book review on coraline

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Common sense media reviewers.

Strange, surreal tale sure to creep kids out.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

This is a book that will certainly push kids' imag

Coraline finds the brave person inside of her -- a

Coraline is a pretty relatable character -- she ge

A rat is decapitated by a cat. Coraline is chased

Educational Value

This is a book that will certainly push kids' imaginations. The publisher has put out a nice reading guide for parents and teachers who want to analyze the plot more closely. Our "Families Can Talk About" section can give you some other ideas for sharpening those critical-thinking skills.

Positive Messages

Coraline finds the brave person inside of her -- and also learns to appreciate her own family. Toward the end of the book, she even says "I don't want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if we just got everything we wanted? Just like that, and it didn't mean anything. What then?"

Positive Role Models

Coraline is a pretty relatable character -- she gets bored, is picky about food, etc. -- but ultimately she acts bravely and uses her smarts to not only save herself but also others the Other Mother trapped, including her parents.

Violence & Scariness

A rat is decapitated by a cat. Coraline is chased by weird creatures. There are lots of rats, spiders, clammy rooms, mysterious threatening beings, and other typical haunted house elements.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Neil Gaiman 's Coraline is pretty creepy, and could be disturbing for sensitive kids: The central adventure is about a girl trying to save herself, her parents, and other trapped souls from the Other Mother in a secret world. But this is a good choice for kids who like horror stories -- and whose parents would prefer it be well-written and not too gruesome. Coraline discovers a dark world crawling with rats, spiders, strange creatures, and others spookiness -- but through her creepy adventures she also discovers her own inner bravery. The book was adapted for the 2009 movie Coraline .

Where to Read

Community reviews.

Parents say (22)
Kids say (91)

Based on 22 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In Coraline's new house, she discovers a door that sometimes opens onto a brick wall and sometimes doesn't. Venturing through, she discovers a world that mirrors her own, though the mirror is disturbingly distorted. There's more fun and better food, but her parents and neighbors are reflected with troubling differences. Returning to her own home, Coraline finds that her real parents are missing, only appearing in the hallway mirror. With the help of a cat that can talk in the mirror world, Coraline returns to rescue her parents -- as well as the souls of other children that she finds imprisoned in the world through the door -- from the fiendish Other Mother.

Is It Any Good?

Gaiman is well known in the world of adult literature, but this is his first book for children, and it's a strange, surrealistic tale -- fun for kids who like their stories creepy. The black-and-white illustrations by Dave McKean are correspondingly sinister. Not everything will make sense to young readers, nor will they find the emotional heart that marks children's classics -- but they will find Coraline to be a brave character who uses her smarts to not only save herself, but also others the Other Mother trapped. Plus, the plot rolls along fairly unpredictably -- and with a few good scares. Ultimately, not awe-inspiring, but entertaining enough.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can about scary stories. like Coraline . What makes them fun? Thinking of other chilling tales you've heard, can you think of anything they have in common?

This author often writes for adults, too. What makes a book better suited for a kid or an adult? Do you think both can enjoy Coraline ?

What do you think is the scariest part of the story?

Book Details

Author : Neil Gaiman
Genre : Horror
Book type : Fiction
Publisher : HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication date : April 1, 2004
Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 14
Number of pages : 162
Last updated : July 12, 2017

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Coraline by Neil Gaiman - review

It is the summer holidays and Coraline is at a loose end. She is extremely bored and can't find anything to keep herself interested during the last week of her holidays. However, after her fortune is told by her mysterious neighbours, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, and her life is said to be in grave danger, Coraline is given something to ponder. One day, when her parents are out shopping, she finds a secret passageway connecting her house to a warped reality that resembles the real world. The people of this world all look similar to humans but there is one major difference: they have buttons for eyes! Join Coraline as she ventures to get back to her own reality, will she succeed or will she be stuck with the button-eyed creatures for ever? Coraline is a creepy novel that frightened the life out of me. I had to read it in two sittings because I was so utterly spooked. The author, Neil Gaiman , conjured up such amazing pictures in my head. He made it scary in a very succinct manner and still his book tells a fascinating story that is both weird and wonderful at the same time. It keeps you hooked yet I constantly found that I wanted to skip over the REALLY scary parts. Nevertheless, I ploughed on through.

Despite the fact that this book scared me almost to death, I would still rate it five stars out of five because it had such a brilliant atmosphere and it was devised so cleverly. I would recommend it to children 10 + for a truly petrifying read. You have been warned.

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By Neil Gaiman

'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman was published in 2002 to great critical acclaim. The story follows young Coraline Jones as she fights the evil Other Mother and rescues her parents from danger.

About the Book

Article written by Neesha Thunga K

B.A. in English Literature, and M.A. in English Language and Literature.

Having received several awards as well as appreciation from fans across the world, Coraline is one of Neil Gaiman’s most popular works . It is a children’s story that is loved by people of all ages. In the novella, Coraline Jones, a young girl chances upon a mysterious corridor in her house that leads to a parallel universe. She discovers that the parallel universe is very similar to her own. However, she soon finds the parallel universe creepy and returns to her house only to find her parents missing. Coraline discovers that her parents have been kidnapped by the Other Mother, and she realizes that it is up to her to rescue her parents.

Coraline as a Role Model for Children

When Neil Gaiman first wrote the story, Coraline , he was determined to have a female protagonist. He wished for the story to bring forth a fresh perspective and act as inspiration to children across the world. Young Coraline Jones, therefore, is designed as a character for children to look up to.

Coraline is bold and adventurous right from the beginning , and she has an extremely vivid imagination. She is not afraid to go exploring on her own and is pretty adroit at amusing herself. However, her life is dull, especially when her parents do not pay her any attention. This is why at the beginning of the novella, Coraline wishes for a better life, full of adventure and color.

Unlike the wishes of any other child in the world, Coraline’s wishes come true in the form of the Other Mother and the parallel universe. However, Coraline soon realizes that the grass is not always greener on the other side. She begins to long for her old life back and recognizes the importance of appreciating what she has. She begins to feel a deep love and connection towards her parents and is determined to restore her family and make it whole once again.

As such, Coraline sets off to rescue her parents from the clutches of the Other Mother. She undergoes many trials in the parallel universe all of which help her to grow as a person. Her parents’ advice proves to be her guiding light in many situations. For instance, she remembers what her father had told her about bravery, and decides to be brave like him. This is what keeps her going even in the face of danger and fear.

Several things happen along Coraline’s journey, all of which help her progress in some way or the other. For example, she meets the souls of the three ghost children and feels empathy and compassion towards them, so much so that she decides to set them free as well. She sticks to her guns despite the dire warnings of the ghost children and is confident in her abilities to outwit the Other Mother.

Coraline is quick-witted and clever, and she is capable of thinking on her feet in tough situations. She comes up with a swift and ingenious plan to escape from the Other Mother while also rescuing her parents and the ghost children. Though she is frightened every step of the way, her courage and self-confidence allow her to emerge victorious in the end.

That being said, Coraline is not painted as a “perfect” character in the novel. She has her flaws of her own. For instance, Coraline is shown in many vulnerable situations, with doubts and fears at every stage. This is especially seen when the Other Mother tries to convince her that her real parents do not love her anymore. The beldam shows Coraline an image of her parents feeling relieved to finally be rid of their daughter. Coraline has a nagging doubt that this might have been true and almost believes the false image conjured up by the Other Mother. However, she ultimately remembers that her parents love her and want her as their daughter.

Coraline is also shown as a compassionate character. Although she seems a little disgruntled and resentful towards her parents for neglecting her, she still loves them deeply and would go to any lengths to rescue them. Gaiman shows that Coraline can be compassionate towards her enemies as well. When Coraline is trapped alone with the Other Father, she discovers that the Other Father is being controlled by the Other Mother and feels sorry for the creature. She encourages him to stand up to the Other Mother and tells him that he can lead an independent life. At this moment, we are shown how Coraline can put aside her own sentiments and help others in need.

Coraline is also a morally virtuous young girl. She never thinks about cheating her way out of the other world and is determined to win the game fair and square. She even calls the Other Mother out on her unjust methods during the game, telling her to “play fair.” Ultimately, Coraline puts all of her skills, values, and morals on the line and ends up defeating the Other Mother. Thus, with great difficulty and tremendous perseverance, she accomplishes her goal.

This is why the character of Coraline Jones is deemed to be an incredible role model for young children (especially girls) across the world. She is highly relatable which makes it easy for children to picture themselves in her shoes. At the same time, she undergoes enormous growth and development, which acts as an inspiration to any child who reads the novella.

What age is Coraline suitable for?

Coraline by Neil Gaiman is a children’s fantasy novella but with an element of horror in it. There are several terrifying aspects to the story, including the wicked Other Mother, her unreadable button eyes, her long fingernails, and her unruly hair. Even the parallel universe is strangely familiar which makes it creepy to both Coraline and the reader.

Is Coraline supposed to be a horror story?

How is coraline treated by her parents.

Coraline is often neglected by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, who both work from home and are extremely busy in their lives. They do not have any time to entertain the whims and fancies of a young 9-year-old daughter. This is why they often leave Coraline to amuse herself. They also do not seem to express too much affection towards their daughter. However, at the end of the day, they are loving, caring, and supportive parents.

What is the hidden message in Coraline ?

Neil Gaiman has hidden a message of compassion and empathy in Coraline. When Coraline meets the three ghost children, she immediately feels empathetic towards them and decides to set their souls free. She also shows compassion towards the Other Father when she realizes that he is under the control of the Other Mother and desires to be free like anyone else.

Coraline Review: An evergreen novella loved by children and adults alike

Writing Style
Lasting Effect on Reader

Coraline Review

Neil Gaiman’s novella, Coraline is a wonderful piece of children’s literature. The novella follows the story of young Coraline Jones as she discovers a mysterious parallel universe at the end of a corridor in her house. Gaiman has managed to successfully portray Coraline as a strong protagonist and an inspiring role model for children from across the world. She is brave, clever and quick-witted, and can outsmart the Other Mother successfully. In this evergreen novella, Gaiman has managed to craft an incredible setting in the form of the sinister “other world”, which so uncannily resembles Coraline’s own universe.

Coraline is a well-rounded protagonist and a role model for people who read the book.
Simple language that is easy for children to understand.
A brilliant creation of place and setting.
Great application of the concept of the uncanny.
Might be too simplistic for adults.

About Neesha Thunga K

Neesha, born to a family of avid readers, has devoted several years to teaching English and writing for various organizations, making an impact on the literary community.

Cite This Page

K, NeeshaThunga " Coraline Review ⭐ " Book Analysis , https://bookanalysis.com/neil-gaiman/coraline/review/ . Accessed 9 April 2024.

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Book Review: Coraline by Neil Gaiman

April 2, 2015 By Jessica Filed Under: Book Review 9 Comments

Coraline lives with her preoccupied parents in part of a huge old house--a house so huge that other people live in it, too... round, old former actresses Miss Spink and Miss Forcible and their aging Highland terriers ("We trod the boards, luvvy") and the mustachioed old man under the roof ("'The reason you cannot see the mouse circus,' said the man upstairs, 'is that the mice are not yet ready and rehearsed.'") Coraline contents herself for weeks with exploring the vast garden and grounds. But with a little rain she becomes bored--so bored that she begins to count everything blue (153), the windows (21), and the doors (14). And it is the 14th door that--sometimes blocked with a wall of bricks--opens up for Coraline into an entirely alternate universe. Now, if you're thinking fondly of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or Alice's Adventures in Wonderland , you're on the wrong track. Neil Gaiman's Coraline is far darker, far stranger, playing on our deepest fears. And, like Roald Dahl's work, it is delicious.

Short and Sweet Version

Even if you don’t like horror, pick up Coraline , a beautifully written children’s book about bravery, boredom, and getting everything you want. Turns out, getting everything you want isn’t as great as you’d think.

The Jessica Thinks Too Much Version

Coraline is horror light. All the creepy richness of a regular horror novel but with a light, happy ending instead. In all honesty, this book was the max amount of horror I could handle. The horror parts of the novel involved things like going in dark basements and you KNOW something is down there. There were gross parts involving bats and moving spider-egg-sac-things. Does she have to touch it? OH YES SHE DOES. The thing she needs is inside it (of course). This story is about bravery, which I obviously do not possess. I would not do any of the things Coraline did, especially touch the creepy egg-sac-thingy. As Neil Gaiman puts it, Coraline has “scared many adults and fewer children.” ( Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition , Q&A with Neil Gaiman )

There’s also a general feeling of something being off, something not quite right. I think it’s mostly from his word choice when he uses similes. And they are gross.

The flat had walls the color of old milk. – Neil Gaiman, Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition (p. 129) There was a tiny doubt inside her, like a maggot in an apple core . – Neil Gaiman, Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition (p. 75)

Why use “off-white” when “old milk” induces dry heaving?

The thing about Neil Gaiman is that he really nails childhood. He gets how kids work and how they think.

There was also a well. On the first day Coraline’s family moved in, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible made a point of telling Coraline how dangerous the well was, and they warned her to be sure she kept away from it. So Coraline set off to explore for it, so that she knew where it was, to keep away from it properly. -Neil Gaiman, Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition (pp. 5-6).

Because seriously – what kid that was told there was something dangerous nearby wouldn’t do exactly that?

This parent gets points for a) not screaming at his kid for bugging him all the time about being bored and b) for coming up with the most tedious, time consuming game possible. I’m stealing this game for my kids to play tomorrow. “Where did you get this idea, mommy?” “A horror novel. You’ll love it. Have fun.”

“Then explore the flat,” suggested her father. “Look— here’s a piece of paper and a pen. Count all the doors and windows. List everything blue. Mount an expedition to discover the hot water tank. And leave me alone to work.” – Neil Gaiman, Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition (p. 9)

And now for the random deep thought of the day from a cat.

“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.” – Neil Gaiman, Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition (p. 43)

Like, WOW. I’m not exaggerating. It’s kind of deep. Without labels, do we really know who we are?

One of my favorite things about this book is when Coraline decides she doesn’t like this creepy, alternate reality that she found because it turns out – getting everything you want? Not so great.

Coraline sighed. “You really don’t understand, do you?” she said. “I don’t want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted? Just like that, and it didn’t mean anything. What then?” – Neil Gaiman, Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition (pp. 144-145)

It’s true though, isn’t it? As a parent, I don’t give my kids everything they want on purpose because I know it would make them unhappy. It’s sad that I don’t have this problem as an adult because what I want gets longer by the hour. But kids? What they want is food made exactly their way and their parents to pay attention to them all day long. At least, that’s what Coraline wants. And that’s it. How beautiful is childhood that complete happiness is so simple.

Is getting everything you want closer to a horror novel or to a fairy tale?

It’s kind of crazy to me to realize after reading this that it’s probably closer to a horror novel. What do you think?

Content Rating : Mild , for some scary elements that might scare young children (or really wimpy adults).

This post contains affiliate links and I receive a small percentage of sales made through these links.

About Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman was born in Hampshire, UK, and now lives in the United States near Minneapolis. As a child he discovered his love of books, reading, and stories, devouring the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, James Branch Cabell, Edgar Allan Poe, Michael Moorcock, Ursula K. LeGuin, Gene Wolfe, and G.K. Chesterton. A self-described “feral child who was raised in libraries,” Gaiman credits librarians with fostering a life-long love of reading: “I wouldn't be who I am without libraries. I was the sort of kid who devoured books, and my happiest times as a boy were when I persuaded my parents to drop me off in the local library on their way to work, and I spent the day there. I discovered that librarians actually want to help you: they taught me about interlibrary loans.”

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April 2, 2015 at 9:51 am

There’s no way I could read this one. The movie was enough to give me the heebie jeebies and I don’t get scared easily. Still, Neil Gieman sure knows how to write and capture kids’ personalities.

April 2, 2015 at 10:35 am

I’ve never actually read this. Well, I did read the graphic novel a few years ago, but never the book. It definitely seems super creepy. I do really like Neil Gaiman, though. Have you read The Graveyard Book? Or Fortunately, the Milk. I love those.

April 2, 2015 at 2:07 pm

I loved both of those! The Graveyard Book is one of my favorites. And my kids really loved Fortunately, The Milk.

April 2, 2015 at 12:17 pm

I read this a long time ago, but I remember liking this a lot better than the movie. I want to read the graphic novel.

April 2, 2015 at 5:09 pm

I’ve wanted to read Coraline for a while, ever since I saw the movie. It sounds like it’s better than the movie. I’ll have to give it a go sometime. Someday.

April 3, 2015 at 11:50 am

The book is WAAYYYY better than the movie!

April 3, 2015 at 11:49 am

This book creeped me out, even though it’s only “horror light.” I read it while I was home alone and every time the house creaked, I just about jumped out of my skin! Guess I’m a horror light-weight :)

April 3, 2015 at 1:24 pm

It’s so true what he said though – it’s scared many adults and fewer children. LOL. I still thought it was creepy! But I could deal with it since there was a happy ending. And it was short and I could read it fast too HA.

September 19, 2021 at 9:09 pm

The feedback for this book / movie is that I really enjoy this fantasy spooky fairy tale. This book has a good theme when Coraline and her parents decide to move into a new place and this place isn’t like any other place. Soon after selting in she discovers a door to somewhere else. The first time she gets the door unlocked it goes nowhere but then the second time it leads to another universe. Not giving too much away but all the twists and turns and very good this book is good but i would keep the age around no older than 12 as it wasn’t very the best for any older due to fairy tales etc. But besides this it was a great book alot of room for imagination. This book was alright in the beginning. I didn’t go much on it but towards the end of the book I found it more interesting. This book is seen by many people as there are so many different copies. I believe that some are suitable for different ages as the storyline could be a little darker in one than the other. ( I am a year 8 student and this is my feedback )

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Reviews of Coraline by Neil Gaiman

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'An electrifyingly creepy tale likely to haunt young readers for many moons.... a real bedtime-buster'. Read an exclusive excerpt at BookBrowse today. Reading age approx. 9 yrs +.

The day after they moved in, Coraline went exploring.... In Coraline's family's new flat are twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close. The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another flat in another house just like her own. Only it's different. At first, things seem marvelous in the other flat. The food is better. The toy box is filled with wind-up angels that flutter around the bedroom, books whose pictures writhe and crawl and shimmer, little dinosaur skulls that chatter their teeth. But there's another mother, and another father, and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go. Other children are trapped there as well, lost souls behind the mirrors. Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits and all the tools she can find if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself. Critically acclaimed and award-winning author Neil Gaiman will delight readers with his first novel for all ages. A note from Neil Gaiman about Coraline "More then ten years ago I started to write a children’s book. It was for my daughter, Holly, who was five years old. I wanted it to have a girl as a heroine, and I wanted it to be refreshingly creepy. I started to write a story about a girl named Coraline. I thought that the story would be five or ten pages long. The story itself had other plans.... It was a story, I learned when people began to read it, that children experienced as an adventure, but which gave adults nightmares. It's the strangest book I've written, it took the longest time to write, and it's the book I'm proudest of."

Fairy Tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten -- G.K. Chesterton.

Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the house. It was a very old house – it had an attic under the roof and a cellar under the ground and an overgrown garden with huge old trees in it. Coraline's family didn't own all of the house, it was too big for that. Instead they owned part of it. There were other people who lived in the old house. Miss Spink and Miss Forcible lived in the flat below Coraline’s, on the ground floor. They were both old and round, and they lived in their flat with a number of ageing highland terriers who had names like Hamish and Andrew and Jock. Once upon a time Miss Spink and Miss Forcible had been actresses, as Miss Spink told Coraline the first time she met her. "You see, Caroline," Miss Spink said, getting Coraline's name wrong, ...

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Gaiman has crafted a superbly creepy and surreal fairy tale which will appeal to robust children from about age 9, and most children aged 11 and up. For younger children, new to the horror genre, the story may seem a little slow at the beginning as there is little tangible 'action' and the subtlety of the building tension might pass them by, but if they make it through the first few chapters they're likely to be hooked! Particularly recommended is the audio version read by Gaiman in a well paced, somewhat sinister voice which is enhanced by music and effects from the Gothic Arches who have also been featured on the audio versions of the Lemony Snicket books 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'.

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Book review: coraline by neil gaiman, february 16, 2024 petrik leo comments 0 comment.

Cover art illustrated by Dave McKean

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Genre: Fantasy, Horror

Pages : 201 pages (Lyra’s Books Hardcover edition)

Word Count: 31,000 words

Published: 2nd July 2002 by Harper Collins

Coraline is the best book by Neil Gaiman that I’ve read. And maybe, all this time, I might have picked the wrong Neil Gaiman books to read.

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”

Right after the opening line, I was compelled to read the entirety of Coraline in one day. And this is honestly one of the biggest surprises for me, even though it shouldn’t be the case. But to give a bit of context here. I have read only two books by Neil Gaiman, they are Neverwhere and Norse Mythology . I did not dislike them. I actually enjoyed them. But I did not fall in love with the two books. Neil Gaiman is one of the most popular authors in the world. And yet, the last time I read a book by Neil Gaiman was almost seven years ago when I read Norse Mythology in April 2017. For the past seven years, I never ventured to read more of Gaiman’s books despite having enjoyed many TV adaptations of his works such as Good Omens , Sandman , and of course, Coraline . Coraline being my favorite of them all. For whatever reason, I never sought to try to read Coraline until, thankfully, I received a luxurious gift out of nowhere from a friend who sent me the Lyra’s Books edition of Coraline . And here I am. Reading Coraline using that spectacular Lyra edition was genuinely wonderful, and I am happy to have read the original text of one of my favorite animated movies.

“Because,’ she said, ‘when you’re scared but you still do it anyway, that’s brave.”

I cannot accurately recall when I first watched the movie Coraline . If I remember correctly, it was in university, and it took me by surprise in every good possible way. An animated movie I thought was designated for kids or teenagers turned out to be an incredible horror movie with a lasting atmosphere and impact. I remember being creeped out by it, and I don’t get scared easily watching a movie. I couldn’t look at buttons the same way for a while after watching Coraline . And these horror elements were originated in the novella. Yes, it is a novella. I didn’t even know Coraline was a novella until I read the book recently. However, on top of delivering palpable horror elements, I was surprised by how deep the messages this little novella that you can read in about two or three hours contains. Although the middle grade or young adults are the priority target market, I believe Coraline is the type of story that can be enjoyed by everyone of any age. And everyone can benefit or learn something from it. To use one example, take a look at this passage:

“I don’t want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted just like that, and it didn’t mean anything? What then?”

This passage clicked with me. Life as an adult is more challenging than my life when I was a teenager. And sometimes, when life gets too hard, I do sometimes wish for an easier life or to have everything I want or need delivered to me with ease. But as Coraline, a kid wiser than her age, said, and many other texts with comparable nature, anything that is too much is never good, and wishes or success fulfilled through unbelievable shortcuts might not lead to lasting or great things in the long run. Coraline was a likable main character. Her interaction with her parents, neighbors, and all the characters she encountered was written efficiently and effectively. Gaiman showcased how well-placed and relatively brief sentences can succeed at making readers care about the character and story in a novella quickly. And moving forward, it will be easy for me to recommend Coraline to practically everyone.

“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.”

Admittedly, as I said at the beginning of this review, my first-time reading experience of Coraline is enhanced through reading the book using the insanely well-produced Lyra’s Books edition of Coraline . And it is not polite for me to end this review without dedicating at least a paragraph to this stunning “standard” edition. Signed by the artist, the terrific Rovina Cai, and printed letterpress on 148gsm Mohawk Superfine paper by Phil Abel and Robert Hetherington of Hand and Eye Letterpress, the Lyra’s Books edition of Coraline showcased what a magnificent book production should look like. Not only printed with black ink throughout with red on many pages, this novella is embedded with 16 elevatingly beautiful fully-colored plates—including the frontispiece—and 30 black and red letterpress silhouettes. Some might even say this book production is overkill for a novella. But this is an example of how devoted Lyra’s Books is toward the craft of bookbinding. They didn’t have to go this hard for the edition of Coraline , but all-out and beyond is what they gave. The letterpress printing, the sewn-binding, thick acid-free paper, and tons of meticulously drawn artworks undoubtedly improved my reading experience as it made turning the pages of the physical book more addictive. I was already immersed in Gaiman’s prose, but I was also eager to see how each interior illustration would complement the text. I do not think I could envision a better first reading experience of Coraline than this for me, and I want to say thank you so much once again to my unnamed friend who bestowed me with this gift.

Picture: A few interior illustrations of Coraline Lyra’s Books Edition by Rovina Cai

To end this review, I will conclude by saying Coraline has successfully entered my list of favorite novellas. And considering how delighted I was by this little book, I do not think this will be the last time I read a book written by Neil Gaiman. The Graveyard Book is next on my list. I think I will also read Sandman , American Gods , and Good Omens —a book he wrote together with the late and legendary Terry Pratchett. But until then, let me convey that Coraline is one of the most pleasant surprises of my reading journey. It is dark, beautiful, and whimsical. I highly recommend this to every reader of any age who wants to experience a splendid and profound narrative in a relatively shorter format filled with inspiring messages.

“The names are the first things to go, after the breath has gone, and the beating of the heart. We keep our memories longer than our names.”

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Jul 3, 2023

Book Review | Coraline by Neil Gaiman

A tale of locked doors, dancing rats and a magical world, neil gaiman takes you on a horrific adventure in coraline ..

I'm the biggest fan of the film, Coraline . Like any other kid, I was terrified the first time I watched it. But as time went on and I watched the movie over and over again, I grew to enjoy and love it. At 20 years old, I can proudly say that it is one of my favourite movies.

The skill and talent that went into making the film are phenomenal. It blew me away when I found out it was a stop-motion film! I was convinced they were lying until I saw behind-the-scenes footage of all the different Coraline heads with their own unique expressions.

I decided to take this love of mine further and read the book. I first read this in 2020 so this is my second time re-reading Coraline .

About Coraline

Coraline is an 11-year-old explorer. The Joneses have just moved into a new home and Coraline is determined to scout every nook and cranny in her neighbourhood. However, the weather's been wet and dreary and Coraline has no choice but to stay home.

She explores her new home instead, counting the windows and all things blue, when she discovers a tiny door.

What Coraline finds behind the door is a bricked-up wall but she's going to discover new mysteries that lay behind it. With dancing rats and a magical world, Coraline will go through the adventure of a lifetime.

Differences Between The Film And The Book

Since I'm a film-to-book reader (in this rare instance), I'll just go through the main differences between the two forms of media to let any movie-watcher know before they are turned off.

Wybie (short for Wyborn) is not in the book. Most of his roles are replaced by the cat.

All the animals can talk in the other world, not just the cat.

The other garden is not built in the book (nor is the garden in the real world, in fact).

And there are a few other minor changes such as a mix of sequences of the scenes, but it doesn't make a big difference to the plot.

Coraline Review

Obviously, I loved the storyline.

I also found myself enjoying the characters more in the book. The characters are better explored in the book because I get to understand Coraline’s thought process and motives behind her actions. It really solidified the reasoning behind what she did and closed the story wonderfully.

The other characters were just as interesting. The Other Mother had more depth to her character and she was an interesting one to understand and analyse.

Neil Gaiman also has written some beautiful words. I was teleported into this world he created. The book was interesting and immersive. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend my time with Coraline as she explored this newfound world of hers.

Coraline is a children's horror book. And I felt that the horror was perfectly executed. It created suspense for the reader but it wasn't overly scary for the average 9-year-old reading this. However, I would not recommend reading the copy with the illustrations at night because the drawings gave me goosebumps. They were eerie. Props to Chris Riddell for the source of my nightmares.

My Recommendation

★★★★☆ (4/5)

I really enjoyed Coraline . The pacing of the book is perfect to keep the little ones engaged, and so mesmerising! This book is perfect for older kids as it demonstrates the importance of bravery and curiosity.

And if you're a movie-lover like me, you'll definitely enjoy the written copy of Coraline .

About Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman has written highly acclaimed books for both children and adults and is the first author to have won the Carnegie and Newbery Medals for the same work — The Graveyard Book . Many of his books, including Coraline and Stardust , have been made into films; Neverwhere has been adapted for TV and radio; and American Gods and Good Omens have been adapted into major TV series. He has also written two amazing episodes of Doctor Who and appeared in The Simpsons as himself.

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My Favourite Quotes from Coraline by Neil Gaiman

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Book Reviews · October 12, 2021

Book Review: Coraline by Neil Gaiman

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“Coraline” by Neil Gaiman is a terrifying Children’s book but a classic amazing for kids and adults alike!

Date finished: October 11th, 2021
Format: Paperback
Form: Novel
Language read in: English
Series: Standalone
Genre: Horror | Fantasy | Children Fiction

Buy “Coraline” Amazon | Indigo | Book Depository

“Coraline” follows the story of a young girl named Coraline and her parents as they live in their new home. Something is odd in their new home, more precisely, a door that unlocks on a brick wall…

That’s until the brick wall leads down to a long hallway where Coraline will find strange figures resembling to the people she knows.

Coraline, the young heroine of this novel is incredibly brave and smart. She’s a role model for kids and adults. The writing style was beautiful, lyrical at times, and accessible. There were some instances of funny moments that made this short novel even more enjoyable.

Furthermore, the terrifying vivid descriptions are bound to give kids nightmares! But have no fear, Coraline is brave and therefore incites her readers to also be brave!

I read this in one sitting out loud with my boyfriend and we both enjoyed it so much! I can’t wait to watch the movie and read other books by Neil Gaiman (as this is the first of his works that I’ve read.)

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”

“Because,’ she said, ‘when you’re scared but you still do it anyway, that’s brave.”

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This summer, Harry Potter has finally left the #1 spot on kids' reading lists, and new heroes are emerging to whom young readers can really relate. One such exciting character is Coraline, the adventurous heroine of Neil Gaiman's book of the same name. This beautifully written, dark fairy tale finally acknowledges the underestimated and forgotten maturity of most young people; Gaiman isn't afraid to write a scary fantasy for children looking for more than just Disney-esque dragons and grounds-keeping giants.

Coraline (NOT "Caroline," as she will tell you adamantly) has just moved into a flat in an old house. Her upstairs and downstairs neighbors are kind and eccentric older people who can't get her name right, but encourage her curiosity and explorer's instincts. One rainy afternoon, wandering around bored out of her mind (as young explorers are wont to do on rainy afternoons), Coraline opens a locked door in her living room and finds her way into the mysterious "vacant" fourth flat in the house. Surprisingly, the apartment is far from empty, and Coraline comes face to face with two creatures who claim to be her "other" parents. In fact, there appears to be an entire magical "other" world through the door; there are amazing toys to play with and neighbors who never mess up her name.

Soon, however, Coraline realizes that this world is as deadly as it is enchanting. The "other mother" wants to keep Coraline there forever, and her intentions are hardly loving or parental. Coraline meets the ghosts of several other children who had been kidnapped hundreds of years ago, and she realizes that her both her body and spirit are in danger. She has to use all her intelligence and exploratory prowess in order to defeat the horrible "other mother."

Coraline's story is truly frightening, and Gaiman goes to great lengths to forge an "other" world where every aspect of our lives is perverted and twisted into the macabre. Originally a comic-book writer, he uses lyrical comparisons that challenge the simple images of traditional children's books'. Kids will enjoy the chills that run down their spines as they read this story and will be grateful that there is finally an author that refuses to patronize a young audience hungry for an absorbing horror tale.

Reviewed by Lowell Putnam on May 1, 2004

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Publication Date: May 1, 2004
Mass Market Paperback: 194 pages
Publisher: HarperTrophy
ISBN-10: 0060575913
ISBN-13: 9780060575915

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Coraline by Neil Gaiman – Book Review

Warning – possible spoilers! (Tiny ones, though, and I’ll try to avoid even those; I swear I’ll give my best not to ruin it for you… :-))

Coraline by Neil Gaiman – Book Details

TITLE – Coraline

AUTHOR – Neil Gaiman

GENRE – middle grade , fantasy , paranormal , horror , novella

YEAR PUBLISHED – 2002

PAGE COUNT – 162

MY RATING – 4.5 of 5

RATED ON GOODREADS – 4.06 of 5

Initial Thoughts

It’s a bit embarrassing to admit I’ve never read anything by Neil Gaiman before. But this October is when we are changing that!

I’ve heard wonderful things about this author. I’ve heard that he is an amazing storyteller who can appeal to readers of all ages. But what exactly I could expect from his book – I had no idea. For some reason, it just looked like a perfect choice to get me into the Halloween mood.

Coraline is a teeny tiny book. Cute drawn cover. Large font and illustrations throughout the book. It is a middle grade horror, the first one I’ve ever read. Or even heard of, to be honest.

Apparently, when she was 4, Gaiman’s daughter loved imagining scary stories about girls trapped by witches pretending to be their mothers. So, he went to the bookshop to find her some good scary stories for little children. Of course, he couldn’t find any.

So, he decided to write one for her. But, the story turned out to be much longer than originally expected, plus life got in the way. He finally finished Coraline 10 years later, just in time for his younger daughter to be just big enough for it.

Now, I’ve heard that Gaiman is an excellent narrator and that the best thing you can do with his books is listen to them as audiobooks. But, I’ve decided to leave that for his next books and just read a physical copy of Coraline, mostly because of the illustrations…

What It Is About

Coraline by Neil Gaiman book quote: “How do I know you'll keep your word?" asked Coraline. "I swear it," said the other mother. "I swear it on my own mother's grave." "Does she have a grave?" asked Coraline. "Oh yes," said the other mother. "I put her in there myself. And when I found her trying to crawl out, I put her back.”

Ah – the mischiefs a kid can get into while bored during a summer break… 🙂

Coraline is bored in her new home. The only thing she can do is wander around and explore. So, when she finds a door with a secret passage behind them, there’s really only one thing she can do – go and investigate.

What she finds is a parallel universe with her other family living in an apartment very similar to her own.

At first everything seems only slightly different. The food is better. The toys are more interesting. The other parents never ignore her.

Which may sound perfect, until Caroline is asked to, in exchange for this new family, give up her real, flawed, imperfect mom and dad and her boring little life on the other side of the door…

Coraline by Neil Gaiman – My Review

After finishing Coraline, I can even less believe I’ve never read Neil Gaiman before!

When I was a kid, my brother and I used to spend days wandering around and exploring. This book brought me back into some of the best days of my childhood and I love it for that.

I thought the beginning was a bit rough. One sentence would be absolutely brilliant, then the very next one would seem painfully unnecessary.

But that stopped after 30 or so pages, and everything that followed was just amazing. The creativity. Simple yet effective writing style. The details. The imagination. And the best kind of weird!

I also loved Coraline. She was so easy to relate to and even admire. She is smart, brave, curious and adventurous. I almost forgot how it was like – being a child and not backing down even when you really should.

But Coraline is also kind. She listens what other people have to say and takes their advice into account.

Coraline is a perfect children’s horror story. Not too scary (I think) for kids, but more than entertaining enough for adults.

To me it felt right in the middle between Alice in Wonderland and The Addams Family without actually being either. And I cannot think of a better combination.

If there’s anything I could wish it was better, it would probably be the characters. Everyone except Coraline was given very little space, so they felt a bit flat. But, this is a super short book, so it didn’t bother me all that much.

I can even see myself rereading it every October. And I can’t wait to read more from Neil Gaiman, especially his adult books.

Oh – there’s also an animated movie ‘Coraline’ from 2009. I just watched it and – I enjoyed it very much!

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(8) comments.

This sounds like a delightful novel. I admit, I’ve also never read Neil Gaiman before, though I’ve heard amazing things about his writing. Maybe this will make for the perfect start. 🙂

Yes! Not only it’s a great book, but it’s pretty short, so if you like it – great, keep reading his stuff. And if not, well – at least you didn’t waste much of your time… ❤️️

This is such a great review. I’ve never read any books by Neil Gaiman before either.

Thank you so much, Kelly! Well, if you’d like to try out his work, I think this is a great book to start with… ❤️️

I haven’t read the book but I’ve watched the movie and I admit it was a bit creepy for me. 😂😅 But I liked the plot and I’m sure the book, as always, is even better. Thanks for this wonderful review! 💕

Thanks so much, Elle! ❤️️ Yeah, I think Gaiman is pretty famous for his creep factor 😂 But I like to get a bit scared every now and than. And I think his creativity and his storytelling ability are completely worth it… ❤️️❤️️❤️️

I love this movie so I’ll have to read this book! I love the idea of seeing the illustrations and reading not-too-scary books in October! I love your review, also. Very inciteful and gets me excited to read!

Thank you so much! ❤️️❤️️❤️️ I loved both the movie and the book, I’m sure you’d enjoy it as well… 😘

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by Neil Gaiman & adapted by P. Craig Russell & illustrated by P. Craig Russell ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2008

A stellar reworking of the original text, this is sure to delight established fans and to mesmerize newcomers.

A deliciously dark graphic adaptation of Gaiman’s modern classic is delivered with pitch-perfect accuracy and presented in a striking palette.

Staying true to the original text, Russell’s adaptation follows young Coraline Jones as she discovers a strange door in her otherwise boring flat. Once over the door’s mysterious threshold, she meets her ghastly “Other Mother,” a horrid-looking beldam with sinister, button eyes, long, yellowed teeth, spindly, tapered fingers with sharp, brown nails and a wry, baleful smile. Coraline’s Other Mother intends to keep her in this horrible new world forever, and captures her real parents, prompting young Coraline to seek them out in this strange dimension. Russell, a veteran illustrator and collaborator with Gaiman, makes the novel positively jump off the page, sending shivers down its readers’ spines. Colorist Lovern Kindzierski deserves special kudos for utilizing a masterful array of hues, working in smart synchronicity with the nuances of the tale.

Pub Date: July 1, 2008

ISBN: 978-0-06-082543-0

Page Count: 192

Publisher: HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2008

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS

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THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL

From the school for good and evil series , vol. 1.

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2013

Rich and strange (and kitted out with an eye-catching cover), but stronger in the set pieces than the internal logic.

Chainani works an elaborate sea change akin to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), though he leaves the waters muddied.

Every four years, two children, one regarded as particularly nice and the other particularly nasty, are snatched from the village of Gavaldon by the shadowy School Master to attend the divided titular school. Those who survive to graduate become major or minor characters in fairy tales. When it happens to sweet, Disney princess–like Sophie and her friend Agatha, plain of features, sour of disposition and low of self-esteem, they are both horrified to discover that they’ve been dropped not where they expect but at Evil and at Good respectively. Gradually—too gradually, as the author strings out hundreds of pages of Hogwarts-style pranks, classroom mishaps and competitions both academic and romantic—it becomes clear that the placement wasn’t a mistake at all. Growing into their true natures amid revelations and marked physical changes, the two spark escalating rivalry between the wings of the school. This leads up to a vicious climactic fight that sees Good and Evil repeatedly switching sides. At this point, readers are likely to feel suddenly left behind, as, thanks to summary deus ex machina resolutions, everything turns out swell(ish).

Pub Date: May 14, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-06-210489-2

Page Count: 496

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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"Coraline" by Neil Gaiman, Newbery Medal Winner

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M.S., Instructional Design and Technology, Emporia State University
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"Coraline" by Neil Gaiman is a weird and delightfully scary fantasy tale. It can be called "delightfully scary" because while it grips the reader's attention with creepy happenings that may cause a case of the shivers, it is not the kind of scary book that leads to nightmares. It falls under the Dark Fantasy subgenre of literature.

The story revolves around Coraline and the strange experiences she has after she and her parents move into an apartment in an old house. Coraline must save herself and her parents from the evil forces that threaten them. Coraline by Neil Gaiman is recommended for ages 8-12.

The Story of Coraline

The idea behind Coraline can be found in the quotation by C.K. Chesterton that precedes the beginning of the story: "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten."

This short novel tells the amazing, and creepy, tale of what happens when a girl named Coraline and her parents move into an apartment on the second floor of a very old house. Two elderly retired actresses live on the ground floor and an old, and quite strange, man who says he is training a mouse circus, lives in the flat above Coraline's family.

Coraline's parents are frequently distracted and don't pay a lot of attention to her, the neighbors keep pronouncing her name incorrectly, and Coraline is bored. In the course of exploring the house, Coraline discovers a door that opens onto a brick wall. Her mother explains that when the house was divided into apartments, the doorway was bricked up between their apartment and "the empty flat on the other side of the house, the one that's still for sale."

Strange sounds, shadowy creatures in the night, cryptic warnings from her neighbors, a scary reading of tea leaves and the gift of a stone with a hole in it because it's "good for bad things, sometimes," are all rather unsettling. However, it's when Coraline opens the door to the brick wall, finds the wall gone, and walks into the supposedly empty apartment that things get really strange and frightening.

The apartment is furnished. Living in it is a woman who sounds much like Carline's mother and introduces herself as Coraline's "other mother" and Coraline's "other father." Both have button eyes, "big and black and shiny." While initially enjoying the good food and attention, Coraline finds more and more to worry her. Her other mother insists they want her to stay forever, her real parents disappear, and Coraline quickly realizes that it will be up to her to save herself and her real parents.

The story of how she copes with her "other mother" and the strange versions of her real neighbors, how she helps and gets helped by three young ghosts and a talking cat, and how she frees herself and rescues her real parents by being brave and resourceful is dramatic and exciting. While the pen and ink illustrations by Dave McKean are appropriately creepy, they are not really necessary. Neil Gaiman does a superb job of painting pictures with words, making it easy for readers to visualize each scene.

Neil Gaiman

In 2009 , author Neil Gaiman won the John Newbery Medal for excellence in young people's literature for his middle-grade fantasy novel The Graveyard Book.

Our Recommendation

We recommend Coraline for 8 to 12-year-olds. Although the main character is a girl, this tale will appeal to both boys and girls who enjoy weird and scary (but not too scary) tales. Because of all of the dramatic happenings, Coraline is also a good read-aloud for 8- to 12-year-olds. Even if your child is not frightened by the book, the movie version may be a different story.

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Coraline by Neil Gaiman, and Chris Riddell

By Neil Gaiman, and and, Chris Riddell

The bewitching classic children’s novel by Neil Gaiman, featuring spellbinding illustrations from Chris Riddell and an exclusive new introduction by the author

‘I was enthralled … a marvellously strange and scary book’ Philip Pullman ‘A masterpiece’ Terry Pratchett

There is something strange about Coraline’s new home.

It’s not the mist, or the cat that always seems to be watching her, nor the signs of danger that Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, her new neighbours, read in the tea leaves. It’s the other house – the one behind the old door in the drawing room.

Another mother and father with black-button eyes and papery skin are waiting for Coraline to join them there. And they want her to stay with them. For ever. She knows that if she ventures through that door, she may never come back.

This deliciously creepy, gripping novel is packed with glorious illustrations by Chris Riddell, and is guaranteed to delight and entrance readers of all ages.

It was a nice story although it was a bit scary in some parts. The other mother was not my favourite character and her hand was a bit creepy. I would recommend this book for readers aged 11+ and I hope other people don't go opening doors that are closed! They may be closed for a very good reason...

My favourite person was Coraline because she was so brave to fight the monsters and rescue the souls with the magic pebble. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in horror books or stories

People think it's scary but it's only a little bit spooky. The illustrations were a little gruesome to some, but I found them completely normal!

Well I thought it was really good because I like, like scary books and stuff like that but Coraline wasn’t that scary I just liked it and thought it was cool!

Spooky book that was great to read at Halloween. The other mother seems terrifying. Deffinetly recomend if you like scary stuff.

I liked the book but it was quite long and a bit scary in places

It’s been a book I meant to read for ever and I finally grabbed my youngest’s copy and read it this summer. The hype is real and true. I see why it’s a classic and am so pleased I can now recommend it from my own reading experience instead of just saying, everyone I know who has read this says it’s great! About time. I’m embarrassed it took me so long!

THe author has an amazing imaginaTion and thought the setting was creative. It had some creepy part to it, but overall I really enjoyed the book.

A wonderful book full of adventure and mystery. Some part of the story was scary and creepy but personally I think its all right.

Really good spooky book

I really liked the cat because he knew the truth and wanted to help Coraline, but Coraline didn't pay attention to him, she got in trouble with the other mother.

An extremely creepy, but exciting novel. Short and enjoyable, and I loved Coraline’s character. It was very unique, and was really intriguing. However I did get slightly lost during the part with the trapdoor. However, it was very exciting and fast-paced. 4 stars!

I loved it . It mixed adventures with danger.

I liked how there was another land that was the same but different although it was a bit slow moving

Very easy to read with an interesting story concept that keep you interested

I liked th9is book becasue it has lots of spooky pictures i like coraline the best i would recommend this to people who like spook tales

A fiction book about a girl called Coraline who has to escape a new set of parents and find her way back to her real parents! The graphic novel includes great illustrations.

I like that when her parents went away she found her fake parents had button eyes and her mother wanted to give her her own button eyes

i like this book because it give my a spooky vibe and has lots of themes

I did not like it. Not my kind of book.

it's an enchanting thriller for kids

A frustrated, bored, misunderstood but curious young girl moves into a new home. Busy parents, eccentric neighbours, Coraline feels neglected. A creepy fairytale with a modern take, a few disturbing elements so not for young readers. In a parallel world accessed through a bricked up doorway, Coraline herself experiences fear but finds a way to be brave and find solutions. The black cat her companion. The illustrations compliment perfectly the imaginary vision.

This book is scarier than the movie.

This book is really thrilling and interesting! My favourite part was when the cat started talking!

I didn’t particularly enjoy this book as it was a little creepy and boring. I wouldn’t recommend it to those who like funny and adventurous books.

Creepy and exciting

I enjoyed this book because it had a lot of suspense and danger and also some horror, but it also had a strong main character to take on the witch-like “other mother”. The climax of the book was really good as it came in two parts- as Coraline escapes the other world, and when she discovers that part of that world has come with her. I would definitely recommend this book to those who want something creepy and memorable to read.

This is such a cool book I love it!

such a great book my fave character is the cat. 5 stars

This is the first book I've read by Neil Gaiman especially written for children. Coraline - what a heroine! Courageous and intelligent, when she realizes she is trapped in the world of the other mother she pits her wits against the powers of evil in an attempt to gain not only her own freedom but that of others. This book is wonderfully eerie - I highly recommend.

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COOKING FOR WIZARDS, WARRIORS AND DRAGONS

Gaiman Week – Book Review: Coraline

Title: Coraline

Author: Neil Gaiman

Genre: Young Adult, Horror-Fantasy

Why did I read this book: After having read Neil Gaiman’s adult works, I was excited to see how his writing would translate in young adult format! When I read the blurb for Coraline , I had to have it.

Summary: (from amazon.com) The day after they moved in, Coraline went exploring….

In Coraline’s family’s new flat are twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close.

The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another flat in another house just like her own.

Only it’s different.

At first, things seem marvelous in the other flat. The food is better. The toy box is filled with wind-up angels that flutter around the bedroom, books whose pictures writhe and crawl and shimmer, little dinosaur skulls that chatter their teeth. But there’s another mother, and another father, and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.

Other children are trapped there as well, lost souls behind the mirrors. Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits and all the tools she can find if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself.

Critically acclaimed and award-winning author Neil Gaiman will delight readers with his first novel for all ages.

Coraline is a curious, clever little girl.

She, her mother, and her father move into a new, very large apartment–full of mysteries and surprises for Coraline to discover. First, there are her next door neighbors, Miss Forcible and Miss Spink–two elderly retired actresses, who like to revel in memory of their glory days, and who have an obsession with dogs. Then, there is the ‘Crazy Man Upstairs’, named Mr. Bobo–a retired circus performer that tells Coraline he is training his mice friends to be circus mice. As there are no other children around, and Coraline’s parents are frequently too busy with their own work and chores to pay much attention to her, Coraline spends much of her time on her own.

One day, it rains heavily, and Coraline is confined to the large flat while her parents do whatever it is grownups do. After speaking with her neighbors for a short time (who always get her name mixed up and call her Caroline), Coraline gets bored rather quickly, and begins to pester her father. Clever man that Coraline’s father is, he sends her on a mission about the flat–to find certain objects, and to count how many windows and doors the flat has. So, Coraline sets off, dedicated to cataloguing the large, mysterious apartment (which is actually part of a larger old house, now rented out as flats). She discovers that her apartment has twenty one windows and fourteen doors…but the one in the parlor won’t open. When she asks her parents about it, her mother pulls out a key and opens the door–behind it there is a solid brick wall. Coraline’s mother explains that when the house was sectioned off for rent, the next door flat was bricked off completely.

That night, Coraline sees something strange shadow in her room, and she follows it quietly…until it disappears in the drawing room, behind that locked door. The next day, Coraline uses her mother’s key to examine the brick wall again, only to find that the wall has mysteriously disappeared–the locked door now opens to a dark hallway. Coraline, determined to get to the bottom of the mystery (and always up for an adventure), enters the hallway, and finds herself in an identical copy of her family’s flat. What’s even stranger, is that her Other apartment also has identical copies of her Mother and Father–except her Other Mother and her Other Father have flat, shiny black buttons sewed on for eyes.

At first, Coraline’s Other Mother and Other Father are a blast. Her Other Mother dotes on Coraline, and tells her that she has been waiting for her for to come for a long time. Coraline’s Other Room is filled with toys and exciting costume clothes that any little girl would love (especially in comparison to the drab, gray uniform clothes Coraline always has to wear). Coraline’s Other Mother cooks real, interesting food, and seems sweet as can be–besides her strange hands, pale skin, long talons of scarlet nails, and hair that seems to move around on its own. As exciting as the Other land seems, Coraline instinctively knows something is not right. Her Other Mother, with her needle, thread and shiny buttons tells Coraline that she can stay forever; all the Other Mother needs to do is take her eyes and sew buttons on for Coraline.

Coraline, sensing the wrongness of the situation leaves the Other Apartment for her real home, only to find that both of her parents are gone…and they do not return for days. Coraline knows that the Other Mother has stolen her parents, and knows that she must go back to the Other Apartment to find them.

And thus, Coraline’s brave adventure to save her family begins. Armed with her wits, a stone with a hole in it (given to Coraline by her neighbors Miss Forcible and Miss Spinks, who have forseen the danger facing the young girl), and a sarcastic cheshire-like talking cat, Coraline braves the Other World.

As it turns out, the Other Mother is not a mother at all, but a thing called ‘the beldam’, that has created the Other World. She is a collector of children that feeds on their souls once she gets bored of playing with them. Coraline strikes a bargain with the Other Mother–that if she can find the children’s souls, and her parents, all of them get to return to the real world. The Other Mother swears to the bargain on her good right hand, and Coraline must find them all, evading the beldam’s tricks and traps, to return home (beldam, apparently for John Keats’ poem, ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’).

This is one heckuva book. Coraline, our heroine, is nothing short of wonderful. She is the first central female character that I have read by Neil Gaiman, and one of my favorites of all his characters, despite this being a “children’s” book (for the record, this book is pretty creepy–just the sort of thing I would have loved as a little girl). Her resourcefulness, bravery, and intelligence (especially when outwitting her Other Mother in dramatic–terrifying–fashion) is a wonder to read; I found myself riveted, biting my nails, and cheering for Coraline the whole way. As always, Neil Gaiman’s characterizations are on point, his prose brisk and flawless. While the concepts and images of this book are scary, the author manages to balance out these very intelligent, horrifying ideas with his quick delivery–made even more believeable as they are filtered through the thoughts of the title character.

This book almost has a Roald Dahl feel to it–it balances the horrific and grotesque (for what else can you call an evil creature that longs to steal your soul and sew your eyes shut with flat black buttons?) with a child’s intrepid bravery. There’s also a touch of Lewis Carroll–as Coraline leaves her world behind for an adventure, with a clever talking cat as a companion. Still, Neil Gaiman manages to take these elements and themes and create something that is entirely his own.

Coraline is also wonderfully illustrated with the incredible art of Dave McKean (who deserves an appreciation week all to himself), who has done the artwork for many a Gaiman work. The black and white illustrations in my copy are atmosphereic and scary without being *too* frightening, and accent the story in all the right places.

And wouldn’t you know it, on June 24th, Coraline was released in Graphic Novel format.

The graphic novel is illustrated by P. Craig Russell, who has also collaborated on The Sandman series, and of Hellboy fame (yay!). Here’s what Neil has to say about the graphic novel (via Harper Collins):

I’ve been a fan of P. Craig Russell’s work since I was about fifteen, when I persuaded my school to let me write about an episode of Killraven in my English exams. He’s one of the most elegant and beautiful artists working in comics today, and one of the things he does better than anyone is adapt things into comics form. He’s adapted operas and Kipling stories; he’s even adapted short stories of mine, and I’ve always loved what he did. So when I was asked by HarperCollins Children’s Books who I would like to see adapt Coraline, my scary children’s novel, into a graphic novel, I said “P. Craig Russell, please.” I knew it would look good, I knew the adaptation would be faithful and the art would be beautiful. I wasn’t expecting how good either would be. Craig’s adaptation of Coraline is a two-hundred-page graphic novel, colored by Digital Chameleon, that’s gorgeous and haunting, and—most importantly for me—a real book in its own right.

How’s that for incentive?

Furthermore, a full length animated movie is in the works!

Even better–it’s a stopmotion film (and for Harryhausen junkies like Ana and I, this is SOLID GOLD). The charming Dakota Fanning will be voicing Coraline (heck yes!), and Teri Hatcher will be the voice of Coraline’s Mother and Other Mother (niiiiice–and quite fitting, in my opinion). The film is directed by the highly capable Henry Selick–director of The Nightmare Before Christmas (which has me pumping my fist up in the air like Bender at the end of The Breakfast Club )! Coraline will be available in 3-D, and is due out this November.

Can I get a “Hell YES”?!?!

And, here’s an official sneak for the film:

Rating: 9 Damn Near Perfection – I LOVE this book. It makes me feel like a young, curious girl again, eager to explore and thwart evil. Highly recommended for everyone–no matter what your age or gender!

Thea James is one half of the maniacal duo behind The Book Smugglers. She is Filipina-American, but grew up in Hawaii, Indonesia, and Japan. A full-time book nerd who works in publishing for her day job, Thea currently resides in Astoria, Queens with her partner and rambunctious cat. COOKING FOR WIZARDS, WARRIORS & DRAGONS (available August 31, 2021) is her first cookbook.

10 Comments

Hell YES!!! I had no idea what this book was about. Tthis is the only one we are reviewing this week that I haven’t read yet. Which leads me to the question:

Dude, why haven’t I read this before???? Should I get the book? or the Graphic Novel? both? *runs to Amazon*

Psh, like you even have to ask–naturally you must get BOTH! But read the book first 🙂

Katie(babs)

B&B, your posts this week have opened my mind to new reads. Me like graphic comics now. 😛

Blossum has spoken.

Hell YES!!! I love this novel, too, Thea. I think I’m going to make Maria read it this summer. I’ve got quite the TBR pile I’m forcing on her! lol

I didn’t know about the manga version and I completely forgot that Coraline was going to be made into a movie! Awesome!

little alys

OMG! I was just reading about this!!! Must get! Must watch!!

Coraline!!!

Great review. I love it!

‘why haven’t i heard of this’ indeed. i’m thinking i should find the graphic novel and see whether i’d like to give it to my son as part of his summmer homework…

Carolyn Jean

Just the setup of this totally drew me in. I love it! Very weird and wonderful. Thanks for the review.

Blossum, I knew Bubbles and I would get you to come over to the dark side eventually! 😉

Christine oh hell yes! You should definitely force your daughter to add this one to the list :p I’m sure she’ll enjoy it too–plus, it’s shorter so less daunting 🙂

Alys hee, thanks!!! I am so stoked for the movie–I love the animation style, very Nightmare Before Christmas/James and the Giant Peach 🙂

M. oh definitely. This is a book that young kids will love because of the smart creepiness 🙂 I’m planning on giving a copy to my baby sister as well (she’s 8).

CJ, totally weird and wonderful. Coraline just rocks 🙂

Hells Yess!! I love, love, love this book. I read it a few years ago and it remains one of the most wonderfully creepy adventure books I’ve ever read. The beldam gets under my skin… total creeps. I loved it. I can’t wait for the movie.

Douglas Hurrell

What a super book. The English is clear and interesting. The storyline quite unique and the detail excellent. I am using it as a teaching aid as it works at many different age levels.

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Neil Gaiman

Everything you need for every book you read..

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Neil Gaiman's Coraline . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Coraline: Introduction

Coraline: plot summary, coraline: detailed summary & analysis, coraline: themes, coraline: quotes, coraline: characters, coraline: symbols, coraline: theme wheel, brief biography of neil gaiman.

Historical Context of Coraline

Other books related to coraline.

Full Title: Coraline
When Written: 1990s
Where Written: England and Wisconsin
When Published: 2002
Literary Period: Contemporary
Genre: Children’s literature; novella; horror; fantasy
Setting: England
Climax: After rescuing her parents, saving the souls of the lost children, and outwitting her mysterious “other mother,” Coraline makes a mad dash home from the other mother’s realm.
Antagonist: The Other Mother
Point of View: Third-person

Extra Credit for Coraline

Born of a Typo. Throughout the novel, Coraline grows increasingly frustrated as her new neighbors repeatedly call her “Caroline.” In fact, when Gaiman sat down to draft the story that would become Coraline , he meant to type the name Caroline but spelled it incorrectly. Rather than changing the name back, Gaiman found himself charmed by the misspelling, and decided to tell the story of a little girl with a peculiar name.

Highly Adaptable. Though Coraline ’s most well-known adaptation is no doubt the 2009 feature film produced by stop-motion studio Laika and starring Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher, Gaiman’s seminal children’s novella has been adapted for several other mediums in the years since its publication. In 2008, a comic illustrated by Sandman artist P. Craig Russell and lettered by Todd Klein was published. In 2009, a musical penned by The Magnetic Fields frontman Stephin Merritt premiered in New York City—the production has gone on to have premieres in San Francisco, Chicago, and Edmonton, Canada. In 2017, The Simpsons even spoofed Coraline in the “Coralisa” segment of the episode “Treehouse of Horror XXVIII”—Neil Gaiman himself provided the voice of the Simpsons’ cat in the episode.

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Coraline Paperback – April 24, 2012

Purchase options and add-ons.

This edition of New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning author Neil Gaiman’s modern classic, Coraline —also an Academy Award-nominated film—is enriched with a foreword from the author, a reader's guide, and more.

"Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the house...."

When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), things seem marvelous.

But there's another mother there, and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.

Coraline will have to fight with all her wit and courage if she is to save herself and return to her ordinary life.

Neil Gaiman's Coraline is a can't-miss classic that enthralls readers age 8 to 12 but also adults who enjoy a perfect smart spooky read.

Print length 208 pages
Language English
Grade level 3 - 7
Lexile measure 740L
Dimensions 5.12 x 0.42 x 7.62 inches
Publisher HarperCollins
Publication date April 24, 2012
ISBN-10 0380807343
ISBN-13 978-0380807345
See all details

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From the Publisher

Editorial reviews.

“Gaiman’s tale is inventive, scary, thrilling and finally affirmative. Readers young and old will find something to startle them.” — Washington Post Book World

“A modern ghost story with all the creepy trimmings…Well done.” — New York Times Book Review

“Coraline is by turns creepy and funny, bittersweet and playful…can be read quickly and enjoyed deeply.” — San Francisco Chronicle Book Review

“A magnificently creepy story. Coraline is spot on.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Gaiman’s pacing is superb, and he steers the tension of the tale with a deft and practiced narrative touch.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, rise to your feet and applaud: Coraline is the real thing.” — Philip Pullman, The Guardian

“The most splendidly original, weird, and frightening book I have read, and yet full of things children will love.” — Diana Wynne Jones

“It has the delicate horror of the finest fairy tales, and it is a masterpiece.” — Terry Pratchett

“An electrifyingly creepy tale likely to haunt young readers for many moons.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“ Walk through the door and you’ll believe in love, magic, and the power of good over evil.” — USA Today

“So wonderfully whimsical that readers of all ages will hungrily devour itCoraline is destined to become a classic. — Globe and Mail (Toronto)

“Chilly, finely-wrought prose, a truly weird setting and a fable that taps into our most uncomfortable fears.” — Times Educational Supplement

“A deliciously scary book that we loved reading together as a family.” — Orson Scott Card

“Beautifully spooky. Gaiman actually seems to understand the way children think. ” — Christian Science Monitor

“A frighteningly realistic fantasy. Lean crisp prose adds to the suspense and propels the story, and the eerie black-and-white illustrations by Dave McKean heighten the nightmarish quality of the tale.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“Kids will hang on every word. Coraline is a character with whom they will surely identify, and they will love being frightened out of their shoes. This is just right for all those requests for a scary book.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

From the Back Cover

"Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the house. . . ."

Celebrating ten years of Neil Gaiman's first modern classic for young readers, this edition is enriched with a brand-new foreword from the author, a reader's guide, and more.

About the Author

Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling and multi-award winning author and creator of many beloved books, graphic novels, short stories, film, television and theatre for all ages. He is the recipient of the Newbery and Carnegie Medals, and many Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner Awards. Neil has adapted many of his works to television series, including Good Omens (co-written with Terry Pratchett) and The Sandman . He is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR and Professor in the Arts at Bard College. For a lot more about his work, please visit: https://www.neilgaiman.com/

Dave McKean is best known for his work on Neil Gaiman's Sandman series of graphic novels and for his CD covers for musicians from Tori Amos to Alice Cooper. He also illustrated Neil Gaiman's picture books The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish , The Wolves in the Walls , and Crazy Hair . He is a cult figure in the comic book world, and is also a photographer.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Reprint,Anniversary edition (April 24, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0380807343
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0380807345
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8+ years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 740L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.12 x 0.42 x 7.62 inches
#10 in Children's Spine-Chilling Horror
#17 in Children's Parents Books
#67 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books

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About the authors

Neil gaiman.

Neil Gaiman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including Norse Mythology, Neverwhere, and The Graveyard Book. Among his numerous literary awards are the Newbery and Carnegie medals, and the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner awards. He is a Professor in the Arts at Bard College.

P. Craig Russell

Philip Craig Russell (born October 30, 1951 in Wellsville, Ohio), also known as P. Craig Russell, is an American comic book writer, artist, and illustrator. His work has won multiple Harvey and Eisner Awards.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by MichaelNetzer (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Righter of Words

editor, book reviewer, word lover

Book Review | Coraline

It’s October, meaning it is Halloween, meaning it’s time to read spooky books! I thought I’d finally read one that I’ve somehow never read before— Coraline .

In Coraline by Neil Gaiman, the titular character and her parents have recently moved into a large house. The building is divided into four flats, though only three are occupied. The other one on Coraline’s floor is vacant, separated from her own by a brick wall and a door. But Coraline is naturally curious, and one day when she opens the door, she finds that the wall is gone. And through the door is a flat identical to hers, and two people identical to her parents. Well, not identical: they are as caring and devoted as her real parents are distant and dismissive, not to mention their button eyes. But not all is as it seems, Coraline soon realizes, and she has to figure out how to escape the grasp of her “other mother” before it’s too late.

I’ve read a few books by Gaiman now, and this is definitely one of the best ones I’ve read so far! Coraline is a clever protagonist, and you really feel her fear and determination, cheering her on throughout the story. This book makes her sympathetic and relatable for anyone, even adults, while also clearly showing her to be a child. She’s young, and that is not a weakness, and her child’s imagination and spirit are real assets to her. This book really celebrates being a kid, and how much people can underestimate children simply due to their age.

The other characters are good too, but of course I’m mainly going to talk about the other mother, who is the most important character other than Coraline. She is extremely unsettling, and the escalation of her attempts to get Coraline to stay is perfectly paced, thrilling, and pretty scary. It’s a strange relationship she and Coraline have, by turns kind and gentle and then harsh and frightening. I loved seeing Coraline push past her fear and stand up to her.

In the end, I can see why this is basically a modern classic. It’s creepy, exciting, and fast-paced. The characters are vivid and have fascinating interactions. Some plot elements, especially during the last act of the story, probably would be intense for some younger or sensitive readers, but if you have a kid who loves scary stories (or are a kid at heart), this is definitely a great read!

Overall rating: 8.5/10

Banned Book Review: Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline neil gaiman harper entertainment isbn-10: 0061649694.

My first encounter with Coraline was with the movie, an unusual occurrence for me — usually the reverse is true. I thought it was atmospheric, quirky, a teensy-bit scary (even for me, a-totally-fully-grown-and-not-at-all-afraid-of-disembodied-hands adult), and creative. Then, of course, I had to read the Neil Gaiman’s book. Which was, in my opinion, even creepier. There’s this lingering doom which seems to permeate the pages of the novel. I think this is helped by the Harper-Perennial trade paperback edition I have, the all-black one with the swirling white filigree on the cover, bracketing the title. Gorgeous and Gothic, it definitely sets a mood — not to mention it’s jam-packed full of Dave McKean illustrations, with their ominous blacks and greys.

Coraline is, however, a “challenged” book: challenged because of its scarier themes and because some consider it inappropriate for the age group it’s intended for (the age of its title heroine, Coraline, which is never clearly stated in the book but seems to be between 10 and 13, if we can judge by the movie at all). There’s no doubting that the story dwells in the uncanny, in particular the only slightly-off, which can become frightening because of its otherwise intense familiarity. The central premise of the book is that Coraline finds a doorway into a parallel world where her “Other Mother” dwells — a woman who looks and sounds just like her real-world mom, but gives Coraline everything she thinks she wants. The plot seems simple and comes down to a choice: will Coraline stay in the colorful, beautiful Other World with her Other family? Or will she return home to her dull, drab life? The simplicity is deceiving, preparing us for one kind of story and sneaking in another: one about bravery, and choice, and love.

One of the most frightening scenes from the book comes about three-quarters of the way through. Coraline has taken it upon herself to retrieve her parents from the clutches of the Other World, and is attempting to collect their souls as well as the souls of others lost to the Other Mother. She has used a key given to her by the Other Mother, and has entered the spare room that had captured her attention in the beginning of the story. She finds a trap door and descends into a cellar. The imagery as she progresses is fiercely suspenseful, so much so that I can fully understand why children and adults would find it terrifying, hinting at the out-of-place, the not-quite right:

Set into the wall at the bottom of the steps was another light switch, metal and rusting. She pushed it until it clicked down, and a naked bulb hanging from a wire from the low ceiling came on. It did not give up enough light even for Coraline to make out the things that had been painted onto the flaking cellar walls.”

Far from existing merely to shock, the scariness in Coraline is used to illuminate the nature of the world in which Coraline finds herself. It’s beautiful on the outside, but it has no soul — it’s made up of nothing more than the dark wishes of the Other Mother’s heart. It’s a construct, and the fear instilled in the reader is meant to clarify this.

Gaiman himself is a huge proponent of not restricting what readers are allowed enjoy, literature-wise: “people tend to find books when they are ready for them.” I love that Gaiman doesn’t make the distinction between children and adults here. My own experience with Coraline was as an adult, but there were plenty of “age-inappropriate” titles I stumbled upon as a kid, and they either resonated in some way or they completely did not. In the former cases, I learned things and grew; in the latter cases, I was none the worse for wear. It really speaks to the universal acceptance of books as powerful, transformative objects that so many fear their influence.

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Coraline: A Visual Companion book review

Coraline's weird world is laid out in a fascinating new book..

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Title: Coraline: A Visual Companion Writer: Stephen Jones Publisher: Titan Books (£19.99, Hardback) When you have a spellbinding book, the magic spills off the page and fires the imagination of children and adults alike. But how can that same sense of enchantment be transferred to screen? Such is the task facing Neil Gaiman’s enthralling modern fairy tale, Coraline , that echoes the timeless joy of Alice In Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz’ s Dorothy .

This is a tale about a young girl who’s intrigued by a mysterious locked door in her new house and when she finally opens it, she discovers a strange duplicate world with her button-eyed Other Mother and her Other Father, who plan to trap her there forever. His previous book, Stardust , was turned into a modestly successful live action movie, and arguably that’s the hardest task in bringing such ‘otherworld’ tales to life.

The dark godfather of children’s fantasy, Roald Dahl, has received varied treatment as his stories make that journey from the page to the screen. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Witches created larger-than-life worlds with real actors who brought the eccentric characters to life, but James and the Giant Peach found more dazzling life as an animated feature. And this has been the approach to Coraline under the supervision of the same director, Henry Selick, who not only did James but also Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas . Whilst the film is set for release in May this year, this Visual Companion offers an exhaustive and enchanting look at how the film was made with its huge cast of highly talented people concealed behind the technical wizardry .

With a brief introduction to Gaiman himself, writer Stephen Jones reveals the genesis of the novel before guiding us through its transference to the big screen with accounts from not only Selick but also his whole production crew, model makers and animation team. These are often the unsung heroes and hearing them all explain the painfully slow, methodical way the film was put together. Every figure and object is hand-painted, as well as the costumes designed and every hair on their heads (along with a few stunt wigs!). To think it takes 26 movements of a stop-motion figure, all adjusted by hand, just to get one second of action on film. The skills of the puppeteers deserve a goblin’s crock of gold for their patience alone.

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Not only does Jones give a tantalisingly brief potted history of stop-motion animation in cinemas, taking in Willis O’Brien, George Pal and Ray Harryhausen, but he also explains the revolutionary new 3-D technique, known as Real D, which has been previously been employed on the likes of Chicken Little , Beowulf and the reissue of The Nightmare Before Christmas . There are interviews with Gaiman and his daughter Maddy, for whom he wrote the original story, as well as comments from the actors who voice the characters, including Dakota Fanning as Coraline, Teri Hatcher as Mother/ Other Mother and the playful fun of both French and Saunders. Everyone seems full of enthusiasm and excitement, everything in fact is brilliant.

The book is generously illustrated with behind-the-scenes photographs and original illustrations from set designs and character studies, along with a feast of stills from the finished film, which all animate the text. It proves that film-making is the product of dedicated teamwork and consummate craftsmanship. Jones captures the delights of both the film and the original novel, adorning his behind-the-scenes dialogues with nuggets of background information and biographical details. He make it a lucid, enjoyable read. Definitely a ‘Companion’ to take by the hand and walk with through the imagination of Movieland.

Coraline: A Visual Companion will be released on the 27th of February

COMMENTS

Coraline Book Review
Coraline is chased. Parents need to know that Neil Gaiman's Coraline is pretty creepy, and could be disturbing for sensitive kids: The central adventure is about a girl trying to save herself, her parents, and other trapped souls from the Other Mother in a secret world. But this is a good choice for kids who like horror stories ….
CORALINE
Not for the faint-hearted—who are mostly adults anyway—but for stouthearted kids who love a brush with the sinister: Coraline is spot on. (Fiction. 9-12) 23. Pub Date: July 1, 2002. ISBN: -380-97778-8. Page Count: 176. Publisher: HarperCollins. Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010. Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2002.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Coraline is a creepy novel that frightened the life out of me. I had to read it in two sittings because I was so utterly spooked. The author, Neil Gaiman, conjured up such amazing pictures in my ...
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean (illustrator) 4.12. 691,587 ratings36,868 reviews. The day after they moved in, Coraline went exploring.... In Coraline's family's new flat are twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close. The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks ...
Coraline Review: An Evegreen Novella Loved By All
4.3. Coraline Review. Neil Gaiman's novella, Coraline is a wonderful piece of children's literature. The novella follows the story of young Coraline Jones as she discovers a mysterious parallel universe at the end of a corridor in her house. Gaiman has managed to successfully portray Coraline as a strong protagonist and an inspiring role ...
Book Review: Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Coraline is horror light. All the creepy richness of a regular horror novel but with a light, happy ending instead. In all honesty, this book was the max amount of horror I could handle. The horror parts of the novel involved things like going in dark basements and you KNOW something is down there. There were gross parts involving bats and ...
Coraline by Neil Gaiman: Summary and reviews
Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits and all the tools she can find if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself. Critically acclaimed and award-winning author Neil Gaiman will delight readers with his first novel for all ages. A note from Neil Gaiman about Coraline.
Book Review: Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Coraline by Neil Gaiman. My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars. Series: Standalone. Genre: Fantasy, Horror. Pages: 201 pages (Lyra's Books Hardcover edition) Word Count: 31,000 words. Published: 2nd July 2002 by Harper Collins. Coraline is the best book by Neil Gaiman that I've read. And maybe, all this time, I might have picked the wrong Neil Gaiman ...
Book Review
A tale of locked doors, dancing rats and a magical world, Neil Gaiman takes you on a horrific adventure in Coraline. I'm the biggest fan of the film, Coraline. Like any other kid, I was terrified the first time I watched it. But as time went on and I watched the movie over and over again, I grew to enjoy and love it. At 20 years old, I can proudly say that it is one of my favourite movies. The ...
Book Review: Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Review. Coraline, the young heroine of this novel is incredibly brave and smart. She's a role model for kids and adults. The writing style was beautiful, lyrical at times, and accessible. There were some instances of funny moments that made this short novel even more enjoyable. Furthermore, the terrifying vivid descriptions are bound to give ...
Coraline
Coraline. by Neil Gaiman. This summer, Harry Potter has finally left the #1 spot on kids' reading lists, and new heroes are emerging to whom young readers can really relate. One such exciting character is Coraline, the adventurous heroine of Neil Gaiman's book of the same name. This beautifully written, dark fairy tale finally acknowledges the ...
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Coraline by Neil Gaiman - My Review. After finishing Coraline, I can even less believe I've never read Neil Gaiman before! When I was a kid, my brother and I used to spend days wandering around and exploring. This book brought me back into some of the best days of my childhood and I love it for that. I thought the beginning was a bit rough.
CORALINE
Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry influencers in the know since 1933. ... Coraline's Other Mother intends to keep her in this horrible new world forever, and captures her real parents, prompting young Coraline to seek them out in this strange dimension. Russell, a veteran illustrator and collaborator with ...
"Coraline" by Neil Gaiman
Updated on May 30, 2019. "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman is a weird and delightfully scary fantasy tale. It can be called "delightfully scary" because while it grips the reader's attention with creepy happenings that may cause a case of the shivers, it is not the kind of scary book that leads to nightmares. It falls under the Dark Fantasy subgenre of ...
Coraline
63 reviews. The bewitching classic children's novel by Neil Gaiman, featuring spellbinding illustrations from Chris Riddell and an exclusive new introduction by the author. 'I was enthralled … a marvellously strange and scary book' Philip Pullman. 'A masterpiece' Terry Pratchett. There is something strange about Coraline's new home.
Gaiman Week
Title: Coraline Author: Neil Gaiman Genre: Young Adult, Horror-Fantasy Why did I read this book: After having read Neil Gaiman's adult works, I was excited to see how his writing would translate in young adult format! When I read the blurb for Coraline, I had to have it. Summary: (from amazon.com)The day after they moved in, Coraline went exploring…. In Coraline's family's new flat are ...
Book Review: Coraline by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Dave McKean
Coraline, first released in 2003, has now been reissued in a new edition with all the original illustrations and the text intact, and an interview with Neil Gaiman about the book and his notes on Coraline been added as appendices. (If this were a DVD I guess we'd refer to them as special features - even books make concessions to the modern era.)
Coraline Study Guide
While Coraline isn't tied to any specific town or time, Gaiman writes in the novella's foreword that much of the book's spooky setting—a large manor house divided up into several smaller flats, or apartments, bricked off from one another and rented out—is inspired by a mixture of several real-life places from Gaiman's life. In 1987, he, his wife, and their three small children ...
Coraline: Gaiman, Neil, McKean, Dave: 9780380807345: Amazon.com: Books
Coraline. Paperback - April 24, 2012. by Neil Gaiman (Author), Dave McKean (Illustrator) 19,883. See all formats and editions. This edition of New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning author Neil Gaiman's modern classic, Coraline—also an Academy Award-nominated film—is enriched with a foreword from the author, a reader's ...
Book Review
Coraline is a clever protagonist, and you really feel her fear and determination, cheering her on throughout the story. This book makes her sympathetic and relatable for anyone, even adults, while also clearly showing her to be a child. She's young, and that is not a weakness, and her child's imagination and spirit are real assets to her.
Coraline by P. Craig Russell
P. Craig Russell (Adaptor/Illustrator), Neil Gaiman. 4.06. 36,745 ratings3,114 reviews. When Coraline steps through a door in her family's new house, she finds another house, strangely similar to her own (only better). At first, things seem marvelous. The food is better than at home, and the toy box is filled with fluttering wind-up angels and ...
Banned Book Review: Coraline By Neil Gaiman
CoralineNeil GaimanHarper EntertainmentISBN-10: 0061649694. My first encounter with Coraline was with the movie, an unusual occurrence for me — usually the reverse is true. I thought it was atmospheric, quirky, a teensy-bit scary (even for me, a-totally-fully-grown-and-not-at-all-afraid-of-disembodied-hands adult), and creative.
Coraline: A Visual Companion book review
Title: Coraline: A Visual Companion Writer: Stephen JonesPublisher: Titan Books (£19.99, Hardback) When you have a spellbinding book, the magic spills off the page and fires the imagination of ...

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