The Graveyard Book Vol. 1 HCPublisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Price: $19.99
Creator(s): Neil Gaiman (writer); P. Craig Russell, Kevin Nowlan, Tony Harris, Scott Hampton, Galen Showman, Jill Thompson and Stephen B. Scott (illustrators)
Format: 192 pgs., Full-Color, 6" x 9.7", Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-0621-9481-7
Age Rating: N/A
ICv2 Rating: 5 Stars out of 5
This is an outstanding adaptation of what began as an extremely good book. P. Craig Russell oversaw the visual adaptation, finalized by this odd combination of artists, and yet it somehow solidifies in to a whole that is excellent. The different chapters are illustrated by the different artists in ways that shouldn't have worked, but somehow do. The most startling is the work of Jill Thompson on the "Danse Macabre" section of the story. It is unlike any of her other work that I have encountered, and somehow blends with the work of the other artists, who are mostly known for more serious work.
In addition to the gorgeous artwork, there is the story, that of a little boy being raised in a cemetery by ghosts and a vampire. Few besides Neil Gaiman could have told such a story in the first place. Little Bod’s journey through the "life" of a graveyard is tricky in a host of ways, but the reader falls into the story quickly and easily in this format.
This is a book that will have adults reading what is on some levels a children's story, and children reading what is on other levels a deep story about life and death.
Will everyone read it? No, but they really should.
For older children through adults. Many themes related to death and dying, and also the supernatural.
--Nick Smith: Library Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California
