The Graveyard Book

Author: Neil Gaiman

Year: 2008

Newbery Medal Winner!

This is a charming book about a little boy who, through rather unfortunate circumstances, grows up in a graveyard, raised by ghosts and other not-quite-living-things. Each chapter is a different but related adventure from the young life of Nobody, or Bod, as he is called. I am already a big fan of Neil Gaiman (he's my favorite author) but I hadn't yet read any of his children's/YA fiction. I was highly impressed. It's easy to forget that it's for young readers. Sure, it doesn't have hugely adult themes, but also, it is as complex and well-written as Gaiman's adult novels.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book. I would recommend it for fantasy fans of any age.

Grade: A

Eternals

Neil Gaiman is by far one of my favorite authors (perhaps you have noticed that) at the moment. His take on the Marvel Eternals (apparently created quite a while ago) is amazing. This is a story about ordinary people who discover they are extraordinary people, in fact that they are not people but invincible beings created to watch over the Earth by giant robot-like alien/gods called Celestials. This is an exquisitely created tale, which places the Eternals squarely in the Marvel universe. The nod to Greek and Roman mythology and the explanation of gods is brilliant. A definite must for Gaiman fans or for fans of Marvel.

Grade: A+

Sandman: Brief Lives

This, the seventh volume of Neil Gaiman's amazing graphic novel Sandman, is an excellent one. It's a self-contained story featuring most prominently Dream and Delirium. Delirium is not a main character in many of the stories so it's pretty cool. Dream and Del are trying to find Destruction, who has left the family. The story is about change, how there are two sides to every coin and thus everyone can change, and how all lives are equally brief (even those of the Endless!). This is an excellent read.

Grade: A+