The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel: Volume 2

by Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell (Illustrator), P. Craig Russell

Overview

It Takes a Graveyard to Raise a Child.

Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, and didn't have a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead.

There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy, and if Bod leaves, he will be in danger from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family. Despite the danger, Bod wants to leave the graveyard to attend school with the living and find out more about his family's murder. But when Bod uses the Fear on two bullies and gets too close to the man Jack, he will put more things at risk than he knows.

Each chapter in this adaptation by P. Craig Russell is illustrated by a different luminary from the comic book world, showcasing a variety of styles from a breadth of talent. Together, they bring Neil Gaiman's award-winning, nationally bestselling novel The Graveyard Book to new life in this gorgeously illustrated two-volume graphic novel adaptation.

This volume includes Chapter Six through the end of the book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062194831
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	10/07/2014
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	165,240
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.60(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Neil Gaiman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books for readers of all ages, and the recipient of numerous literary awards, including the Shirley Jackson Award and the Locus Award for Best Novelette for his story "The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains." Originally from England, he now lives in America.

P. Craig Russell lives in Kent, Ohio, and has spent forty years producing graphic novels, comic books, and illustrations. He is well-known for his graphic novel adaptations of Neil Gaiman's Coraline and Sandman: The Dream Hunters, as well as his Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde series. His work ranges from such mainstream titles as Batman, Star Wars, and Conan to adaptations of classic operas and a Jungle Book series. He has won several Harvey and Eisner Awards.

P. Craig Russell lives in Kent, Ohio, and has spent forty years producing graphic novels, comic books, and illustrations. He is well-known for his graphic novel adaptations of Neil Gaiman's Coraline and Sandman: The Dream Hunters, as well as his Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde series. His work ranges from such mainstream titles as Batman, Star Wars, and Conan to adaptations of classic operas and a Jungle Book series. He has won several Harvey and Eisner Awards.

Hometown:

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Date of Birth:

November 10, 1960

Place of Birth:

Portchester, England

Education:

Attended Ardingly College Junior School, 1970-74, and Whitgift School, 1974-77

Website:

http://www.neilgaiman.com

Editorial Reviews

Astounding, transfixing, sublime, and beautiful….just a few words to describe this wonderful graphic novel adaptation of the second half of Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book (HarperCollins, 2008/Voya August 2008). The narrative picks up around chapter 6, after Bod leaves the graveyard and enrolls in school, an endeavor that presents more risks than benefits. Readers see the reemergence of Jack Frost, who is drawn perfectly with an innocent exterior that hints at the evil within. The most intriguing artistic depiction is the Sleer, the mysterious presence looking for the return of its master, which is drawn as smoke carrying the words it utters. The final scene, which portrays the defeat of Jack, is frightening but not violent and will amaze readers and ignite the imagination. Russell and his team of illustrators continue to do this amazing story justice with images that lead readers down a path into Bod’s dark and magical graveyard world. Gaiman has the ability to weave beauty and intrigue into a story that has a strong potential to frighten. Russell matches this with his illustrations. Younger readers may find some of the images a bit disturbing but not to the point of giving nightmares. Consider this a lovely interpretation of the story's resolution. Reviewer: Victoria Vogel; Ages 11 to 18.

VOYA, February 2015 (Vol. 37, No. 6) - Victoria Vogel

10/01/2014
Gr 5 Up—Starting off where the first volume (2014) of Russell's graphic novel adaptation of Gaiman's The Graveyard Book (2008, both HarperCollins) ended, this title covers the second half of the original book. Orphan Nobody "Bod" Owens continues his education with the help of the ghostly graveyard residents, but soon experiences growing pains as he interacts more and more with the outside world of the living. His guardian Silas enrolls Bod in a human school, where the boy's sense of right and wrong battles against his instincts to remain forgettable to his classmates and teachers. In the following segment—the most action-packed and thought-provoking—Bod is reunited not only with his childhood friend Scarlett but also with the murderous Jack, responsible for his family's deaths. Now a teen, the protagonist grapples with feelings of revenge, honor, and even puppy love, all leading up to the work's climax. A bittersweet and hopeful conclusion will tug at the hearts of readers and followers of Gaiman and Russell's work. This volume's art style and pacing is more cohesive and even than the first, perhaps due to the longer chapters and the variety in settings. Underlying messianic themes and the striking juxtaposition of the evil clan of human assassins and the benevolent band of noble monsters begs classroom discussion. Essential reading for fans of Gaiman's original and those who enjoyed the first entry.—Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal

School Library Journal