http://www.booktrust.org.uk/Books/Online-Reading-Group
Their first book discussion is about Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book - a "cross over" novel for young people (maybe intermediate students up) and adults. This site gives you some notes about the book and the author, then some discussion points, followed by further reading, an interview with the author and links to his website. It also asks for preferences / suggestions for next month's book.
The interesting Discussion points for The Graveyard Book might be useful in a classroom or literature circle setting too...
- There is a rich tradition of orphans in children's literature, as well as a tradition of child-of-destiny themes in fantasy literature. Discuss how Bod fits squarely into both categories.
- The graveyard is populated with characters we typically think of as evil. How does Gaiman play with this idea, particularly in the characters of Silas, Miss Lupescu, and Eliza Hempstock? What do these characterisations suggest about human nature?
- If you are familiar with Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, discuss how The Graveyard Book is reminiscent of Kipling's classic tale. How does a familiarity with The Jungle Book enhance the reading of Gaiman's story?
- At the close of the novel, Mrs Owens sings about embracing the human experience: 'Face your life / Its pain, its pleasure, / Leave no path untaken' (p. 306). How does this theme resonate throughout the novel?
- 'A graveyard is not normally a democracy, and yet death is the great democracy' (p. 29). How is death the great democracy? How does Gaiman explore the relationship between the dead and the living?
- Boundaries—between the living and the dead, the graveyard and the world—are an important part of the novel. How does Bod test these boundaries? What are the consequences of Bod's actions?
- What do you think of the advice that Bod receives from Nehemiah Trot, the dead poet: 'Do not take revenge in the heat of the moment. Instead, wait until the hour is propitious' (p. 233)?
- Like much of Gaiman's work, The Graveyard Book manages to fuse elements of humor, horror, fantasy, and mystery into a single story. Identify examples of these elements and discuss how they work together. How might the story read differently if one or more of these elements were removed?
- The Graveyard Book has been published as a crossover title. What further nuances in the text do you think adults readers will pick up on?
"Booktrust is an independent national [UK] charity which encourages people of all ages and cultures to discover and enjoy reading."
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