Coraline

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Citation: Gaiman, N. (2002). Coraline. New York: HarperCollins.

Plot Summary:

Coraline (not Caroline) Jones lives in a flat with her busy parents and next to her eccentric neighbors. Coraline fancies herself an explorer, as she spends her non-school days adventuring around the grounds surrounding her flat and even exploring inside, as her parents are often too busy to interact with her. One day Coraline discovers a supernatural world by venturing through a door in her home that had previously only been home to a brick wall. At first glance the new world eerily resembles her own, but upon further inspection the world is quite different. Coraline is then forced to battle supernatural forces to regain her old home, her old life, and her parents.

Review:

Although darker than Alice in Wonderland in some cases, Coraline is very similar in that a young girl must venture into the unknown and prove herself in order to return. Coraline is classified as a horror story, though it is not too horrific for tween readers. As an avid fan of Gaiman's adult fiction, I was quite pleased to find that his amazing talents translate well in the YA world. The story is suspenseful enough to immediately grab young readers and keep them engaged with a protagonist character that they can relate to.

Reading Level: Age 10-13

Similar Titles:Alice in Wonderland, The Graveyard Book, Stardust

Character Descriptions:

Coraline: Coraline is the protagonist, and while other ancillary characters are quite necessary to the plot, she really does make the story. She is determined, confident, and quite lovable.  Coraline experiences many things that other tweens can relate to, such as boredom, wanting to wear things that parents won't allow, wanting more time from busy parents, and curiosity about forbidden things. Through Coraline tweens can experience an alternate reality, yet learn lessons about listening, appreciating others, and appreciating what one has actually got at home.

Personal Thoughts:

I absolutely love this book, and wish I had read it sooner. I actually don't have an excuse for not reading it sooner, but I always assumed since it was a YA book it wasn't up my alley. I was wrong, and if you are older than 13 and you feel this way, you are too. It is an enjoyable read that I would recommend to tweens and adults alike.