Story behind the Story: Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book"

"The Graveyard Book" is about a boy named Nobody Owens (Bod for short) who is a normal boy other than the fact that ever since he was orphaned as a toddler, he has been raised by ghosts in a graveyard.

According to the author, Neil Gaiman, he thought of the idea back in the 1980s when he and his family lived in a house with no garden, but with a graveyard across the lane.  One day while watching his 18-month old  son, Michael, ride his tricycle around the gravestones, Neil thought of the idea of writing "The Jungle Book" set in a graveyard.

Neil started to write the story, but he felt his writing wasn't good enough, so he decided to wait until it improved.  He waited over twenty years to write "The Graveyard Book", but he definitely made the right decision.  The book won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal, Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book, Hugo Award for Best Novel, and the 2010 Carnegie Medal.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd) is this Generation's A Bridge to Terabithia

"A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness, is this generation's "A Bridge to Terabithia".   The story is about a boy named Conner who is struggling to accept that his mother is dying of cancer.  One night a monster visits him, but he is not afraid because he has been expecting a different kind of monster that is something much worse.  This monster says it will tell Conner three stories, but in return it wants a fourth story, something dark and terrible.  It wants the truth.

The book is even more poignant because of the fact that it was based on an idea from Siobhan Dowd, an award-winning British author who died of breast cancer at the age of 47.  She continued to write during the last years of her life, but she did not have enough time to turn her last idea into a book.  

Patrick Ness had never even met Siobhan Dowd, but they had the same literary editor.  Normally he would not have agreed to turn someone else's idea into a book, but her idea spoke to him.  In the "Author's Note" at the front of the book, he says he wrote the book with a single guideline:  to write a book he thought Siobhan would have liked.  

Be forewarned that this book will move you to tears.  As Conner faces his truth, you will find yourself having to face your own.  Reading this book is a journey that will forever become a part of you.      

Story Behind the Story: "Max & Ruby" series by Rosemary Wells

Rosemary Wells is a children's book author and illustrator best known for her "" picture books about two young bunnies.  Older sister Ruby, is the responsible one trying to teach her little brother about the world.  However, Max has his own ideas about what he wants to do which often gets him into trouble, but somehow everything always works out in the end. 

The characters originated from the author's own family.  Rosemary Wells would carefully listen to her two daughters, who were five and nine months at the time, as they interacted with each other.  The five-year-old would try to teach her younger sister things such as how to eat, dress and talk, and that is where Max and Ruby began.   

If you've ever watched the TV show, you may be troubled by the fact that their parents are never shown.  Don't worry, they are just in the other room listening in, just like Rosemary Wells eaves-dropped on her children many years ago.

Real Story Behind Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Did you know that Katherine Paterson's 1978 classic "Bridge to Terabithia" was inspired by a real life events from her son's childhood?  Click on "Read More" below to learn more.

*Spoiler Alert*