The Graveyard Book

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of death, graphic violence, prejudice, and ableism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your initial expectations when you learned that The Graveyard Book is a story about a boy being raised by ghosts? How did the novel either fulfill or subvert those expectations? Have you read other works by Neil Gaiman, such as Coraline? How do the two texts compare?

2. Which of the graveyard's residents left the strongest impression on you? Why?

3. How did you feel about the novel’s deliberate balance between whimsy and darkness? Was this combination an effective approach for a children's story? Why or why not?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Nobody "Bod" Owens learns different lessons from various graveyard inhabitants. Which character's teachings resonated with your own life experiences?

2. How did the book's portrayals of found family versus biological family echo or challenge your own understanding of what makes a family?

3. The story explores the challenge of being different while trying to fit in. When have you experienced similar tensions in your own life? How did you reconcile this conflict?