The Graveyard Book Seen At Nantucket Bookworks

Cover of the graphic novel
version of The Graveyard Book.

Something about this time of year makes me want to read a really scary book. I was in Nantucket this weekend for a friend's birthday party, and I saw a copy of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman in the very cute and cozy Nantucket Bookwork's display window. This is the new graphic novel version, and I almost bought it then and there. I decided I didn't want to carry it home, but am now regretting the decision, because buying a book at a special bookstore is so much more meaningful than waiting for a brown package to arrive in the mail.

I read and loved The Graveyard Book when it came out as a chapter book several years ago; it started out as one of the scariest middle grade books I had ever read. In the Newbury award winning book, Nobody Owens, "Bod," is a human boy who lives in a graveyard among ghosts and ghouls. The story is at times terrifying, and other times touching and tender-hearted. I know it's been out for awhile, but I really want to read Neil Gaiman's latest, Fortunately, The Milk. I need to add it to the pile on my nightstand and put it in my "want to read" list on Goodreads.

Entry to the charming children's area
of Nantucket Bookwords

Two of my other favorites for scaring young readers out of their wits are Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn, and The Nest by Kenneth Oppel. These are all great books for your not-too-easy-to-scare 9-12 year old reader.