The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Winner of the 2009 Newbery Award, this charming tale tells the adventures of Bod, a normal boy with an unusual upbringing.

Surviving the assassination of his family, by toddling into the graveyard as a baby, Bod - short for Nobody - Owens is given ghostly abilities, "the freedom of the graveyard", by the ghosts who reside there.

Protected by his guardian, the mysterious Silas, who belongs to neither the world of the living or the dead, raised and schooled by ghostly teachers, Bod explores, adventures and learns about life using the abilities granted him.

Follow Bod as he enters an ancient Indigo Man’s tomb, falls prey to ghouls and their ghoul gate, discovers a witch, dances the Macabray and uncovers the reason for his family’s death.

This collection of tales, so reminiscent of Kipling’s Jungle Book is a delight. Wonderfully inventive, an enthralling story that leaves readers wanting more and to cap it all - read by Neil Gaiman himself!


Part of my 100+ Book Challenge

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

When Miyax, a 13 year old orphan, runs away from her unhappy marriage, she plans to go to her pen pal in San Francisco but she had not counted on the vast Alaskan tundra.  Once out of the village she is soon lost and starving.  Relying on the Eskimo knowledge imparted to her by her father, Miyax approaches a wolf pack.  Copying the ways of the puppies and learning patience Miyax is accepted by the leader, who she names Amaroq – “Wolf”, and befriended by a feisty black pup she names Kapu, after her father.  Miyax becomes part of the pack as she and the wolves make their way across the tundra to new hunting grounds.  But as they get closer to civilization, Miyax must look hard at who she really is:  Miyax of the Eskimos or Julie of the wolves.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

This enchanting Newbery award winning tale tells the story of Ella, a spirited young girl who was given an unusual and disastrous gift by a fairy as a baby. When she wouldn’t stop crying, the fairy, Lucinda, bestows on Ella the gift of obedience which meant she had to obey any direct command. "If you commanded me to cut off my own head, I'd have to do it."

Follow Ella into a world filled with ogres, giants, elves and fairy godmothers as she takes matters into her own hands and sets out to win her freedom and her prince with intelligence, ambition and courage.

Read by Eden Riegel, who gives this inventive retelling of the Cinderella story a youthful and saucy charm as the fairytale weaves in and out and finally twists away from the original tale.

To request this book from the JCLC catalog click here