The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

First paragraph: "There was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife. The knife had a handle of polished black bone, and a blade finer and sharper than any razor. If it sliced you, you might not even know you had been cut, not immediately."

Review: Nobody, also known as Bod, Owens has been raised and educated by ghosts. His home is the graveyard and his parents are ghosts and his friends are ghosts and his life is surrounded by ghosts. He's learned to haunt, to dreamwalk, and to fade. Now he wants to learn about the living but it will come with all the dangers of the world - including the man who killed his family and wants to kill him as well.

I loved this book. It may be a little dark for younger children but the world that Neil Gaiman is able to create is imaginative, abnormal and completely unique. The things that popped up during Bod's adventures were unpredictable and enjoyable.

I think my favorite part about this book was how smart Bod was. He was afraid when the need arose but he was always so practical about things. He thought things through and seemed to have others' interests at heart in almost every adventure he went on.

If you or your kids are looking for a good book to read to get into the Halloween spirit this is definitely the one I would pick for you.

Click here for The Graveyard Book website.