Book Review: The Graveyard Book

Book Blurb: "When a baby escapes a murderer intent on killing the entire family, who would have thought it would find safety and security in the local graveyard? Brought up by the resident ghosts, ghouls and spectres, Bod has an eccentric childhood learning about life from the dead. But for Bod there is also the danger of the murderer still looking for him - after all, he is the last remaining member of the family. A stunningly original novel deftly constructed over eight chapters, featuring every second year of Bod's life, from babyhood to adolescence. Will Bod survive to be a man?"

Review: Some children get raised by a whole village (or so the saying goes), this one gets raised by a whole graveyard. Despite the fact that it starts off with a triple murder (which includes a child), this book is ultimately incredibly sweet and moving.

The characters are all very well developed, and I really felt for all of them. I also appreciated the fact that Bod (the main character) is far from perfect. He has flaws and he has moments when he messes up, yet these serve to show the strength of family ties. It also highlights the fact that family is not necessarily made up of those people bound to us by blood, but by those who have chosen to love us and support us unconditionally, and whom we have chosen to love and support in return.

This novel is as much about belonging, acceptance, forgiveness, fighting for what you believe in and protecting the things and the people you hold dear, as it is about loss and the unexpected things life can throw at you. And that is something everyone (whether alive or dead!!!) can relate to.

The 'ivy-covered marvel' that is Highgate Cemetery West, which partly inspired parts of the book.

Photo credit:Paul Grover/ Rex Features

Favourite quotes:

"'It is going to take more than just a couple of good-hearted souls to raise this child. It will,' said Silas, 'take a graveyard.'"

"'It must be good,' said Silas, 'to have somewhere where you belong. Somewhere that's home.'"

"If you dare nothing, then when the day is over, nothing is all you will have gained."

Overall score: 5/5

Book Review: Holes

Book Blurb: "Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes: five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment—and redemption."

Review: I found this book somewhat slow going at first, but I didn't really mind because (given the huge list of awards it's won) I knew some good stuff was coming my way

In all fairness though, I probably would have kept on reading regardless, purely because the entire hole-digging as character-building thing seemed way to simple. It's such a bizarre premise that you can't help but keep reading because, surely, that can't be it. As in fact it isn't. There's no way of going into much more detail without somehow spoiling the story, but suffice to say that the novel is really about two stories that happen 110 years apart, that seem completely disconnected to begin with, but which the author eventually intertwines in a very clever way. Once it gets going, the book has more twists than a pretzel and I found it very hard to put down! The characters are lovable but no Mary Sues. The all have their very obvious faults and shortcomings, but I think that is what makes them believable and keeps the reader cheering them on. 

As the blurb says, it is a story about crime, punishment, and redemption. But also very much so about friendship. It shows the importance of belonging, of being accepted, of standing up for what (and whom) you believe in without ever being preachy or shoving any kind of morals down your throat, which is particularly admirable in a children's/YA book.   

My very favourite part though, was this: somewhere in the middle of the book, comes the telling of a love story as beautiful and touching (and tragic) as any of the best classic romances. Kissin' Kate Barlow and Sam will now be joining my mental list of Epic Fictional Couples. That Sachar can tell it in merely two short chapters, and still make it have the capacity to deeply touch the reader, is a testament to his talents as a writer.All in all, this was a fantastic read and is going straight on my 'Children's/YA Favourites' list. Highly recommended, even if you are and 'A' who's no longer quite that 'Y'. :)

Favourite Quotes:
"His muscles and hands weren't the only parts of his body that had toughened over the past several weeks. His heart had hardened as well." - Absolutely heartbreaking. 

Overall rating:  5/5