Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gorgeous adaptation catches all the magic of original novel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
On the night the rest of his family is murdered, a toddler escapes to a nearby cemetery, where he's taken in by the kindly ghosts and other fantastic creatures who live there. Named "Nobody Owens," the boy grows up in the graveyard. His curiosity and restlessness lead him into a series of adventures: Nobody and a female friend enter a hidden crypt and discover what lies beneath a magic hill; he and the ghost of a young witch tangle with a crooked pair of treasure seekers; a band of ghouls kidnaps Nobody and threatens to turn him into one of their kind; and Nobody joins the dead and living alike as they "dance the Macabray."
Is It Any Good?
This graphic novel adaptation by P. Craig Russell (with the assistance of six other accomplished artists) brilliantly redefines the story for a different medium.
The episodic plot is perfect for this kind of collaborative project, with each chapter offering a different look that stills feels part of a unified vision. Rowdy ghouls, ghosts from various eras, a kindly vampire, and a vigilant werewolf are only a few of the supernatural characters depicted with elegance and wit. Readers will want to get their hands on Volume 2 as quickly as possible.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how comics adaptations of novels differ from their source material. What effects can be rendered with illustrations that are more difficult in prose?
How do you define a family? What are common characteristics of families of any shape or size?
Do you believe in life after death? What approaches do different religions take toward the issue?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : P. Craig Russell
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date : July 29, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 192
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate