The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, Neil, The Graveyard Book, HarperCollins, 2008, 309 pgs.

Summary: Nobody Owens lives in the graveyard. The Graveyard protected him from the man Jack who killed his whole family when he was a baby. Nobody escaped death as a baby only because he unknowing crawls into the graveyard. Mr. and Mrs. Owens take him in as their son and raise him with the help of his guardian, Silas, who is a vampire. The ghosts of the graveyard teach him all they know, which is not the typical things that a child would learn such as how to “fade”, how to call for help when you are among ghouls, and dreamwalking. As Bod gets older he begins to become more and more curious about the world outside of the graveyard. When he finally convinces Silas to let him go to school, he puts himself in grave danger by drawing attention to himself when he stands up against the school bullies. The man Jack is still out there and he knows that Bod is still alive. Jack is still on a mission to kill Bod. Will Bod ever be safe? Will he ever live a normal life or will he always have to stay in the graveyard?

Evaluation: I found this book to be written very uniquely. It almost seemed that each chapter was a separate story with common parts throughout the whole book to tie it all together. I loved the illustrations by Dave McKean and liked that they helped the reader to picture what some of these things looked like that Bod was seeing. I also enjoyed that there were paranormal elements, but they weren’t exaggerated, rather they were seen as something very normal.

Annotation: A killer in the night, a killer with a knife. Will it ever be safe to leave the graveyard?

Significance of Book: I feel the main significance of this book is the concept that a boy is raised without parents and he turns out ok. The oddity of the living arrangement and the use of mythical elements in a way that does not seem unbelievable is what makes this book a real jewel.

Genre/subject: fiction, supernatural, paranormal

Awards:

National:

• · ALA Notable Children's Books: 2009
• · Carnegie Medal: 2010
• · Newbery Medal: 2009
• · Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2009
• · Booklist Editor's Choice: 2008
• · Boston Globe-Horn Book Honors: 2009
• · Capitol Choices: 2009
• · Horn Book Fanfare: 2008
• · Kirkus Best Children's Books: 2008
• · USSBY-CBC Outstanding International Books: 2009

State:

• · Arizona: Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominees: 2011
• · Kentucky: Bluegrass Award Nominees: 2010
• · Michigan: Thumbs Up Award Nominees: 2009
• · New Hampshire: Great Stone Face Award Nominees: 2010
• · New Hampshire: Isinglass Award Nominees: 2010
• · New Jersey: Garden State Teen Book Award Nominees: 2011
• · Oklahoma: Sequoyah Award Nominees: 2011
• · Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Award Nominees: 2011
• · Tennessee: Volunteer State Book Award Nominees: 2011
• · Vermont: Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominees: 2010
• · Wisconsin: Golden Archer Award Nominees: 2010

Why I selected the book: I decided to read this book because I have heard great things about Neil Gaiman and every youth librarian I have ever had a conversation with asks if I have read it so I felt it was time.

Price: $18.89

Going Bovine

Bray, Libba, Going Bovine, Random House, 2009, 480 pgs.

Summary: Cameron lives his life under the radar just trying to get through high school. After smoking some marijuana, Cameron begins to hallucinate about fire gods and lose control of his muscles. Chalking it up to some bad weed Cameron tries to move on, but the hallucinations become more intense and his muscle control becomes worse. Cameron’s parents take him to the doctor and discovered that Cameron has Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human equivalent of Mad Cow disease. From this point forward the novel comes alive while Cameron partakes in a road trip from Texas to New Orleans and finally ending in Florida all in an effort to find Dr. X and get his cure and all along the way looking for “signs”. This award-winning novel by Libba Bray introduces a new take on living life rather than just existing. The journey of teaching Cameron to live rather than just exist is frustrating at times for the reader, as it is unclear whether it is real or a hallucination, but overall this novel is an outstanding jolt to YA lit and encourages teens to seize the day rather than wallow in apathy.

Evaluation: I really enjoyed this novel. I am not sure if it was because when I finally reached the end, I found out what was really happening or if because all that happens on Cameron’s journey is so completely bizarre. Either way this is at times part science fiction, part fantasy, and always funny. I would recommend this to just about any teen that is not living each day to the fullest. This book is sure to inspire.

Annotation: I have mad cow disease and this death obsessed dwarf at the hospital thinks the cure can be found. Well if I am going to die, might as well go on a road trip to find the cure.

Significance of Book: This book really embodies seizing the day. The oddities that are introduced really bring perspective to a persons life.

Genre/subject: mad cow disease, fiction, self discovery

Awards:

National:

• · Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2010
• · Booklist Editor's Choice: 2009
• · Michael L. Printz Award: 2010
• · PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS: 2009

State:

• · Arizona: Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominees: 2012
• · New Hampshire: Flume Award Nominees: 2011

Why I selected the book: I honestly selected this novel because of the cover. The book I have has a cow carrying a garden gnome.

Price: $26.80

Stitches

Small, David, Stitches, W.W. Norton & Co., 2009, 329 pgs.

Summary: This novel by David Small is the story of his life as a young child and into his teenage years. As a young child, David had breathing issues and so his father, who was a doctor, used the method at that time to help cure him which was radiation. As David got older it was discovered that he had Cancer and they had to remove some glands in his neck as well as one of his vocal cords. David struggles the whole novel with not having a voice in his family and truly being unable to have a voice once his vocal cord was removed. The complexity of David’s family life I am sure is not unusual of most families, but reading through the point of view of a young child and then a teenager puts a different twist on things. The relationship or lack of relationship that David has with his parents is apparent throughout the entire novel and is something that I think many young adults can still relate to today even though the time period is different.

Evaluation: I found this novel to be a quick read, but not an easy one. The experience of having cancer and not being told that you have cancer strikes me as very difficult to understand. Overall I think graphic novel form was the best form to pull together such a unique story. The type of illustration and language used was very fitting. It really made it clear how David saw his father and the doctors rather than what they may have actually looked like. It was also very interesting to see the illustrated emotions as David couldn’t speak, but still had rage.

Annotation: My vocal cord was gone, I couldn’t talk, and it was all my father’s fault.

Significance of Book: A wonderful example of medicine in the 1950s and illustrated example of surviving an unloving family. A powerful graphic novel showing perseverance and ultimately healing of a childhood trauma.

Genre/subject: non-fiction, biography, graphic novel, cancer

Awards:

National:

• · Alex award: 2010

Why I selected the book: I selected this book because it looks so childish, but is so serious. I have discovered that with many graphic novels, the illustrations are simple because the concept is so powerful.

Price: $15.95

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Satrapi, Marjane, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, Pantheon Books, 2003, 153 pgs.

Summary: The realness of the voice in this novel about a young girl living in Iran does an exceptional job of bring history to life. The author herself is the main character in this novel about the Islamic Revolution. The seemingly innocent account of the events leading up to the Islamic taking over Iran is strong and vibrant allowing the reader to learn about the complex concepts of this time in history. The confusion that must have been felt by many Iranians is clear as this thirteen year old depicts different history changing events. The illustrations are simple black and white comic frames which are also done by the author. The viewpoint and the simplistic illustrations all provide a powerful backdrop for the foundation of a revolution.

Evaluation: I fell in love with the thirteen year old main character and couldn’t help from wanting to stand up with here. I was surprised at how much more I learned from simple black and white pictures on the page and by the end of the novel I felt far more educated by this defining event in history that has come to affect so many American’s today. I can see why this young adult novel is loved by teens and adults alike as it is such a human look at how we all are affected.

Annotation: Marjane lives in Iran just as the Islamic Revolution begins. What does her future hold as a female under Islam?

Significance of Book: This is a frank look at the Islamic Revolution through a child’s eye. The Islamic Revolution is not very well understood and this book helps to provide a better understanding.

Genre/subject: Iranian Revolution, biography, women

Awards:

National:

• · Alex award: 2004
• · Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2004
• · Capitol Choices: 2004
• · SLJ Best Adult Books for High School Students: 2003

State:

• · Arizona: Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominees: 2008
• · Georgia: Georgia Peach Award Nominees: 2004
• · Indiana: Eliot Rosewater Award Nominees: 2006
• · New Jersey: Garden State Teen Book Award Nominees: 2006

Why I selected the book: I was interested in the appeal of this book. I knew it was about Iran, but had no idea it was from a child’s point of view.

Price: $13.95

Me, The Missing, and The Dead

Valentine, Jenny, Me, the Missing, and the Dead, HarperTeen, 2008, 201 pgs.

Summary: This novel set in London, follows Lucas Swain as he searches for why his father left him and his mother so many years ago. The novel begins with Lucas discovering Violet, an old lady in an urn. Lucas believes that Violet is the key to explaining where his father is and why he left them. Lucas talks to Violet, and takes Violet with him as he searches for his father who left him and his mother when he was younger. By researching the life of Violet, an artist, Lucas begins to discover the story of his father and discover himself as well. Full of great British humor and a good dose of sadness, this novel is funny, mysteries, weird, and just plain fun.

Evaluation: I found this novel to be a quick read with a good heart. I enjoyed the unique twist in the storyline of finding the father that left. Although a bit off beat, this novel is just hard to put down. I also found the British storytelling style to be refreshing after reading so many standard American stories.

Annotation: Me: Lucas Swain, The Missing: my father whom everybody thinks left me, The Dead: Violet, yes she is trying to tell me something, and I know she will lead me to my father.

Significance of Book: The first novel my Jenny Valentine, this book grabs you and drags you along. It is an interesting twist on paranormal without going down the road of zombies.

Genre/subject: fiction, mystery

Awards:

National:

• · Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2009
• · Capitol Choices: 2009
• · William C. Morris YA Debut Nominees: 2009
• · William C. Morris YA Debut Winner: 2009

State:

• · Arizona: Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominees: 2011
• · Texas: Tayshas Reading List: 2010

Why I selected the book: I honestly found the cover and title to be interesting and I wanted to see what it all was about!

Price: $16.99