The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Pages: 307

Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens

Genre: paranormal

Notes for Parents: Some mature themes

The Back Cover

Nobody Owens, know as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy—an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Body leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod’s family.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

After the murder of his family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where he’s taken in by a ghostly couple and raised by the citizens of the cemetery. While he longs to be an ordinary boy, the graveyard offers him safety from his family’s killer who is still searching for him.

What’s good?

Gaiman’s engaging writing style and rich characterization creates a sophisticated fairy tale full of surreal wonders. This witty and quietly emotional adventure is full of charm, and Bod is thoroughly loveable as he comes-of-age with the support of his ghostly foster family in the graveyard. There is a delicately crafted balance between the sweet and macabre as even the reader begins to feel as though the graveyard is safer and more inviting than the world outside its gates.

Best Part: Silas…actually I love the entire graveyard community!

What isn’t good?

It’s a children’s story that begins with a triple homicide. While I personally found the story fascinating, sensitive readers may not like the dark and sometimes ghoulish tone.

Worst part: None!

Recommendation þþþþþ

This was a compelling and fantastical tale that I found thoroughly enjoyable. The characters were wonderfully drawn and memorable and the setting was beautifully macabre. Highly recommended.

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. New York: Harper, 2008.

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

Pages: 278

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Dystopian

Notes for parents: Some mature scenes, violence

The Back Cover

Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn was born after the war and only knows the life of a salvager. His family was among the few who survived and took to roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. There Stephen meets Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. When they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing—and their lives—forever.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

I think the back cover tells too much.

What’s good?

This adventure is a bit slow, but evenly paced, and a little wordy but well-written. The main character of Stephen is excellently drawn and his thoughts, motives and emotions are realistic and compelling. The dystopian world is believable and the action is gripping.

Best part: Stephen is a very well-drawn character.

What’s not so good?

Unfortunately, this is a cookie-cutter dystopian story. The slavers, the can of pears, the hidden utopia, and the bad guy amongst the good guys…it’s nothing new. I felt like the book shot itself in the foot from the beginning with a back cover that revealed too much. I knew what was coming – dad’s going to fall into a coma, Stephen’s going to find Settler’s Landing, Jenny and Stephen are going to do something stupid – so the story felt slow as I was waiting for these things to happen. No mystery, no suspense, no excitement. Great characterization and well-written action scenes were its saving grace.

Worst part: Jenny was nearly impossible to like.

Recommendations þþþoo

Dystopian novels are all the rage, and to be quite honest, this is just another cog in the machine. However, I love dystopian novels and felt adequately entertained by the end. Recommended.

Hirsch, Jeff. The Eleventh Plague. New York: Scholastic, 2011.

What the Dog Said by Randi Reisfeld

Pages: 239

Intended Audience: Tweens

Genre: Real life (with a bit of talking dog)

Notes for parents: Deals with issues of grief

The Back Cover

Gracie thinks her dog is talking to her…and she can’t believe what he has to say.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

Ever since her police officer father was killed a few months ago, Grace hasn't wanted to do much of anything. She's pulled away from her friends, her grades are plummeting . . . it's a problem. The last thing Grace wants is to be dragged into her older sister Regan's plan to train a shelter dog as a service dog. But Grace has no idea how involved she'll get – especially when a mangy mutt named Rex starts talking to her. Has Grace gone off the deep end? Or might this dog be something really special? Either way, he is exactly the therapy that Grace needs.

What’s good?

This is a moving tale of a young girl dealing with the death of her father. It’s funny and honest with believable characters and great dialogue. The story has a bit of everything - drama, comedy, mystery, a little suspense, and a lot of charisma, especially from the dog. The story is drawn to a beautiful end.

Best part: The interesting facts about training service dogs!

What’s not so good?

It’s a simple story that avoids many of the complexities of real life. If you’re a picky reader, you may ask a lot of questions (like why would her mother even allow her to be in a class with that guy?!), but the savvy ready will take it with a grain of salt and enjoy the overall message.  

Worst part: Regan is a little difficult to like.

Recommendations þþþoo

It’s an easy read, it’s entertaining, and it made me cry at the end – a good kind of cry. Recommended.

Reisfeld, Randi. What the Dog Said. New York: Scholastic, 2012.

This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel

Pages: 298

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Gothic thriller

Notes for parents: Scenes of violence

The Back Cover

Sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein leads a charmed life. He and his twin brother, Konrad, and their beautiful cousin Elizabeth take lessons at home and spend their spare time fencing and horseback riding. Along with their friend Henry, they have explored all the hidden passageways and secret rooms of the palatial Frankenstein chateau. Except one.

The Dark Library contains ancient tomes written in strange languages and filled with forbidden knowledge. Their father makes them promise never to visit the library, but when Konrad becomes deathly ill, Victor knows he must find the book that contains the recipe for the legendary Elixir of Life. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science, and love—and how much he is willing to sacrifice.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

This is book one in a series called The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein that explores the teenage years of the famous doctor.

What’s good?

A dark premise, strong characterization, and beautiful prose draw the reader into this gothic tale of a brother’s desperate search for a cure. With a slow but steady pace and lots of action and adventure, we watch as Victor travels down a sinister path that teeters on the edge of love and madness. The suspense builds steadily to a palpable breaking point and ends with an ominous promise of more thrills to come.

Best part:  The sweet and cowardly Henry Clerval.

What’s not so good?

Fans of Shelley’s Frankenstein may not like that the story doesn’t exactly stay true to the original, albeit only slightly in my opinion.

Worst part: I’m not a fan of the love triangle.

Recommendations þþþþo

I was completely taken in by the gothic setting, the dangerous mood, and the elegant language of this highly entertaining story. I’m looking forward to reading book 2. Recommended.

Oppel, Kenneth. This Dark Endeavour. Toronto: Harper Collins, 2012.  

First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci

Pages: 150

Intended Audience: Teens and Mature Tweens

Genre: Real life / Speculative

Notes for parents: Some mature scenes and coarse language.

The Inside Cover

Mal lives on the fringes of high school. Angry. Misunderstood. Quiet, but with a lot of words underneath.

Years ago, Mal disappeared for three days. Everyone tells him it was a breakdown, a seizure, something medical. He thinks it was something different. An alien abduction.

But there’s no way for him to know for sure.

Then, at an abductees support group, he meets Hooper, who has some otherworldly secrets of his own. And suddenly the truth is closer than Mal ever imagined it could be.

What the Back Cover doesn’t tell you:

Mal’s mother is an alcoholic and his father abandoned him years ago. This is a story about alienation – actual and/or metaphorical.

What’s good?

This is a wonderfully adept character study of a lonely boy who wishes people knew the real him. When he meets the quirky, well-drawn Hooper, Mal has found a kindred spirit. It reads more like a short story – not surprising since it’s only 150 pages and some chapters are only a few lines long – but in its brief telling, the story touches on everything from friendship to family, abandonment, loneliness, identity, loss, and the need to feel loved. Most of all, this seems to be a story of hope. The first person, present tense point of view works well.

Best part: I love that Mal helps animals because he can’t stand seeing anything abandoned like he was.

What’s not so good?

Although Mal is the logical main character, he was definitely not the most interesting. I would love to have heard the story told from Hooper’s or Darwyn’s perspective. Having said that, Mal’s lack of character is not a story flaw and I only mention it because I couldn’t think of anything else to write under this heading.

Worst part: None.

Recommendations þþþþo

I reluctantly give this four checks, but it definitely deserves better than three. By no means a blockbuster, First Day on Earth is an honest, unassuming tale of a human being. The short chapters keep it well-paced and it has just the right amount of humor, drama, and adventure. Recommended.

Castellucci, Cecil. First Day on Earth. New York: Scholastic, 2011. (Hardcover)