The Graveyard Book

About this book

Nobody Owens — Bod — is raised by ghosts in a graveyard after his family is murdered. Gaiman's 2009 Newbery Medal winner (also Carnegie Medal in the UK) is one of the most popular fantasy texts for the 5-8 grade band and a frequent challenged title in some districts for its supernatural framing.

Where this book is assigned

• Common Core State Standards (ELA)

  • recommended· 5th gradesource: CCSS ELA grades 4-5 fantasy Newbery Medal 2009
  • recommended· 6th gradesource: CCSS ELA grades 6-8 fantasy exemplar

Similar grade-level books

• 
  The Giver
  Lois Lowry · 760L
• 
  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
  Sherman Alexie · 600L
• 
  The Outsiders
  S.E. Hinton · 750L
• 
  The Diary of a Young Girl
  Anne Frank · 1080L

Common questions

What grade level is The Graveyard Book?

The Graveyard Book is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 5–8, with a Lexile measure of 820L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of The Graveyard Book?

The Graveyard Book has a Lexile measure of 820L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

What curricula assign The Graveyard Book?

The Graveyard Book appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Graveyard Book banned in schools?

The Graveyard Book has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 2 states (FL, TX) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.

What themes does The Graveyard Book explore?

Central themes in The Graveyard Book include found family, the supernatural and the living, coming of age, death and grief (gentle), identity. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.