Pros: Gory and macabre, it's an instant kid draw. Story is easy to follow. Plenty of falling body parts, decay smell, etc., but not graphic or gory enPros: Gory and macabre, it's an instant kid draw. Story is easy to follow. Plenty of falling body parts, decay smell, etc., but not graphic or gory enough to be concerning. Cons: The setup is a bit awkward - town that can't ask questions and a certain mystery meat everyone consumes - these never quite seem to make much sense or fit into place. There are not much in the way of answers at the end of the first book. Even in regards to the mystery disease that's the focus of the second half of this title. Usually a series will resolve some aspect of each title, but this one just hangs which is just frustrating. It entirely depends on the decaying protagonist for all of its momentum which gets a little old after awhile.
But did I mention the certain kid draw? It thankfully does not take the ick factor as far as some books for this audience do. I wouldn't go out of my way to add it to my collection, but it's passable. ...more
I started to read this book three years ago, but not much into violence, the opening scene of the murder of the family brought me to close the book anI started to read this book three years ago, but not much into violence, the opening scene of the murder of the family brought me to close the book and put it away. Talking with kids over the last few years, I had many of them encourage me to read it, promising me it really wasn't violent. So finally, after braving and really liking The Night Gardener, I was in the mood for braving another darker, Gothic work. And I'm so glad I did. I gritted my teeth and stuck got through that first chapter. And yes, it's a dark and sad opening, but there are no grisly details, and it sets the stage for a story that while dark, is not violent, and takes us to a world we don't usually get to enter - the graveyard - and all its secrets. The one survivor of the murdered family in the opening scene is a young toddler who manages to escape during the attack on his family and makes his way out of the house and down the road to a nearby graveyard where (assisted by his mother's fading ghost), he is taken in and protected by the graveyard's residents. Two ghosts acts as his adopted parents, another mysterious not dead/not alive person acts as his guardian and go-between with the real world , but the entire graveyard helps raise him. He is given the name Nobody Owens (or Bod as he is generally called), and he is given full access to the graveyard and an education that includes a fascinating mix of history, supernatural, and a bit of magic. While happy there, he still wonders about the world of the living outside the gates. And there's still the murderer of his family out there still looking for him. It's a fascinating story, and I couldn't help but enjoy following Bod through his graveyard world and cheering for him as he comes of age. ...more
Loading...
