When Bod was a tiny child, his entire family was murdered one gruesome night. Miraculously, Bod escaped and wandered into a graveyard. It was then that the ghosts of the graveyard promised to raise Bod as one of their own, giving him the name "Nobody Owens" (Bod for short).
This book has a really great opening line – “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.” This statement grabs your interest and makes you want to know what will happen next. It also sets the tone for the book. Immediately you know that someone is in danger.
This was an engaging reading experience for me. I felt wonder, amusement, sadness, fear, and anger along with Bod as he grew up. I loved the twist in this ghost story. Usually ghosts are not desirable companions, but these ghosts are Bod’s family and friends. They protect him from the danger of the world outside the graveyard. They say it takes a village to raise a child. In Bod’s case, it takes a graveyard.
I’ve heard that Neil Gaiman drew inspiration from The Jungle Book. Both books tell a coming-of-age tale about an orphaned boy raised in a strange environment. It would be interesting to read the books together.
I listened to the audiobook version, which was read by the author. The print version of the book has some fantastically creepy illustrations that are not to be missed out on, though. I recommend reading both!
Check status at GPL or place the book on hold. (Also available as an audiobook.)
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