The Graveyard Book

You might think that growing up in a graveyard, dressed in a winding sheet and nurtured by long dead ghosts and a vampire guardian, would be a severe handicap. In fact it is saving Nobody Owens’ life. He is a chosen one with a destiny to defeat evil, ruthless forces, The Jacks, who would rule the earth. Trouble is they know where he is and want to destroy both him and his friend Scarlett. Only the love and friendship of the nether world can help them to defeat their powerful adversaries as they grow to a mature understanding of the fearful tasks they were born to accomplish.

You cannot fault the sheer inventiveness in this brilliantly paced and plotted fantasy novel which wrests attention and reader commitment from the onset. Illustrations by Chris Riddell admirably back up the menace and spookiness of the piece.

Recommended for youngsters who like a meaty read to cogitate over.