The Graveyard Book, 2009 Newbery Medal winning novel, by Neil Gaiman is a fantastic read! The story begins as if stepping into a movie, fifteen minutes into the show. The reader soon realizes a family has been slain by a mysterious murderer and the only survivor is a baby! This slaying is not described, more "alluded to". Our eighteen-month-old boy escapes to a nearby graveyard and is taken in by kind spirits of the dead. But everyone in the graveyard is not so kind and accepting of Bod. The adventures are endless, yet some readers may be turned off by hasty endeavors that could have been written with more depth. Readers who enjoyed Rowling’s Harry Potter series will immediately feel a connection with this story. Recommended grades 7-12.

I read this myself first before giving it to my 11yo daughter. We both really enjoyed it. I was slightly unsure in the first chapter as this is quite scary (family being killed by a man with a knife) and the pictures in the edition I have were quite scary. But as it went on it turned into a great story about how a boy turned into a good adult and was able to make the right choices, despite a clearly unusual and difficult upbringing. I liked the message that even people who might not appear to be ideal role models(ghosts/vampires etc) can still provide good advice and education. I would far rather my children read this than the other vampire / horror books that seem to be going around the school - sufficiently cool and "scary" to keep them happy, but actually quite safe and positive in message. It was also a nice fast and easy read.

The beginning is chilling but its part of what makes the book so powerful. Its is a great read. And funny but wonderful that the good role models are ghosts and other typically scary characters. The other alive people are who the boy has to be afraid of. Interesting perspective. Fabulous read.

I think that this book sends a positive message about growing up and being your own person. Bod has tough choices to make... but in the end he seems to make the right ones. Sometimes the life we are dealt is not a pretty one, but this book shows how one boy was able to make the best of it The story is a little scary in places but not too extreme.

As an adult, I absolutely LOVED this book. Both my children (ages 9 and 7) have read it and they loved it. It has a few scary parts, but it is a wonderful book filled with exciting and imaginative characters. When the book was over, it was sad because you wanted to keep reading the story. I highly recommend any books by Neil Gaiman.

Right now I'm reading this book in class and find it quite good. Chapters 3-5 are rather boring but then it picks up. Not Gaiman's best.

Loved this book - just wish it had a more interesting ending.

The only reason I gave it "iffy" was because some children may find it scary. That said, the content is about a graveyard! and those not inclined to such subject matter would probably not pick it up anyway. My daughter age 9 found it a slow start. I was sorry the story ended.

This book my teacher read to us and some of us fell asleep. The beginging of this book is good,but as we kept reading I grew very board.My friend liked but she likes almost everything.

After his last run in with the fairies Artemis fowl had his mind wiped of his memories of the world belowground.Any goodness he had grudgingly learned is now gone and the young genius has reverted to his criminal lifestyle. Once again it's up to Artemis fowl to stop the human and fairy world from colliding only this time,Artemis faces an enemy who may have finally outsmarted him.