The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman · first published 2008
60% recommend30% neutral10% critical
Why HN recommends it
A weird, creepy yet warm story suited to reading aloud to younger children. Gaiman's clever, humane storytelling carries it, and it also works well as a graphic novel.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place—he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings—such as the ability to Fade so mere mortals cannot see him. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? The Graveyard Book is the winner of the Newbery Medal, the Carnegie Medal, the Hugo Award for best novel, the Locus Award for Young Adult novel, the American Bo
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2011–2024Coraline
Neil Gaiman
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 75 recommend · 7 mention5 recommend · 75 recommend
2009–2026American Gods
Neil Gaiman
Recommended by 35 · mentioned by 8135 recommend · 81 mention35 recommend · 8135 recommend
2010–2026Neverwhere
Neil Gaiman
Recommended by 20 · mentioned by 3720 recommend · 37 mention20 recommend · 3720 recommend
2010–2026Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro
Recommended by 33 · mentioned by 5733 recommend · 57 mention33 recommend · 5733 recommend
100 Years of Solitude
Gabriel García Márquez
Recommended by 26 · mentioned by 4926 recommend · 49 mention26 recommend · 4926 recommend
2009–2026The Sirens of Titan
Kurt Vonnegut, William Teason, Richard M. Powers
Recommended by 40 · mentioned by 6140 recommend · 61 mention40 recommend · 6140 recommend
2015–2026Death's End
Liu Ci Xin
Recommended by 30 · mentioned by 6830 recommend · 68 mention30 recommend · 6830 recommend
2010–2026What technology wants
Kevin Kelly
Recommended by 24 · mentioned by 4824 recommend · 48 mention24 recommend · 4824 recommend
…a wrench. The best of which might be: "Wyrd Sisters" (Shakespeare), or "The Truth" (Newspapers). He can make fun of pretty much anything, while still showing it great affection. Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" is a great book for reading to younger kids. Weird, creepy, but strangely uplifting, even if it does begin with a triple murder. I can't remember which kid took that. I bought Robert Silverberg's "Nightwings"…
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗…Excellent collection of fantastical yet mundane short stories. Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine - Powerful exploration of race in America. I feel like I need to read it a few more times. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - Still one of my favorite authors. Story of a baby whose family is brutally murdered and ends up being raised by spirits in a graveyard.
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2015?” ↗Speaking of business books: Growing a business (old but still valid and great) and Setting the Table. Speaking of fiction I want to recommend Neil Gainman The Graveyard Book
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011” ↗I recently read the graphic novel version of Graveyard Book. Would highly recommend that as well, it is quite well done.
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗I really liked Neverwhere, The Graveyard Book, all his short story collections, Coraline...and Stardust is probably in my top 5 favorite movies (so much to where I'm scared to read the book). I'm not a big Sandman fan...it is just so dark.
on “The Most Abandoned Books on GoodReads (2019)” ↗His novels -- American Gods, Graveyard Book, et al. -- are in the same vein of clever and British humo[u]r as Adams'. Whether they are funny or not will depend on the reader.
on “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – 30th Anniversary Edition – Free Play Online” ↗…has long won Hugo awards. Also: (a) go read it - it's got a system of magic that is as hard as any magical faster than light technology in a space opera, and (b) Gaiman won with American Gods and The Graveyard Book. The Yiddish Policemen’s Union won in 2008. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire won.
on “N. K. Jemisin’s Dream Worlds” ↗…one-sided. 3. The Bloodline Feud (Charles Stross) - Actually part 1&2 of a series. Really need to continue, very good. I'd say this was not "oh I know what will happen next" which is kinda rare. 4. The Graveyard Book (Neil Gaiman) - It's ok, but not as good as I had hoped. 5. Coraline (Neil Gaiman) - It's a children's book, and very short, but I liked it a lot. 6. Accelerated C++ (Koening/Moo) - Not finished, I…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2017?” ↗Same but with The Graveyard Book. Discovered Gaiman's Scientology history and his continued support with 30K/year and submitting his daughters.Mixed feelings ever since.
on “Douglas Adams on the English–American cultural divide over "heroes"” ↗I have read five novels ( Carpe Jugulum, Blackout, The Graveyard Book, Never Let me Go, and the Accidental Time Machine) and and find it far more convenient than my Kindle1/K2 for indoor reading - Ironically the battery is always charged on my iPad (I tend to let the kindle…
on “Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?” ↗