Coraline

I still can’t believe that a novel such as Coraline is marketed and written for children. I was, frankly, terrified all the way through my reading experience, and yet unable to put the novel down.

When Coraline moves into a new house with her inattentive parents, she is intrigued by the locked door in the drawing room, but when it is opened, the door reveals a bricked up wall. Later, a mysterious passageway appears and Coraline crawls through it only to discover a house exactly the same as her own. In this alternate world, Coraline meets her “other” parents who treat her the way she has always wished to be treated – even if they are a little frightening with black button eyes. When Coraline discovers that her “other” parents want to keep her, she is drawn into a terrifying game against her “other” mother: she must rescue her missing parents and free three trapped souls, before the “other” mother claims her forever.

Gaiman’s novel is perhaps the most intense children’s novel I have ever read. The story is quite elementary, and yet the plot never diminishes. If anything, the novel’s short length and fast pacing enhances the book, as the tension is quietly subtle and not annoyingly excessive. The result is a chilling story about a little girl who must outsmart a formidable and calculable evil in order to save her parents.

Coraline is an inspiring character. She is this small and savage adventurer, who is as tough as nails but still a darling who you can’t help but cheer on. She is very capable and a great role model for children as she stands up to a bully, despite her fear.

The “other” mother was a disturbing villain. I am that type of reader that supports the bad guy and roots for them to come out the victor. This is probably the first instance where I wanted the villain to be defeated and the hero to prevail. I watched the 2009 movie immediately after finishing the novel, and was thoroughly impressed by the film’s portrayal of the “other” mother and her nightmarish hand. The “other” mother’s character was very true to the book.

Neil Gaiman’s novels are so frightening because he takes the mundane and reconstructs it: the result leaves the reader feeling disturbed and horrified, and yet unable to explain why they feel that way. When you break it down, there is nothing particularly frightening about buttons, a well, red nails on a hand, dogs, or marbles. And yet Gaiman’s unique twist on these ordinary objects transforms them into something creepy and almost macabre.

The writing is in tune with the novel and the protagonist. Gaiman’s frank descriptions allowed the text and the pace to flow naturally. While the writing is simple in its explanations of “This happened and then this happened and then this happened,” it worked perfectly for this particular novel as it allowed the reader focus completely on the story instead of flowery prose. The novel is a very quick read and can easily be read in one sitting.

Coraline is a deliciously strange novel that absorbs the reader into a horrifying alternate reality that you cannot put down. Whoever said this novel is for children is a damn liar.

Coraline is an easy and engaging read, full of strange surprises and haunting imagery. Neil Gaiman's best work.

Favorite Passage:

"Cats don't have names," it said.

"No?" said Coraline.

"No," said the cat. "Now, you people have names. That's because you don't know who you are. We know who we are, so we don't need names."

I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan, and Coraline is my favorite of his!

When I was teaching 7th graders, we would read this during Halloween just as a fun-time book. The kids loved it--and they especially loved acting out the parts with the rats.

This is a great book for a kid who wants something a bit creepy, but not so much so that they will want to crawl into bed with you in the middle of the night. The rats singing, "we are small but we are many..." is terrifying and full of great imagery! I can just see it being performed live as a stop-motion type of performance.

This is a quick and fun read, and I think many kids will find it chilling and enjoyable.

Reader reviewed by Jamie

   This was an exciting ,thrilling  and creepy  adventure  ! Coraline  moved into a creepy old house and she's bored but there's a catch there was this one room in the house that was locked this is where the adventure begins ! Coraline was fed up with reality and when she went to the other side it seemed nice there she had delicious meals her other parents  (they had buttons for eyes)whom she met on her first vist  gave her toys presents and treats the neighbours were better. Other parents wanted her to stay with them and be their little girl forever.

Reader reviewed by Nic

Smart and imaginative Coraline is bored with her life, and the food, in her parent's house. When she finds a key that opens a mysterious door in her parlor- the door that was supposed to lead to nothing at all- she finds a house like hers, a neighbor like hers, toys like hers... but much more interesting. She also finds a mom like hers... who wants her to stay there forever.

Neil Gaiman's most famous "children's" book is at least twice as creepy as any horror novel written for adults. But the scare doesn't jump out at you-- it twists around your imagination, and chills you to the bone.

Reader reviewed by Lenore

Coraline is restless. She has just moved into a new house with her family and she wants to explore, but it's nasty outside so she is stuck in the flat. That's when she discovers a door that leads to nowhere. Except, as she finds out soon enough, it does lead somewhere - an alternate reality with "other parents" who have button eyes and won't let her go back to her real life.

The story focuses on Coraline's attempts to return to her real parents and ordinary life. She is a spunky and clever character and it was fun to read about her spooky adventures. Your heart will beat faster as you root for Coraline to vanquish the "other parents".

Reader reviewed by Lulu

Coraline is a young girl with a passion for exploring. So, when she moves into her new house it is only natural that she decides to go for a look around. On her travels she meets her new neighbours: two old ladies who insist on calling her 'Caroline' and an old man with his mouse circus. Despite warnings from the old ladies and the mice, she decides to find out what exactly is hidden behind a locked, bricked up door that used to lead to another part of the house.

To her horror, on the other side of the door is her 'other mother and father' who have buttons for eyes and do not wish to set her free. With only the help of a talking black cat, she sets out to escape them.

Coraline is dark, scary yet totally unputdownable book from Neil Gaiman. If you liked Garth Nix's Ragwitch, then it would definitely be worth trying Coraline.

Reader reviewed by Kristina Read

Once upon a time there was a girl who lived in a house shared by three families. One family was her own, Mom, Dad, and Coraline. Another family consisted of two older ladies and two very spoiled pure-breed dogs. An old man and his pet mice made up the other family. Yet poor Coraline became very bored over summer break. Mother told her not to go outside, but instead explore the house. So Coraline did. And what she found around the house was much more than a few dust bunnies or lost toys, but rather a whole other world, hidden behind a brick wall, quite like her own except for one thing: the other world seemed much more exciting.

So begins the story of Coraline, a young and valiant explorer who finds herself stuck in new world full of the weird and wonderful, facing strange and haunting characters. Not to mention a performing mouse circus, chocolate eating terriers, a rather helpful cat and a wonderful set of other parents, Other Mother and Other Father, both of which will do just anything to make sure Coraline stays on their side of the brick wall, including replacing her eyes with shiny black buttons. Needless to say, Coralines sensible nature will not allow her to stay with such a pair of obsessive-compulsive parental units, and thus Coralines true adventure begins.
One curious mirror, two bedlams, and a couple of colorful cats eye marbles later, Coraline comes out on top of things, just as we knew she would.

Although oftentimes labeled as a childrens book, Coraline offers more than just a simple story that entertains and mystifies. The book offers room for the reader to explore, but not stray from the story, it also offers room for the reader to wonder and guess without being reprimanded, but instead, they are rewarded for their predictions.

My personal copy of Coraline has passed through basically each of my friends hands, as well as some people Ive overheard saying that there are no good contemporary fiction writers anymore. Both groups returned the book in a little shabbier condition, but also with a humungous smile on their face, letting me know that it was indeed what I said it was. And what exactly did I tell them Coraline was? Basically that she was a perfect reflection of me, in literary form.