The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
As an educator, avid reader, and fan of children's literature, I am so happy that Neil Gaiman was awarded the Newbery Medal for this fantastic, haunting, and sophisticated book. Having only read Gaiman's 'Coraline' and 'Neverwhere', I was in awe of his ability to grasp so acutely the power of a child's imagination, their fears and hopes and comforts and language. I felt at times like I was ready a Grimm Fairy Tale (though in his afterword Gaiman writes that he was inspired by Kipling's Jungle Book). The story follows many motifs of a fairy tale. Namely escaping powerful and evil enemies, good versus evil and the fine line in between, freedom versus entrapment, etc. Midway through the novel, I began to feel like I was reading a series of short stories, tied together by the protagonist (Nobody 'Bod' Owens) but by the last chapter I had become so attached to the inhabitants in the graveyard, and especially to Bod himself, that the book came full circle. I own my own copy and I admit that, yes, the last five pages are tear stained -- tears of joy, mostly, to have been so moved by a characters' growth and understanding.


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Coraline

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
More of a short story than a full length young adult novel, I was completely swept away by 'Coraline' (in the hour it took me to read it). Coraline is a strong, independent young lady -- a positive role model for any child. The story itself is almost like Danielewski's 'House of Leaves' toned down for a young audience. It's not as stunning as a Grimm Fairy Tale, or as complex as Harry Potter, but I think that children (and adults alike) will take something away as a result of reading Coraline. Some of Gaiman's literary images are stunningly creepy, particularly the 'other' theater that plays on and on and on and the neighbors are eternally young -- an image that would be well suited to a Lynch film. I'm eager to see what Henry Selick does with the film.


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