The Story Is About the Upbringing and Development of a Boy

Synopsis

* The story is about the upbringing and development of a boy from toddlerdom to teenage years, who lives with and is protected by a community of ghosts and spirits in a disused graveyard. The boy's entire family is murdered at the outset of the novel, although he inadvertently escapes and finds refuge in the graveyard that is to become his home for the next fifteen years or so.

* Under the protection of the graveyard and its spirits, he is given a range of 'special', supernatural powers such as fading, sliding, dream-walking etc. which can only be effective whilst he remains within the vicinity of the graveyard.

* The novel charts his numerous 'other-worldly' adventures as well as the developing relationships he forms with resident spirits, principally with his 'Godfather' Silas, a most mysterious and intriguing being. However, the real danger for Bod is to escape the murderous intent, the 'unfinished business' of those who despatched his family.

* Within the framework of a series of adventures, the novel charts Bods growth and development from that of a helpless babe to a confident adolescent, ready and able to finally step free from the graveyard to find, confront and resolve the issue of his family's murder.

Setting & structure

* The action is ostensibly set in the present age but the story line is inevitably linked to the past - often many centuries ago, given the deceased nature of his companions and their capers together. Individual chapter stand alone as complete stories but also cleverly link into the main theme and storyline. This effectively creates a dual threaded novel with individual stories weaved into and contributing to the overall narrative.