Coraline

Reader reviewed by Vicki

Interesting story! A little on the creepy side, especially the whole "other mother's" hand idea. It was very imaginative and a quick and easy read. I am not so sure if I would read it with my children though. I know it is a children's book, but I can see it being a little on the frightening side to a younger child. Gaiman did a great job describing Coraline and what she saw. I could imagine the other house, and the other mother etc. Well done, but not too sure if I would read it with chidren.

Reader reviewed by Lisa

in a sentence or so: Coraline
discovers a very mysterious room that leads to a very mysterious place
that so closely resembles her home that she is almost fooled into
staying there forever. almost...

Coraline loves to explore. she
is quite good at exploring too. she loves to explore in the flat where
she lives with her mom and dad, chat with her neighbors (the former
actresses) and she's unsure about the man upstairs who claims to have a
mouse circus in the making. busy parents and long days leave Coraline
feeling bored, and that is when she discovers a door that leads to her
other mother - who isn't quite what she seems...

i was inspired to read this book due to the movie that just came out, and due to the recognition that Gaiman has been getting for The Graveyard Book. i wasn't sure what to expect or what the story would be like. for those of you who are like me - i'll
tell you. expect creepy, crawly, creative, spooky, thoughtful, and
courage. the story is honestly scary at times - mostly because Gaiman crafts such a vivid mental image of the other world and things that happen are downright freakish.

something i adore about fantasy/fiction for young adolescents/upper elementary is the simple acceptance of the unknown.
little time is spent rationalizing what happens, much time is spent
with the "what to do now". Coraline's perception of the events balanced
the outrageous with thoughtful problem-solving. she is determined and
sweet, making her someone that the reader roots for immediately.

this
book was a fun, scary, and spooky adventure. there is some serious
depth to what happens to Coraline and the people she meets. Coraline's
character, combined with the powerful imagery, made this book such a
good and worthwhile read for me.

fave quote: "'She
wants something to love, I think' said the cat. 'Something that isn't
her. She might want something to eat as well. It's hard to tell with
creatures like that.'" (78)

fix er up: there are a couple nit-picks that i wish were different, but they are a bit spoilerish
so i won't post them. mostly how the story wraps up...there were some
things i considered to be loose ends that i wish had been tied up.

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 Library Queen

For those who like well written scary books, put this one on your list. Coraline finds a door that leads to another apartment that looks just like hers. Only in the OTHER apartment there lives an OTHER mother and father with black button eyes and magic ways. The other mother wants to keep Coraline for herself and never let her see her real parents again. In fact, the other mother makes Coralines parents disappear. Coraline must find a way to escape, rescue her real parents, and help release more of the captives.

A talking cat contributes much to the adventure. This conversation captures the personality of both charcters.

But how can you walk away from something and still come back to it?

Easy, said the cat. Think of somebody walking around the world. You start out walking away from something and end up coming back to it.:

Small world, said Coraline.

Its is big enough for her said the cat. Spiders webs only have to be big enough to catch flies.

Coraline shivered.

To be honest the cover of this book did not attact me. I looked at it, read the back, looked at the cover again, and put it back on the shelf. But, I am constantly getting asked for a scary book and I was running low on ideas for some students. That is when I remembered this book and decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did. For someone who does not do scary books this one had just the right touch. The illustrations added so much to the story.

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 Amanda

Coraline, is a young girl living with her parents in a small portion of a large flat in London. Coraline is a very picky girl and always bored, never satisfied with activities her parents suggest for her to do and never satisfied with her parents in general, for that matter. When she discovers a door in their drawing room that just opens to a brick wall, Coraline has a feeling that the door does lead somewhere and when she figures out where, she becomes trapped in a world where a woman calls herself "her other mother" and a man her "other father." The place looks just like Coraline's flat (only better) and the man and woman just like her mother and father (only better), but as the story proceeds we quickly learn that these people never want to let Coraline go. She has to use her intelligence and wit to gain her life back.


This book gave me the creeps! It was great storytelling, though the illustrations may be a little too scary for younger children. I was a little disturbed of the drawing of a woman's face with button eyes and a bug crawling out of her mouth and I'm 24! I really did enjoy this story, though not usually a ghost story or fantasy fan, but even if you aren't into those genres or even juvenile fiction typically, give this one a try. It was a quick read that took me out of that darn reading slump! I give it a 4 out of 5.

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.

Reader reviewed by Tobie

I loved this book!! At times I was torn between turning the page or shutting the book, because it was soo scary. Even though the storyline was pretty dark I still enjoyed watching Coraline face her fears!!! ( of buttons).