307 pp.
Harper Collins
Summary:
Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place-he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their timely ghostly teachings-like the ability to Fade. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are things like ghouls that aren't really one thing or the other. This chilling tale is Neil Gaiman's first full-length novel for middle-grade readers since the internationally bestselling and universally acclaimed Coraline. Like Coraline, this book is sure to enchant and surprise young readers as well as Neil Gaiman's legion of adult fans.
Review:
I loved this book! Bod (short for Nobody) is delightful and dug deep into my heart. He's so real. Also, the many other not-living characters are fun and endearing. Bod's guardian, Silas, is a mystery all by himself. We are never told what he is exactly, but are given some clues to help us come to our own conclusions. The plot is full of fun twists that would keep any kid turning the pages. This would make a GREAT Halloween read-aloud story for parents and children to share. A ghost story that is thrilling but not at all scary.
It is interesting that this book won the Newbery Award, which is usually reserved for more dramatic works. But it is a testament to Neil Gaiman's talent and his ability to draw his readers into his characters. If you haven't heard of Neil Gaiman before, you might recognize his more recent book and film CORALINE.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars out of 5
Profanity: None
Violence: Mild (story opens with Bods family having been murdered)
Sex: None
Because Gaiman is playing with a twist on The Jungle Book here -- we read both books together and really enjoyed seeing Gaiman's echoes after reading Kipling.
ReplyDeleteGreat review. What an interesting concept. I never heard of this book, but I have heard of Coraline. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI've never read a Neil Gaiman book. Can you believe it? But this book sounds really cool.
ReplyDeleteKipling and Gaiman? Never realized that. I'll look into that. Sounds interesting.
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