has written multiple books, essays, short stories, and pieces of poetry. He was inspired to write The Graveyard Book when he observed his son happily riding his bike among grave stones in a graveyard. Although he was inspired at twenty-four years old he would not write the book until much later.

To learn more about Neil Gaiman and his works visit his website here and here.

Genre

Paranormal fiction; Mystery; Thriller

Readalikes

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

·         The same author of The Graveyard Book

 

The House with the Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs

·         Also a mystery with a male main character

The Giver by Lois Lowry

·         Also a fantasy/sci-fi about a boy who lives an unusual life

Tags

Adoption, bullies, coming of age, friendship, ghouls, graveyards, death, ghosts, mummies, nature preserve, Newbery award winner, orphans, school, vampires, werewolves

Awards Won/Lists On

2008 Black Quill Award Nominee for Dark Genre Novel of the Year

2008 Cybils Award for Elementary/Middle Grade Books

2008 Horn Book Fanfare Best Book

2008 Locus Recommended Reading for YAs

2008 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist for YA Literature

2008 SF Site Editor’s Choice

2008 SF Site Reader’s Choice

2008 Time Magazine’s Best Books of the Year

2009 ALA Best Books for YAs

2009 ALA Notable Children’s Book

2009 Audie Winner for Children’s Titles Up to Age 8

2009 Booktrust Teenage Prize

2009 British Fantasy Award Nominee for the August Derleth Fantasy Award

2009 Hugo Award for Novels

2009 In the book 1001 Children’s Books you Must Read Before You Grow Up

2009 Indies Choice Book Award for YA Fiction

2009 Locus Award for YA Novel

2009 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee for Children’s Literature

2009 Newbery Medal Award Winner

2009 World Fantasy Award Nominee for Novels

2010 Carnegie Medal Award Winner

2012-2013 Florida Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award Nominee for 6^th-8^th grade

Professional Reviews

Booklist
 Bookmarks Magazine
Horn Books

Kirkus Reviews

New York Times Book Review
Publishers' Weekly
 School Library Journal

Washington Post

Booktalk Ideas

Everyday Kid w/ a Twist

·         In many ways Bod is just like any other kid. He plays hide-and-go-seek with his friends, loves greasy food,

·         But in many ways Bod is Not just like any other kid. Sure he plays hide-and-go-seek with friends but they are all ghosts, the greasy food he loves is provided by his guardian, a mysterious supernatural being.

·         His adventures involve ghoul gates (80-96), exploring burial mounds (chapter 2), trying to buy a tomb stone (114), and dancing in a town wide dance between the dead and the living (164)

·         You see, Bod is not like other boys because he was raised by ghosts in a graveyard when his parents and older sister were mysteriously murdered one cold night. Now Bod must learn both  the skills of the living and the dead if he is to survive.

Why Live?

·         Silas’ talk to Bod about the advantages of living (179-80)

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness

This book could be used to discuss the loss of a parent as it points out that the concept of family is flexible. Although Bod did not know his birth parents he had two wonderful adoptive parents as well as a guardian and friends. This book could also be used to discuss effective ways to deal with bullies and how to make (and keep) friends.

Reading Level/Interest Level

Reading Level: 5^th grade

Interest Level: 6^th grade and up

These levels are according to AR Bookfinder

Challenge Issues

This book includes the following potentially controversial elements:

·        Bullying

·        Graphic description of drowning

·         Haunting

·         Mass murder

·         Mention of a nipple (albeit a rubber one)

·         Monsters

·         Monsters eating humans

·         Slight profanity

·         Spanking

·         Spooky atmosphere

·         Supernatural creatures: mummy, ifrit, werewolf, vampire, night gaunts, ghouls, ghosts

·         Witches

Librarians can point out that while this book does indeed contain supernatural and scary elements it is a beautiful tale that addresses the importance of family and friends, coming of age tales, and standing up for yourself and others. It is also an excellent way to show teens how old tales can be re-made as Neil Gaiman was heavily influenced by Rudyard Kipling’s A Jungle Book when writing this novel.

Why Was This Included?

I decided to include this book because while it is more children’s/middle grade fiction I believe it is partly responsible for encouraging more authors to write ghost books for YAs.

#26--Friends with Boys

Bibliographic Information

Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks. First Second. (2012).

Price: $15.99 for paperback

Pages: 224 in paperback

Plot Summary

Enter Maggie: Nervous freshman in high school who is about to start her first day in school. If this isn’t nerve wracking enough, Maggie has been home schooled her whole life making this her first day of school ever.

Enter Maggie’s Brothers: All older than her, they are a diverse bunch. Oldest brother Daniel is a popular drama student who acts in the school plays, Lloyd enjoys set design while his twin brother Zander is still figuring out his own interests. Her three brothers are the only friends Maggie has ever had so who will she spend time with when they are all too busy for her?

Enter Lucy and Alastair: Both sport mohawks and befriend Maggie. But while Lucy is outgoing Alastair is not. And what is going on with him and popular, pretty boy Matt?

Enter the Ghost: A woman from the 1800s who insists on constantly haunting Maggie while refusing to speak to her when Maggie asks what she wants.

Will Maggie be able to survive high school, fix her twin brothers’ relationship, find out why Alastair is being so mysterious, and figure out why the ghost insists on haunting her?

Critical Evaluation

Friends with Boys is a wonderful book filled with quirky characters and compelling plot points. Author Faith Erin Hicks makes sure to include many mysteries within the pages of her novel including why Maggie’s mother left the family, why Maggie is haunted by a ghost, and why Alastair cannot seem to get along with Matt. Hicks’ drawings are equally wonderful, consisting of sharp angles and detailed settings. In fact, readers may want to read through the book once for the plot and again to better appreciate the illustrations. While all of Hicks’ drawings are well-done readers will be sure to delight in Hicks’ portrayal of Lucy and the ghost. Lucy is constantly wearing new and unusual pieces of clothing while the ghost alternates between spooky and sad in her billowing dress. Overall, Friends with Boys is a fun graphic novel to read although the author leaves many of the book’s mysteries unsolved. 

Image is from here.

Reader’s Annotation

Maggie must figure out how to navigate school for the first time as she has been previously home schooled a task made more difficult as she tries to discover why a ghost is haunting her.

About the Author

Freelance cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks was, like her main character in Friends with Boys, home schooled and has three brothers. Her latest book is Friends with Boys although she has published three more besides it.

To learn more about Faith Erin Hicks and her work visit her website here.

Genre

Graphic novel; Paranormal fiction; School story

Readalikes

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes edited by Kazu Kibuishi

·         More tales with supernatural elements

Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol

·         Also about a girl, a ghost, and fitting in at school

Brain Camp by Susan Kim, Laurence Klavan & Faith Erin Hicks

·         Another paranormal graphic novel illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks

Tags

Absent mother, Cliques, Drama, Graphic novel, Ghosts, Graveyards, Home schooling, Local fables, Museums, Older brothers, Police, Single father, Twins, Zombies

Awards Won/Lists On

2012 Junior Library Guild Recommended Reading

2012 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens

Professional Reviews

Booklist

Horn Book Magazine

 Kirkus Reviews
Publishers' Weekly
 School Library Journal

Booktalk Ideas

Note: Pages numbers are not included partly because the book is not paginated.

Introduce the Characters:

·         Maggie

·         Maggie’s brothers

·         Lucy & Alastair

·         The Ghost

Mysteries:

·         Why did Maggie’s mom leave?

·         Why does Alastair not get along with Matt or Daniel?

·         Why is a ghost following Maggie?

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness

This book could be used for those who are making the transition from homeschooling to public/private schooling. It could also benefit teens who have an absent parent and/or a multitude of older siblings.

Reading Level/Interest Level

Reading Level: 2^nd grade

Interest Level: 9^th-12^th grade

These levels are according to AR Bookfinder

Challenge Issues

This book includes the following potentially controversial elements:

·         Absent mother

·         Bullying

·         Fake swear words

·         Ghosts

·         Hitchhiking

·         Physical violence

·         Public displays of affection

·         Scary movies

·         Theft

·         Zombies

Librarians can point out that this book is a relatively realistic portrayal of social cliques and the pressures one faces in high school. It also contains many positive elements such as the importance of family, not judging others based on their appearance, and that closure is not always possible.

Why Was This Included?

*Includes Spoilers*

I wanted to add more graphic novels to my database and included this one because it was about ghosts. I also really wanted to learn why Maggie was being haunted by a ghost. I must admit that the ending really bothered me as she never discovers the answer to this question! The author even wrote that while many people were upset about the open-ended ending she liked it. She also plans to never write a sequel so readers will never know why Maggie’s mother left nor what the deal is with the ghost!

#27--Lola: A Ghost Story

Bibliographic Information

Lola: A Ghost Story by J. Torres & Elbert Or. Oni Press. (2009).

Pages: 102 for hardcover

Prices: $14.95 for hardcover

Plot Summary

While Jesse’s parents love visiting the Philippines Jesse can’t stand it. Jesse’s parents may have grown up with spooky tales of the supernatural but Jesse did not. These tales, favorites among his Pilipino relatives, are made even creepier as the creatures from them start to come to life. But while Jesse can see the various ghosts and monsters no one else can. Supposedly, his grandmother Lola could see them, a point of pride to the family, but Jesse cannot ask her about it as she is dead. Scared of being labeled weird Jesse keeps his secret from his family only to be found out by his cousin Maritess. She insists that his ability is a gift he should embrace and use to save others but will Jesse believe her?

Critical Evaluation

Awash in sepia tones, Lola: A Ghost Story uses cartoon-like characters to tell a deliciously spooky story. Divided into three acts, readers not only follow Jesse’s journey to self-discovery but catch glimpses of remarkable Lola’s life. While the book may seem fluffy on the surface authors Torres & Or have actually created an eloquent tale depicting the grieving process as family members must discover how to live their lives without the revered matriarch of the family and a small, lively son and cousin who died in a tragic accident. Jesse’s grief is further complicated as the death of his relatives results in him constantly seeing his dead cousin while having no one to guide him through his terrifying visions of the undead. Unfortunately, Torres and Or leave readers on a cliffhanger leaving many questions unanswered with no sequel in sight.

Image from here.

Reader’s Annotation

When Jesse visits the Philippines for his grandmother’s funeral he must come to terms with his ability to see supernatural creatures.

About the Author

Author J. Torres has worked on a variety of books including Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight and Alison Dare. He has also participated in authoring comic book figures such as Avatar, Legend of Super-Heroes, Wonder Girl, and Wonder Woman.

Elbert Or is not only a comic book illustrator but a teacher, graphic designer, copywriter, and project manager. Some of his work can be found in the Siglo anthologies as well as The More The Manyer series.

To learn more about J. Torres visit his blog here.

To learn more about Elbert Or visit his website here.

Genre

Coming of age; Graphic novel; Supernatural fiction

Readalikes

Foiled by Jane Yolen

·         Another tale about a teen thrust into the supernatural world

Prime Baby by Gene Luen Yang

·         A story of a boy who must deal with the supernatural once he discovers his baby sister is a gateway for alien communications

Tags

Cousins, Family gatherings, Funerals, Ghosts, Monsters, Only child, Philippines, Storytelling, Supernatural abilities, Tagalog

Awards Won/Lists On

2011 Booklist’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens

Professional Reviews

Booklist
School Library Journal

Booktalk Ideas

Picture This:

·         Go to grandmother’s funeral

·         Start seeing supernatural monsters

o   Kapre (30)

o   Undead people in church (39)

o   People on fire in airport (102)

·         What would you do?

·         Is it a blessing or a curse?

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness

This book could be used to explain storytelling (non-bibliotherapeutic purpose) as well as the different stages of grief. It could also be used with teens struggling to identify their own talents and their place in the world.

Reading Level/Interest Level

Reading Level: 2^nd grade

Interest Level: 6^th grade and up

These levels are according to AR Bookfinder

Challenge Issues

This book includes the following potentially controversial elements:

·         Death of child

·         Demon-like creature

·         Drunkenness

·         Funerals

·         Ghosts

·         Graphic depiction of people on fire

·         Graphic depiction of the undead

·         Monsters

·         Name calling

Librarians can point out that while this book does contain graphic depictions of dying/undead people it focuses on exploring identity and one’s purpose in life. Additionally, these graphic images are not nearly as those found in other comic books.

Why Was This Included?

I included this because I was intrigued by the premise of a boy who is suddenly thrust into the supernatural world and must figure out how to deal with it. I also wanted to include it in my ghost presentation.