The Emperor’s Knife

Author: Mazarkis Williams

Title: The Emperor’s Knife

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Publication Date: 2011

Number of Pages: 346

Geographical Setting: Nooria

Time Period: n/a

Plot Summary: Many, many characters come together in the name of the Cerani kingdom – a kingdom that means something different to everyone. In the time of a plague where the sick are marked with patterns before they are turned into zombie like creatures, the Emperor is in dire need of an heir. The Emperor’s brothers have all been put to death by the Assassin (who wields the Emperor’s Knife) to prevent them from fighting one another for power over the kingdom. Only one brother, Prince Sarmin, was saved. Locked up and forgotten in the Castle, Sarmin now might be the only chance for an heir to the throne. The Vizier Tuvaini and the Emperor’s mother have other plans for the throne.Series: First book of the Tower and Knife Trilogy

Subject Headings: Plague – Fiction, Conspiracies – Fiction.

Appeal: leisurely paced, darker, multiple points of view, detailed, political, complex, world-building, character-driven, exotic, mathematical, violent, multiple plot lines

3 Appeal Terms that Best Describe the Book: dark, multiple plot lines, character-driven

Similar Authors and Works (why are they similar?):

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors: Pattern Theory: From Representation to Inference (Oxford Studies in Modern European Culture) by Ulf Grenander (The Emperor’s Knife relies heavily on the use and finding of patterns, the Pattern is the disease in the book), The Assassin Legends: Myths of the Isma’ilis by Farhad Daftary (This book is about the history and myths of Assassins in the Middle East centuries ago), The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time by John Kelly (This book is about the Black Plague in 1347, medieval setting similar to Emperor’s Knife by the medieval setting and an unstoppable plague).

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors: The Runelords by David Farland (both write world-building novels about Kingdoms and Rulers), Hunter’s Run by George R.R. Martin (both write fantasy about rulers and assassins, this book includes violence, flashbacks and being hunted by an overseer like Emperor’s Knife), Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon (both write world-building stories about assassins and magic).
name: Jaymie

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs

Title: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Genre: Fantasy

Publication Date: 2011

Number of Pages: 352

Geographical Setting: Florida and Wales

Time Period: Present day and 1940

Series (If applicable): Second book forthcoming

Plot Summary: Sixteen year old Jacob has spent his life listening to his grandfather’s stories about growing up in a children’s home during World War II. He is regaled with stories of children who levitate, who can lift boulders, and who are invisible. As Jacob grows up he loses confidence in the truth of the stories, but never loses his affection for his grandfather. Life changes suddenly one day with his grandfather’s brutal murder, which sends Jacob on a downward spiral of depression. Then, in an effort to find the truth behind his grandfather’s life and death, he travels to the small, isolated Welsh island where the children’s home was located. On this lonely island Jacob discovers more about his grandfather and himself than he could have imagined. He finds an island filled with peculiar children, dangerous monsters, and long-kept secrets, and as the book progresses he finds his life becoming more and more inextricably linked to the island and its inhabitants. The photos included throughout the book add an air of authenticity to this atmospheric, captivating mystery.

Subject Headings: Orphanages — Fiction.
Islands — Fiction.
Mystery and detective stories.

Appeal: atmospheric, haunting, magical, vivid characters, complex, imaginative, accessible, darker, open-ended, dramatic, engrossing, compelling

3 appeal terms that best describe this book: atmospheric, imaginative, compelling

Similar Authors and Works (why are they similar?):
3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

The Lost Children: Reconstructing Europe’s Families after World War II, Tara Zahara—Deals with child refugees, family relationships and World War II.
American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of History’s Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers, Marc Hartzman—Profiles many people whose unusual characteristics made them a success as sideshow performers.

A History of Wales, John Davies—Provides background information about the area in which most of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children takes place.

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

The Secret Hour, Scott Westerfield—Features children with secret powers facing monsters/predators, storyline contains elements of time shifting, and the story is compelling and suspenseful.

The Aviary, Kathleen O’Dell—Contains magical elements, the plotline features family secrets and mystery elements, and is suspenseful, atmospheric and magical.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close—Jonathan Safran Foer—Dark story with fascinating characters, and featuring images that assist in the storytelling.

Name: Amanda

American Gods

Author: Gaiman, Neil

Title: American Gods

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Publication Date: 2002

Number of Pages: 592

Geographical Setting: America

Time Period: Current

Series (If applicable): N/A

Plot Summary: 

Shadow, before being released from prison, finds out that his wife has been killed. On his way home, he is confronted by a man known as Mr. Wednesday, who seems to know a lot about Shadow and offers him a job as a bodyguard. Shadow’s acceptance of this offer takes him on a dangerous journey. Shadow is used for many strange tasks and he encounters things he never knew existed as well as various gods living in America. This novel follows the story of Shadow but at the end of each chapter, a little story about a certain god living in America can be found. Shadow, a gritty man, takes the reader on an adventure full of suspense and haunting images.

Subject Headings: National characteristics, American Fiction; Spiritual warfare Fiction; Ex-convicts Fiction; Bodyguards Fiction; Widowers Fiction; Fantasy fiction.

Appeal: Fast-paced, character-driven, intricately plotted, darkly humorous, dramatic, romantic, haunting, gritty, thought-provoking, suspenseful, macabre, witty, adventurous, compassionate, familiar, and well-developed.

3 appeal terms that best describe this book: Darkly humorous, macabre, and haunting.

Similar Authors and Works (why are they similar?):

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors: Erikson, Steven – Crippled God (A mortal woman challenging the gods); Parker, T. Jefferson – Storm Runners (Taking place in California, an ex-cop loses his whole family from a bomb explosion and takes on a job as a bodyguard); Harrison, Kim – Pale Demon (A bounty hunter goes on a cross-country drive across America with supernatural companions to clear her name).

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors: Azzarello, Brian – Filthy Rich (Vertigo Crime) (A hired bodyguard who ends up committing murder for his boss); Henderson, Jeff – Cooked: from the streets to the stove, from cocaine to foie gras (Story of an ex-convict who becomes an executive chef); Bailey, John – Gods and men: myths and legends from the world’s religion (Mythical Gods).

Name: Jun Yoon

Ilium

Author: Dan Simmons

Title:  Ilium

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy Fiction

Publication Date: 2003

Number of Pages: 592

Geographical Setting: Mars, Earth in the far furture

Time Period: The 40^th Century

Plot Summary:  High atop Olympus Mons on Mars the Gods of ancient Greece watch the battle of Troy play out over and over again for their amusement.  The reader first meets the main hero Thomas Hockenberry on the battle field as an invisible observer.  Raised from the dead he is forced to work for the gods or risk being sent back to the grave.  When he gets caught up in the machinations of Aphrodite he sets off a series of event that threaten to take down the gods themselves.  Meanwhile down on Earth life is far different since the post-humans have disappeared.  Humans have all of their needs taken care of but their knowledge of the world is limited to the borders of the few cities still populated.  Harman, a man living his “last twenty”, is determined to search beyond the walls to find out what really happened to the post humans.  At the same time in deep space sentient robots speed towards our Mars on a mission to hopefully prevent a catastrophe that could potentially destroy the galaxy.

Subject Headings: Homer. Iliad. – Influence; Trojan War; Mythology, Greek ; Artificial intelligence; Genetic engineering; Gods and goddesses, Greek; Warriors; Wanderers and wandering; Robots; Space flight; Imaginary wars and battles

Appeal: Intricately plotted, Dramatic, thought-provoking, stylistically complex, Experimental, measured pacing, philosophical, suspenseful, detailed, engaging, character-centered, layered, multiple plot lines,

3 appeal terms that best describe this book: intricately plotted, thought-provoking, engaging

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:

The Trojan War by Carol G. Thomas

The Trojan War is an event that stands at the very foundation of the Western and the epic tradition, and this volume provides readers with an opportunity to experience it in as direct and as varied a manner as is possible.

Genetic Engineering: Principles and Methods by Jane K. Setlow

Genetic Engineering: Principles and Methods presents state-of-the-art discussions in modern genetics and genetic engineering. This series covers gene therapy research, genetic mapping, plant science and technology, transport protein biochemistry, and viral vectors in gene therapy, among many other topics.

100 Characters from Classical Mythology: Discover the Fascinating Stories of the Greek and Roman Deities by Malcolm Day

This book charts 100 of the most important characters from Greco-Roman mythology. Beginning with the primordial deities, the author goes on to describe the great gods of Olympus and the shadowy inhabitants of Hades. Addressing universal themes such as love, jealousy, anger, ambition, deceit, and beauty, these stories are as relevant today as they were in ancient times.

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors:

Voyage by Stephen Baxter

This book creates a recent past in which President Kennedy survives an assassination attempt to set in motion the next great NASA mission, a manned voyage to Mars, in a story of NASA’s detailed plans to visit the red planet.

The Iliad by Homer

The story of the darkest episode of the Trojan War. At its center is Achilles, the greatest warrior-champion of the Greeks, and his conflict with his leader Agamemnon. Interwoven in the tragic sequence of events are powerfully moving descriptions of the ebb and flow of battle, the besieged city of Ilium, the feud between the gods, and the fate of mortals.

Ender’s game by
Orson Scott Card

A veteran of years of simulated war games, Ender believes he is engaged in one more computer war game when in truth he is commanding the last fleet of Earth against an alien race seeking the complete destruction of Earth.

Name: Jason Rock

Neverwhere

Author: Gaiman, Neil

Title:  Neverwhere

Genre:  Fantasy Fiction

Publication Date: 2007 (recorded)

Number of pages: 10 sound discs (12.5 hours)

Geographical Setting: Present-Day London (England) and fantasy London Below

Time period: Contemporary

Series:  N/A

Plot Summary: The book tells a story of a young Englishman, Richard Mayhew, who enjoys routine and avoids conflict, that is until he impulsively helps a girl he finds bleeding on a sidewalk and is thrust into a fantastic world of London Below. There Richard and his companions, the girl named Door, a shadowy figure-Marquis de Carabas, and a she-warrior named Hunter, embark on a suspenseful quest of obsession, revenge against a powerful evil, and a desire to return home. This strangely believable parallel universe of London Below is inhabited by humans who “have fallen through the cracks” of the modern city, by revered rats, chilling vampires, brilliant angels, and many other colorful villains and heroes, amongst them a deliciously wicket couple of werewolf-like creatures, Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar, who add a brilliant touch of Victorian macabre to this story. In his imagining of London Below, Gaiman blends history, mythology and religion with the issues of good and evil, while on a deeper level the author sheds a satirical light on Londoners’ modern-day inability to “see” people who are homeless, addicted or just different.  Neverwhere is a fast-paced book with a dark and suspenseful story and a rich set of fantastic characters. The story is also sprinkled with witty word puns and literary allusions, making this book appealing not only to the fans of urban fantasy but to the readers of dark literary fiction. Finally, the unabridged, audio version of this book, as narrated by the author, only makes the story better. Neil Gaiman provides an intimate and pitch-perfect reading of the book. His accent emphasizes the setting of the story, his varied dialects provide unique personalities to the characters, and his even and calm tone adds to the suspense of the plot.

Subject Headings: English fiction—20^th century, Parallel Universes, Quests, Underground Worlds, Villains, Heroes, Angels, Go0d and Evil.

Appeal: suspenseful, dark, menacing, character-driven, chilling, intricately-plotted, entertaining, witty, world-building, fast-paced, intimately-narrated, original, urban, imaginative.

3 Appeal Terms that Best Describe this Book: dark, engrossing, intimately-narrated.

Similar Authors and Works (why are they similar?):

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:

1) London Under: The Secret History Beneath the Streets by Peter Ackroyd: a witty and engaging story about everything that lies underneath London, from streams, animals, ghost stories, Roman buildings to Victorian sewers, gang hideouts and modern train stations.

2) Necropolis: London and Its Dead by Catharine Arnold: a macabre historical tour of London’s dead with an emphasis on London’s plagues, fires, and burial grounds hidden underneath the contemporary city.

3) A Field Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels and Other Subversive Spirit by Carol K. Mack and Dinah Mack: a great reference guide to the world’s most famous folkloric and mythological spirits, their sources and their role in the society.

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors:

1) A Madness of Angels: or the Resurrection of Matthew Swift by Kate Griffin: a dark and witty story of Matthew Swift who wakes up in his London bed two years after being murdered and starts his quest for revenge.

2) The Pillars of Creation by Terry Goodkind: a story of a young woman, Jennsen, compelled by inhuman voices in her head on a vengeful quest against the demonic powers.

3) Kraken: an Anatomy by China Mieville: another urban fantasy vision of London (England), in which Billy, a young museum curator, is propelled into a supernatural underworld filled with magic squids, witches, golems and warriors.

Megan Rosol

Neverwhere

Author: Gaiman, Neil

Title: Neverwhere

Genre: Fantasy

Publication Date: 1997

Number of Pages: 370

Geographical Setting: London, England

Time Period: Contemporary

Series (If applicable): N/A

Plot Summary: Richard Mayhew, a young man with a steady job and a demanding fiancée, is living a perfectly normal life in London, until one night he encounters a young woman bleeding on the sidewalk and comes to her aid. After helping this young woman named Door, Richard finds himself part of a world that exists under London where rats rule and is filled with strange people and creatures who have fallen through the cracks of Upper London. Door is being pursued by the diabolical Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar, who have already killed the rest of her family, and Richard joins Door on a quest to find out why her family has been killed and why she is next. The quest takes Richard into a dark and dangerous world that will change his life forever.

Subject Headings: London, Urban Fantasy, Adventure/Quest

Appeal: Menacing Atmosphere, Dark Humor, Suspenseful, Multiple Points of View, Eccentric characters, Imaginative, Violent, Character-centered, Plot Twists, Descriptive, Urban, Gritty

3 appeal terms that best describe this book: Imaginative, Violent, Urban

Similar Authors and Works (why are they similar?): Terry Pratchett, Stephen King, Charles de Lint, Robin McKinley. According to NoveList, readers who enjoy the humor in Neil Gaiman’s books, will enjoy Terry Pratchett’s British humor (The Color of Magic). Stephen King’s fantasy novels are darkly humorous (The Gunslinger). Charles de Lint and Robin McKinley write urban fantasy novels (The Onion Girl, Sunshine)

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

1) London Under: The Secret History Beneath The Streets by Peter Ackroyd. The author takes the reader into the fascinating, hidden world beneath Modern-day London.

2) Rats: Observations o the History and Habitat of the City’s Most Unwanted Inhabitants by Robert Sullivan. This book contains everything you ever wanted to know about the urban rat.

3) Secret London: Exploring the Hidden City with Original Walks and Unusual Places to Visit by Andrew Duncan. This would be the perfect book for anyone inspired by Neverwhere to explore hidden London on their own.

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

1) The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett. This novel would appeal to readers who enjoyed the humor in Neverwhere.

2) Sunshine by Robin McKinley. This novel has dark humor and involves a quest with two unlikely companions.

3) The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. This series features a quest across a dark landscape filled with dangerous creatures.

Name: Elizabeth Allen

Legends of Shannara: Bearers of the Black Staff

Author: Terry Brooks

Title: Bearers of the Black Staff

Genre: Fantasy fiction

Publication Date: August 24, 2010

Number of Pages: 353 pages (audio – 12 CDs)

Geographical Setting: A mythical, protected valley called Shannara.

Time Period: Post Apocalyptic

Series: Legends of Shannara

Plot Summary: In a valley protected by magical mists and a loner, Sider Ament, two young trackers find that demons have breached their valley and killed innocent trackers.  Sider is the only surviving member of the Knights of the Word and the Bearer of the Black staff.  He and the trackers seek to warn the inhabitants of the valley- humans, elves, lizards and spiders.  In doing so, they put themselves in danger from those who believe that the failure of the mists means the second coming of their God.  This forces them to seek help from other species in order to protect the impending demon invasion. They join with an Elven cast of characters and other humans to defend their valley. In their quest they encounter duplicitous royalty, demons, and the religious, who are on their own quest for power.  Sider Ament’s personal quest is to find a worthy successor to bear the black staff. The audio book is narrated by Phil Gigante, who is known for his ability to do characterizations. Listening to the audio version brings all of these characters to life.

Subject Headings: Refugees; Survival; Magic; Trolls; Knights and Knighthood; Magic sticks; Good and evil; Shannara (Imaginary place)
Appeal: reflective, fast-paced, engrossing, compelling, dangerous, foreboding, heartwarming, optimistic, flawed but memorable characters, well-developed, multiple plot lines, mystical, world building, nostalgic.

3 appeal terms that best describe this book: heroic, richly detailed, strong sense of place.

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:

1) Tolkien & C.S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship by Colin Duriez. A commentary on the friendship and the inspiration for each authors’ fantasy works, including their spiritual beliefs.

2) Tales from a Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien.  A collection of short fantasy novellas and poetry with illustrations.

3) The Mythical Creatures Bible: The Definitive Guide to Legendary Beings by Brenda Rosen. Illustrations and history of the origins of mythical creatures and their basis in reality.

 

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors:

1)  Dragons of Autumn Twilight (DragonLance saga) by Margaret Weis. A world-building and fast-paced work including themes of good and evil with magic wielding creatures and humans.

2) Daughter of the Forest (Sevenwaters Fantasies) by Juliet Marillier.  These stories have young heroes/heroines that are noble, but sometimes behave badly.  They learn from their experiences and sometimes are fighting religious battles.

3) The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan. This series is chosen for the story of unlikely heroes banding together with other species to go on a dangerous quest in order to defeat evil.

Name:Cheryl R.

Dead Until Dark

Author: Charlaine Harris

Title: Dead Until Dark

Genre: Fantasy

Publication Date: 2001

Number of Pages: 292

Geographical Setting:Louisiana

Time Period: Present Day

Series: Sookie Stackhouse Series

Plot Summary:  Sookie Stackhouse seems like a normal small-town Louisiana waitress, but there is something different about her, she has telepathy.   While some might think it would be awesome to hear the thoughts of other people, Sookie finds it to be a curse.  Four years after they came out of the coffin,
Sookie finally meets a real life vampire, Bill Compton.  Sookie is immediately drawn to Bill and although he is a vampire, she is relieved because unlike humans, she cannot hear his thoughts.  Meanwhile, women in the town are being murdered and the only thing they have in common is “relationships”
with vampires, so Sookie fears she might be next.  Sookie, along with Bill, and a cast of quirky characters work to find out who is murdering the women, all while the idea of coexistence between humans and vampires is still fresh.

Subject Headings:  Vampires; Telepathy; Murder; Mystery; Small-town;Louisiana

Appeal: Mysterious, Fast-paced, Witty, Humorous, Steamy, Romantic,
Supernatural, Engaging, Quirky, Contemporary, Small-Town, Imaginative, Upbeat, Flawed characters

3 appeal terms that best describe this book: Supernatural, Quirky, Humorous

Similar Authors and Works

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:

1) The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the
Invention of Murder by Daniel Stashower

True crime story of the 1841 murder of a 21 year old woman which was sensationalized becasuse of suspected
connections with Edgar Allen Poe.  (Novel-like writing, murder mystery, engaging)

2) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: a Savannah Story by John Berendt

True story of the murder of a young Savannah, GA boy and the trial that follows. (Murder Mystery, Set in the South, Engaging,
Quirky Characters, sometimes witty)

3) The Vampire Defanged: How the Embodiment of Evil Became a Romantic Hero
by Susannah Clements

Analysis of pop culture vampire novels, movies, and television shows, including the Sookie Stackhouse books and
the True Blood television show. (Vampires, Humorous)

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors:

1) Undead and Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson

Betsy Taylor is killed in a car accident and becomes undead, this is the story of her foray into the vampire world.  (Fantasy Fiction, Vampire stories, Funny,
Steamy, Fast-paced, Series)

2) Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

Follows vampire hunter, Anita Blake as she investigates the murders of innocent vampires. (Fantasy Fiction, Mystery, Fast-Paced, Engaging,
Vampire Stories, Series)

3) One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

Follows bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum on her first assignment to track down the murderer of a vice cop.  (Mystery,
Fast-Paced, Funny, Witty, Series)

Name: Michelle Worthington

That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis

Author: C.S. Lewis

Title: That Hideous Strength

Genre: Inspirational, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Publication Date: 1945

Number of Pages: 380

Geographical Setting: Fictional towns of Edgetow and surrounding areas, England

Time Period: A few years post World War II (1940′s)

Series: The Space Trilogy

Plot Summary: That Hideous Strength was written as a “a modern fairy tale for grown-ups” and follows the previous books in the series (Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandria) while still standing on its own. The story follows two narratives, following Jane and Mark Studdock respectively. Feeling despondent after a difficult marriage, Jane begins to find herself plagued by strange and prophetic dreams. Her husband, Mark, is drawn into a strange cabal of academics called the NICE. The NICE is a collection of academics who seem bent on subjugating the town of Edgetow, England and the world. As Jane comes to her friends regarding her strange dreams she finds herself taken in with the opposite force, a collection of people led by an enigmatic man who has traveled among the stars. Supernatural forces clash against the hard power of science as good and evil battle for control of the world. This story seamlessly blends the mystery of science fiction, the mysticism of fantasy as well as the underlying spiritual message. In a more “mature” take on Lewis’ Narnia series, That Hideous Strength is a thoroughly unique story.

Subject Headings: Dystopian future, mad science, angels, demons, King Arthur, Merlin, magic, aliens, Christian fiction, supernatural

Appeal: genre-defying, in-depth, deliberate pace, dual-narrative, political intrigue, mysterious, evolving

3 terms that best describe this book: mysterious, supernatural, genre-defying

3 Relevant Non Fiction Works and Authors

1.)The Mammoth Book of King Arthur: Reality and Legend, the Beginning and the End–The Most Complete Arthurian Sourcebook Ever by Michael Ashley- Lewis’ book draws very heavily upon the Arthurian mythos and uses many direct references to specific stories.

2.) Planet Narnia by Michael Ward- This is an in-depth discussion of both the mythology of the space trilogy as well as the Narnia series.

3.) Science and Faith: Friends or Foes? by C. John Collins- One of the emergent themes in That Hideous Strength is the clash of science and faith. This book takes a spiritual and philosophical discussion on the dichotomy between the two.

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

1.) All Hallow’s Eve by Charles Williams- Lewis was good friends with Williams and much of the similar themes of newer fantasy and spiritualism can be found in this story.

2.) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle- Follows suit with similar melding of science fiction, fantasy and subtle inspirational motifs.

3.) The Shape of Things to Come by H.G. Wells- That Hideous Strength was actually partially written as a reaction of Lewis to this story and uses some of its dominant themes as a counterpoint.

The Graveyard Book

Author: Gaiman, Neil

Title:  The Graveyard Book

Genre: Fantasy, Suspense

Publication Date: 2008

Number of Pages: 336

Geographical Setting: A graveyard in England

Time Period: Current times

Series:  N/A

Format:  Audio

Plot Summary:  “There was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife.”  So begins the extraordinary story of a boy, a toddler really, who was made an orphan on that fateful night.  The knife held by the man Jack takes the lives of the boy’s father, mother and sister and would also have taken the boy’s had he not tumbled out of his crib and escaped into the darkness.  He wanders into an abandoned graveyard where the forgotten souls residing there agree to take him in as one of their own.  He is named Nobody Owens, (“Bod”) for protection, and in honor of his of his adoptive parents, Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a ghostly but genial couple.  The mysterious Silas, who is neither dead nor alive, is his guardian,  bringing  him food and ensuring  that he is educated in the ways of the dead and the living.  The book follows Bod’s life in the graveyard with each chapter set in a different year.  Throughout this time however, there is still the man Jack, searching for Bod so that he may finish his work.  When Bod turns fifteen, he is ready to leave the graveyard and resume a life of his own among the living, but first he must confront the evil that has been stalking him for so long.  Bod’s final showdown with the man Jack provides a dramatic and satisfying conclusion to this unusual story.  This is a fast-paced book with magical and creepy moments.   Gaiman’s storytelling skills are brilliantly inventive, particularly in relating Bod’s adventures with the visiting ghouls and his rescue by the talented Miss Lupescu.   However, what makes this book a standout, is that along with the witty plot, odd characters and unusual setting, the author also creates the poignant story of an orphan boy  learning the skills needed to survive in the world.   The audio version of The Graveyard Book, read by Neil Gaiman himself, completely sets the tone, beginning with a beautifully performed rendition of “The Danse Macabre” on banjo.  This music selection immediately alerts the listener that this will be a sinister, perhaps quirky book, but not necessarily scary.   Gaiman is the perfect reader, using different accents for different characters and able to mimic precisely the indescribable call of a night-gaunt.   His understated reading of the text, in particular the opening chapter with its gruesome murders , is reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock at his best.

Subject Headings:  Cemeteries, Ghosts, Supernatural, Werewolves, Vampires, Assassins, Orphan Boys

Appeal:  attention grabbing, witty, enthralling, scary, suspenseful, sinister, creepy, wild, well crafted, bittersweet, smart, wry, original, imaginative, clever, poignant, foreshadowing, quirky

3 Terms That Best Describe This Book: original, suspenseful, bittersweet

Similar Authors and Works

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:

Stories in Stone: The Complete Guide to Cemetery Symbolism by Douglas Keister, engraved symbols used on tombstones  tell a very detailed story about  the person buried there; The Other Side:  A Teen’s Guide to Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal by Marley Gibson, an informative look at  the technical aspects of ghost hunting as a hobby; Encyclopedia Horrifica:  The Terrifying Truth About Vampires, Ghosts,Monsters and More by Joshua Gee, geared to young adults, this is a paranormal reference book  described as “hilariously horrifying.”

3 Revelant Fiction Works and Authors:

  Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz, about a boy who can see ghosts, is certainly more of an adult book, but it shares the same darkly humorous tone.  The graphic novel version, In Odd We Trust might be less intense.   Christopher Moore, A Dirty Job,   another adult book about a new father who can see ghosts is described as “dizzyingly inventive and hypnotically engaging”,  similar to The Graveyard Book.  Skellig by David Almond, is a young adult novel that tells the story of a strange creature living in a shed behind a young man’s house and has the same eerie, magical feel.

Name:  Chris M.