Fast and dark, this young adult novel touches on quite a few adult subjects, including learning disabilities, death, separated parents, and alcoholism. With so much darkness, even in the midst of supernatural danger, the book is still surprisingly optimistic in the end, albeit realistically so. Yet, I have to admit, that's one of the things I most liked--clearly, there is no easy fix to the topics noted above, and the book doesn't pretend otherwise. The book takes on quite a bit, and it does so impressively.

I'd love to see a sequel, because the main character is that well-written and engaging, but I'd say that one of my main criticisms with the book is that it is a bit short: it wraps up extremely quickly (and somewhat messily, image-wise, compared to the rest of the book)--I'm not sure wether a sequel would atone for that quickness or just flounder. Similarly, there's a lot packed into this little book--I'd like to have seen it move a bit slower if it was going to take on so much. The balance through the first half of the book was ideal...but, as I said, the end moved a bit too quickly to do the early work justice.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one--I just wish the author had taken her time with the last fifth or so of the book. And, admittedly, I'm hesitant about what age group this book is a best fit for. I read far above my age level, and looking back, I probably would have picked this up in second grade (reading level wise)...but I wouldn't have been ready for it until grade five or so. Ideally, this might be one of those books best read between a parent and child, chapter by chapter (short chapters do make this rather ideal for reading aloud!), allowing for discussion.

And, come to think of it, it does rather have the tone of a long campfire story... ( )

Whispers in the Graveyard mixes a contemporary storyline with a historical element - a little like its fellow Carnegie winner The Ghost of Thomas Kempe, but not as successfully, I don't think. In the end, the fact that it tries to be two books at once (one a story about a dyslexic boy with an alcoholic father and an absent mother; the other a horror/supernatural story involving an ancient graveyard) was its downfall. They could have fit together, but they didn't - not quite.

Another reason why I liked this less than I was expecting was because the villain, if you can call it that, turned out to be disappointingly stereotypical. Theresa Breslin does try to contextualise all that malice, but the novel is just too short to allow the kind of character development that would move it beyond cliché territory, so sadly all we have is yet another story about a wicked witch.

I did like the Scottish setting, though, as well as the creepy atmosphere. The writing had its lovely moments too. This is probably my least favourite of the Carnegie winners I've read to date, but that doesn't mean it's a bad book. ( )

I had high hopes for this book, but found it a little trite. Some nice handling of dyslexia but I don't think the author quite managed to blend it in seamlessly with the supernatural by-story. The paranormal parts just never sat quite right. ( )

This classic book - winner of the Carnegie Medal - has been reissued for a fresh generation of readers.

It is the story of Solomon, a boy who struggles with dyslexia and feels that his teachers and parents haved failed him. His refuge is among ancient graves that lie in the shadow of the rowan tree, When the tree is uprooted, a strange power is released. Is it a curse?

Written by a multi-award-winning author, this tale unfolds in remarkable and dramatic ways. Solomon must save a young girl, stand up to his father and confront his learning difficulties.

An excellent book for girls and boys, this story will resonate with readers. ( )