2009 Newbery Winner
Have you read it yet?
An unusual premise and setting, yet author Neil Gaiman had me convinced of the world he created in The Graveyard Book (HarperCollins Publisher, 2008). He breaks one of the unwritten rules of children’s literature–start with your main character. Neil started with the villain. Well, actually he started with the weapon. Listen to this first sentence: “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.”
Hey, that’s passive writing, but doesn’t it work? Aren’t you nervous about what’s going to happen? I was. And the villain is horrible, has done horrible things and is now after a baby!
I’m not going to tell you anything else, because you really ought to read it! But I will tell you Neil’s website: www.neilgaiman.com. And his blog about receiving the award. And a link to the youtube video with Steven Cobear in case you missed any of that.
Enjoy!
P.S. FYI – Neil’s twitter name is neilhimself.