The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, Neil. ( 2008). The Graveyard Book. New York, NY: Harper Collins Children's Books.

One night a family is murdered in their home, all except the toddler that escapes.  He wanderers into the nearby graveyard, where he is discovered by ghosts, Mr. and Mrs. Owen.  They decide to take the child in with the help of the other inhabitants of the graveyard and Silas, who becomes his guardian.  They name him Nobody, and call him Bod for short.  He is given the Freedom of the Graveyard and can walk around freely, able to see the ghosts that live there.  The ghosts of the graveyard become his family and raise him, care for him, and teach him the ways of ghosts.  But Bod can't leave because the man that murdered his human family, Jack, is still out there waiting to one day find Bod and kill him too.  As Bod becomes older, he wants to leave the graveyard, but discovers the living world is filled with dangers.  After finally defeating Jack, Silas the guardian knows that Bod must begin his life and join the living.

This book is filled with mystery, suspense, and magical elements.   The Graveyard Book is part humor, horror, and adventure.  Readers will enjoy reading about Bod's adventures in the graveyard and the ghost family that teaches him Fading, Dreamwalking,  and dancing with the dead.  I would recommended  this book for late elementary to early middle school.