by Neil Gaiman

MG Fantasy, 2008 by HarperCollins, 312 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• The start of the book almost reads like short stories. They don’t feel connected at first, partially because of the amount of time they cover. 
• The chapters are a bit long (I’m being picky). 
• The resolution felt rushed. We’d built up to something that felt huge and the ending felt a bit rushed. Are there more in the series? Because that would make sense. 

What I Did Like:

• The premise, which is set up beautifully in the opening chapter, is amazing. What if an entire family were killed, leaving only one small baby, who managed to escape to a Graveyard full of ghosts? What if those ghosts decided to save him? 
• The language is beautiful. Sometimes lyrical and poetic, sometimes scary and thrilling. This is a work of art. 
• Shining a light on some of the darkest parts of literature. Graveyards, ghouls, and ghosts often take their place as the scariest things in books. But in this book they are comfort personified. It would make a WONDERFUL lesson on mood in books. 

Who Should Read This One:

• Readers who enjoy dark places and tales of children navigating the world.

My Rating: 4 Stars