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sarasreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a very sweet story. Found families always gets me. I enjoyed the slow build, where we follow Bod as he grows up and get to know so many of the graveyard inhabitants. And how all the little details we learned through the book came together at the end for an exciting conclusion. And the last page got me all misty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
billyjepma's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I can’t believe I’ve gone this long in life not knowing that Neil Gaiman wrote a retelling of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book with ghosts. If that’s not a book tailor-made for me, then I don’t know what is. And now that I've read it and loved every page, it's my contractual obligation to force everyone I know to read it and experience the emotions it gave me when I finished the final chapter in bed last night. An instant, all-time favorite that I might have to start revisiting every October.
Gaiman describes the book as a novel made up of short stories, and the approach works beautifully. Each chapter captures a pivotal experience in the protagonist's childhood, allowing us to watch him grow up without needing to spend 16 years with him. Gaiman's writing is as lovely as ever and expertly balances melancholy with tenders and adventure with scares. It's spooky without being scary, nostalgic without being trite, and is yet another example I can use in my argument that Gaiman's YA-leaning novels are his best works. This is a treasure of a novel. ❤️
Gaiman describes the book as a novel made up of short stories, and the approach works beautifully. Each chapter captures a pivotal experience in the protagonist's childhood, allowing us to watch him grow up without needing to spend 16 years with him. Gaiman's writing is as lovely as ever and expertly balances melancholy with tenders and adventure with scares. It's spooky without being scary, nostalgic without being trite, and is yet another example I can use in my argument that Gaiman's YA-leaning novels are his best works. This is a treasure of a novel. ❤️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
chrisljm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
4.5 stars; For a book that starts off with a triple homicide, it is surprisingly sweet and funny. The sole survivor of the family who gets murdered is Bod, a baby who essentially gets adopted by the ghosts of a cemetery. It’s stated that it takes a graveyard to raise a child and it was very sweet to see just how true it was. I loved all the characters very much, but especially Bod and Silas’ relationship, and seeing how they all leave an impact throughout various parts of Bod’s life. The greedy part of me wishes I could’ve read more anecdotes on Bod’s life in the graveyard, but realistically I think the amount written was just right.
I listened to the audiobook read by Neil Gaiman himself (on youtube) and he was fantastic and so funny. This has become one of my favorite audiobooks.
I listened to the audiobook read by Neil Gaiman himself (on youtube) and he was fantastic and so funny. This has become one of my favorite audiobooks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Stalking, and Car accident
Minor: Suicide
baponthecob's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A truly phenomenal book. Definitely holds up 9 years after the first time I read it in grade school.
My only real criticism is that we dont see enough of the Owenses. It really seems like Silas is the one who raised Bod. (I mean, Bod literally called him dad that one time.)
Of course, I know that his parents love him so much, but it would have been amazing to see them being a family more often.
It feels like for the most part, they dismissed Bod a lot bc they wanted to protect him. Silas was the only one who was straight with him.
Also, I'm glad the massive fucking tree trunk eventually fell out of Miss Lupescu's ass, but why was she such an asshole at first anyway???
Overall, I loved seeing Bod grow up and learn about the world and make friends :( it was really heartwarming to see how much everyone in the graveyard cared about him.
The ending was really bittersweet, and it hits different as someone who is supposed to have hit adulthood and gained independence already. But, yk, the time comes when it comes.
My only real criticism is that we dont see enough of the Owenses. It really seems like Silas is the one who raised Bod. (I mean, Bod literally called him dad that one time.)
Of course, I know that his parents love him so much, but it would have been amazing to see them being a family more often.
It feels like for the most part, they dismissed Bod a lot bc they wanted to protect him. Silas was the only one who was straight with him.
Also, I'm glad the massive fucking tree trunk eventually fell out of Miss Lupescu's ass, but why was she such an asshole at first anyway???
Overall, I loved seeing Bod grow up and learn about the world and make friends :( it was really heartwarming to see how much everyone in the graveyard cared about him.
The ending was really bittersweet, and it hits different as someone who is supposed to have hit adulthood and gained independence already. But, yk, the time comes when it comes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Car accident, and Alcohol
lasylphide's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Child death and Suicide