Coraline

Coraline is one of those rare stories that feels both eerie and enchanting at the same time. Neil Gaiman’s writing is wonderfully imaginative—haunting yet full of heart—and Chris Riddell’s illustrations elevate it even further. Every page captures the mysterious charm of Coraline’s world and the unsettling feel of the “other” side. The story itself is a perfect blend of dark fantasy and adventure, with strong themes of courage and self-discovery. It’s ideal for older children, teens, or adults who enjoy gothic-style storytelling with a moral edge. The artwork complements the tone beautifully, adding depth and atmosphere without taking away from Gaiman’s words. The hardcover edition feels high-quality and would make a lovely gift for any book lover or Neil Gaiman fan. A timeless tale that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading.

Coraline, a sprightly little girl, is very bored. Her parents have just moved into a new flat in the middle of nowhere where they work in the house. Those eternal summer days last forever and she has nothing to do: she has explored the grounds that surround the building - the abandoned meadow with the little covered well and the woods - and she has met the neighbours below and above her - the Miss Spink and Miss Forcible who used to act in theatre, and the strange man, Mr. Bobo, who is training his mice to do circus tricks - and there is nothing else to do. Even the lonesome black cat she sees skulking about seems bored. She is bored of her parents who have no time for her and she has done everything else there is to do. There's only one thing she hasn't explored: the little door in the spare room where her grandmother's furniture is kept 'for best'. Her mother begrudgingly unlocks and opens the door to show a brick wall where it blocks off the empty flat next door. When her mother is out shopping Coraline unlocks the little door herself for another look. Instead of opening onto a brick wall, the door opens to reveal a long dark corridor. Curiosity gets the better of her and she crawls through it. On the other side of the corridor she crawls out into the flat she just left, but it's different somehow. Her parents are there, but they are different. The Other Mother is taller, thinner, 'her teeth a little too long' and her hair flows around her head. And in the place of eyes are two shiny black buttons. She cooks Coraline the food she always loves, in her other bedroom is a toybox full of toys she loves and in her wardrobe all the kinds of clothes she loves. This world is more interesting and fun, and her parents want to spend time with her. The black cat hasn't changed much in the other world, but it can speak. It tells her to not trust this world and not trust the Other Mother. Everything is not as it seems. And that is how the little girl spirals into this dark web crafted by the Other Mother to keep her here for herself. What does she really want? Why is she trying to get rid of the cat, 'that vermin', who is the only one telling her any truths? This is a wonderfully wicked tale that will creep out the adults and fascinate the children. It is one of my favourite books, and if you loved the film you will love this even more as there are differences that strengthens the original story. Extra note: once you've read the book, if you want more then search for 'Coraline theories' on youtube for plenty more mysteries.

This is such a great book - I only wish there was a sequel. Maybe there is? I listened to the audiobook, which is read by Dawn French. She is perfect for this book. I should probably add that I am a 57-year-old male and am probably not the target audience for this book but by gum, it's dark. The author succeeds in creating genuine terror without using typical horror devices. Everyone should read this book, and if you meet a black cat, pay attention to it.

My student (I am a tutor) is studying this book at school and asked me to help her with it. I had seen the movie, which is eerie and dark, but somehow this affected me more. The plot is fairly simple, the writing is good and set firmly at a middle grade level and the book explores a variety of themes you normally see in a scary story, but often with a bit of a take-away children can use as teachings in their own life - especially the idea that being given everything you want often comes with a catch (think Hansel and Gretel) . Now, I come from a slightly different POV than most children reading this book as I experienced an upbringing from a narcissistic mother. Due to this, the 'other mother' and life through the corridor did trigger some rather close to home feelings, even with it being told in an appropriate child-friendly way. Gaiman explores themes around control and abuse in this book, whilst on the surface it can also just be seen as a scary story. The fact that it evokes this response is a credit to his writing - he really captures the monster well. The story explores themes around family and 'the grass is always greener,' whilst ultimately having the message that although everything has flaws , it is not always safe to just jump to a new situation to fix them. This book is well written and my student loved it, finishing it in one sitting. She found it creepy and enjoyed exploring the idea of suspense in the story. She is 11 years old and I would say it was fine for 10 up, depending on the child. Some younger students may be fine with it, depending on their sensitivity.

Granddaughter loves it

Amazing book! Highly recommended. I read it all in one day. You can’t stop reading it, you are stuck with the story.

Çok hızlı geldi 24 saat bile geçmemişti siparişimin üstünden. Kapetlemesi de özenliydi, kitapta herhangi bir tahribat yok. İlk chapterı bitirdim hemen, filmdekinden biraz daha farklı bazı ayrıntılar kitabında o yüzden heyecanlıyım kalanını da okumak için 🤭

Love it!

Excellent

Per chi studia inglese l'edizioe in lingua inglese è perfetta. Un linguaggio chiaro e fluido così come la copertina e le simpatiche illustrazioni sono chiare e pulite. Per dire che anche la copertina è più piacevole e meno spaventosa rispetto a certe ristampe, rendendo omaggio alla protagonista e il suo gatto.