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Reviews of Coraline by Neil Gaiman

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• Jul 1, 2002, 176 pages
• Aug 2003, 162 pages
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Book Summary

'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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Hugo Awards 2003

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Reader reviews, bookbrowse review.

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

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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"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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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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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

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by Raina Telgemeier & illustrated by Raina Telgemeier ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2012

From award winner Telgemeier ( Smile , 2010), a pitch-perfect graphic novel portrayal of a middle school musical, adroitly capturing the drama both on and offstage.

Seventh-grader Callie Marin is over-the-moon to be on stage crew again this year for Eucalyptus Middle School’s production of Moon over Mississippi . Callie's just getting over popular baseball jock and eighth-grader Greg, who crushed her when he left Callie to return to his girlfriend, Bonnie, the stuck-up star of the play. Callie's healing heart is quickly captured by Justin and Jesse Mendocino, the two very cute twins who are working on the play with her. Equally determined to make the best sets possible with a shoestring budget and to get one of the Mendocino boys to notice her, the immensely likable Callie will find this to be an extremely drama-filled experience indeed. The palpably engaging and whip-smart characterization ensures that the charisma and camaraderie run high among those working on the production. When Greg snubs Callie in the halls and misses her reference to Guys and Dolls , one of her friends assuredly tells her, "Don't worry, Cal. We’re the cool kids…. He's the dork." With the clear, stylish art, the strongly appealing characters and just the right pinch of drama, this book will undoubtedly make readers stand up and cheer.

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ISBN: 978-0-545-32698-8

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Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic

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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: 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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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

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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Novel Notions

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.”

You can order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)

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Book Review – Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline is a 2002 horror fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman. Coraline, the titular character, and her parents have moved into a new flat in a big old house that is divided into several apartments. They share the property with some colourful characters; two aged actresses below them and an eccentric old man above them. There is a vacant flat next to theirs that is unoccupied, the passageway in their place bricked up behind a door in their parlour. Listless and left by her busy parents to try and entertain herself in the waning days of summer, Coraline can’t help feeling oddly fixated on this door, even though her mother has already shown her what’s on the other side. Reopening it on her own, she finds a long dark corridor where there ought to bricks. The passage leads her to a world that mirrors her own, full of wondrous delights and populated by another mother and father with buttons for eyes, who soon turn out to be far more malevolent than she first realizes.

In the same vein the author’s novel The Graveyard Book , which I read first but came out several years after this one, Coraline is a suitable for all ages. You wouldn’t be at fault for mistaking it for a children’s novel—in many ways it is—but it is written in such a way that young adults to full on grown-ups will likely find something to delight in while reading it. It’s a book that artfully rides the line of creating compelling, creepy horror without being so disturbing and/or graphic that it would be considered unsuitable for younger readers. As a horror fan from an early age I have a soft spot for work that fills this niche, and this book is pretty much a quintessential example of such a thing.

The story works both as a fairy tale and an inversion of a typical portal fantasy story. Travelling through the door, she is at first captivated by the place and its wonders, but there’s a consistent undertone of menace to it all. The contrast works really well. What at first seems magical and whimsical—having an Other Mother who will try to satisfy your every desire and make you happy—is really a figurative spider’s web for something much worse. This book excelled at expressing macabre ideas and images while still leaving a lot of it to the reader’s imagination. Sometimes it is being made to imagine a formless thing morphing and coming after her, while at others it’s the more implied threats that the world and the Other Mother represent. Many more details, like where exactly this otherworld came from, are left deliciously vague too.

Coraline as a character is quite wonderfully realized. The writing conveyed a great sense of being in her head, without being too limited by a first-person narration. I always had a good sense of what she was feeling and thinking. She’s very clever, but never in a way that lessened the fact that she is still a kid. She’s resourceful, adventurous, and capable of getting herself out of harrowing situations, yet she’s still immature and fixated on more simple gratification at first. It created a perfect balance where I could sympathize with her situation and how that led her to danger, but also wanted to see her grow out of certain mindsets and change from her experiences. I really liked how adult perspectives were implied as well. I understand her boredom and frustration with her parents, as I’m sure young readers would as well, but I could also see her parents’ point of view.

Final Thoughts

This review feels a little light to me, but Coraline is short and sweet. All killer, no filler, as they say. I don’t feel there’s much I need to carry on about. One could argue the book could explore things with some more depth, but as an all-ages book that seems unnecessary to me. The main character feels like a living, breathing person and the otherworld she ventures into is wonderfully nightmarish and dreamlike at the same time. The Other Mother worked great as a more straightforward source of evil too, being tempting and loving in her own twisted way, yet unfair and horribly dangerous. It’s a creepy fairy tale suitable to crawl under anybody’s skin.

My Rating: 5 out of 5

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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!

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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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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

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Movie Review | 'Coraline'

Cornered in a Parallel World

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By A.O. Scott

• Feb. 5, 2009

There are many scenes and images in “Coraline” that are likely to scare children. This is not a warning but rather a recommendation, since the cultivation of fright can be one of the great pleasures of youthful moviegoing. As long as it doesn’t go too far toward violence or mortal dread, a film that elicits a tingle of unease or a tremor of spookiness can be a tonic to sensibilities dulled by wholesome, anodyne, school-approved entertainments.

Books, these days, often do a better job than movies of parceling out juvenile terror. There is plenty of grisly screen horror out there for teenagers, of course, but younger children are more amply served by fiction from the likes of R. L. Stine, Roald Dahl and Neil Gaiman, on whose fast-moving, suspenseful novel “Coraline” is based. The film, an exquisitely realized 3-D stop-motion animated feature directed and written by Henry Selick (“The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “James and the Giant Peach”) has a slower pace and a more contemplative tone than the novel. It is certainly exciting, but rather than race through ever noisier set pieces toward a hectic climax in the manner of so much animation aimed at kids, “Coraline” lingers in an atmosphere that is creepy, wonderfully strange and full of feeling.

Its look and mood may remind adult viewers at various times of the dreamscapes of Tim Burton (with whom Mr. Selick worked on “Nightmare”), Guillermo del Toro and David Lynch. Like those filmmakers Mr. Selick is interested in childhood not as a condition of sentimentalized, passive innocence but rather as an active, seething state of receptivity in which consciousness itself is a site of wondrous, at times unbearable drama.

The governing emotion, at the beginning, is loneliness. A smart, brave girl named Coraline Jones, voiced by Dakota Fanning, has recently moved from Michigan to an apartment in a big pink Victorian house somewhere in Oregon. She is at an age when the inadequacy of her parents starts to become apparent, and Coraline’s stressed-out, self-absorbed mom and dad (Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman), who write about gardening, barely look up from their computer screens when she’s in the room. And so, like many a children’s book heroine before her, Coraline sets out to explore her curious surroundings, interweaving the odd details of everyday reality with the bright threads of imagination. She is accompanied from time to time by a local boy (Robert Bailey Jr.) and a talking cat (Keith David).

Like the best fantasy writers Mr. Gaiman does not draw too firm a boundary between the actual and the magical, allowing the two realms to shadow and influence each other. Mr. Selick, for his part, is so wantonly inventive and so psychologically astute that even Coraline’s dull domestic reality is tinted with enchantment. Her neighbors are a collection of eccentrics whose physical peculiarities match their quirks of character. Upstairs there is a Russian circus artist with the rasping voice of Ian McShane, while below a pair of aging burlesque performers twitter and chirp in the giddy tones of Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, queens of British TV comedy.

A secret door in the wall, which opens only at night, leads Coraline to a parallel world that at first seems to fulfill her sad heart’s every desire. The versions of her parents who live there — a queen-bee “other mother” and her agreeable mate — are warm and attentive, and the pink house is a wild wonderland where gardens bloom in moonlight and every visit discloses new amusements. The oddball neighbors are there, in altered form, to enthrall Coraline with nightly spectacles — a dream vaudeville that will transfix the movie’s audience as well.

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By Neil Gaiman

"Coraline" by Neil Gaiman follows the story of young Coraline Jones who discovers a strange door in her new house which opens up to an enticing, yet sinister parallel universe.

In a nutshell...

In this Other World, Coraline finds alternate versions of her parents who seem perfect but are actually sinister beings trying to trap her. Coraline must use her wit and courage to navigate this eerie realm and save herself, her parents and the souls of other children trapped there. Coraline rescues them and safely seals the door to the Other World, ensuring that no one else will fall prey to its dangers. The story ends with Coraline feeling empowered and grateful for her ordinary life, having learned the importance of bravery, family, and appreciating what she has.

Key Moments

• The Discovery of the Hidden Door: Coraline discovers the hidden door to the Other World.
• The Ultimate Confrontation: Coraline confronts the Other Mother in a chilling showdown.
• Coraline's Triumph: Coraline rescues the trapped souls, freeing herself and others.

Main Characters

• Coraline Jones: Adventurous girl who discovers a parallel world.
• The Other Mother: Sinister entity who lures Coraline into danger.
• The Other Father: A malevolent creation of the Other Mother.

" Coraline"  primarily unfolds in an old English house divided into apartments. This mundane setting contrasts with the eerie parallel world Coraline discovers. The normalcy of her home underscores the strangeness of the Other World, where everything appears perfect but holds a sinister undertone. This sharp juxtaposition intensifies Coraline's journey, emphasizing her longing for excitement while highlighting the dangers lurking beneath the seemingly perfect "Other World."

Continue down for the complete summary to Coraline

Article written by Neesha Thunga K

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

Coraline Jones, a young 11-year-old girl, moves into a new apartment in England with her parents during school break. The exposition of the novella introduces us to Coraline, who is a curious and inquisitive girl who loves exploring new surroundings. She has some eccentric neighbors living in the same building as her, including elderly actress, Miss. Forcible and Miss Spink. These women live below Coraline’s flat with their many dogs and spend most of their time reminiscing their days from the stage. A “crazy old man,” Mr. Bobo, lives upstairs with a bunch of rats whom he claims to be training for the rat circus.

Coraline usually spends her time exploring and going on adventures by herself. However, an especially rainy day puts a halt to her activities. Ignored by her parents who are busy with work, Coraline sets off to explore a rarely-used drawing room – at the end of which lay a huge and mysterious door. This is where the rising action occurs in the narrative, with the discovery of the hidden door.

Upon asking her mother to open the door for her, Coraline discovers that the door opens onto a solid brick wall. This proves to be the beginning of a strange sequence of events that occur. That night, Coraline experiences some strange dreams of rats singing a song. The very next day, Mr. Bobo tells Coraline that his pet rats have warned her not to go through the brick wall. Miss. Forcible and Miss. Spink reads Coraline’s tea leaves and predicts her to be in grave danger. They provide her with a protective stone that she pockets and leaves, excited for some new adventures.

Coraline thinks no more of this prediction and wakes up the next day to find that her mother has gone grocery shopping. Bored once again, Coraline decides to open the door to the drawing room once again. To her surprise, she finds that the door no longer opens onto a brick wall. It leads to a mysterious corridor instead.

Here, I can’t help but chuckle at Coraline’s insatiable curiosity. She’s like a little detective, always searching for something new and exciting. I find it amusing how she brushes off the warnings from her neighbors and the strange dreams as mere coincidences. It’s as if fate itself is pulling her into a web of mystery and danger.

Coraline goes down the corridor and ends up in a parallel universe that looks just like the one she left behind. The only difference is that things seemed somewhat better in this universe than her own. Her bedroom is painted in captivatingly bright colors and she has shiny and shimmering clothes to wear. Coraline even has an alternate family in the parallel universe consisting of the Other Mother and the Other Father. The Other Mother and the Other Father look just like her parents, with the only difference being that they are taller, thinner, and have buttons for eyes.

Coraline explores this universe and finds out that cats can talk here. She also visits an eternal play that is enacted by her two neighbors, Miss. Forcible and Miss. Spink. She also comes across the rat circus and crazy old man upstairs – who seem much more dangerous and sinister in this universe than in real life. Coraline is soon creeped out by the weirdness of the entire universe and decides to return to her own.

Upon returning, Coraline is unable to find her parents anywhere for 3 days. This is the turning point in the story. She finds out that the Other Mother has kidnapped her parents and decides to revisit the parallel universe once again. She is scared, but she decides to brave her fears to get her parents back.

I find Coraline’s journey into the parallel universe a fascinating exploration of duality and the allure of the unknown. It’s captivating to watch her navigate this seemingly improved yet subtly sinister world, where even talking cats and eccentric neighbors take on new dimensions. Not the mention the Other Mother… So creepy!

Coraline returns to the parallel universe and begins to explore more. She quickly understands that the Other Mother (also known as the “beldam”) is the creator of the universe and that she has trapped several souls inside this world. She comes across some ghost children who advise her to run away from this universe. Coraline however, is determined to rescue her parents from the clutches of the sinister Other Mother. She also decides to free the souls of the ghost children in the process.

This is where the main conflict occurs. Coraline discovers that the Other Mother loves challenges and cleverly strikes up a bargain with her. She tells the Other Mother that she will stay behind in the alternate universe if she is unable to locate the souls of the ghost children or her parents. The Other Mother greedily agrees. After several adventures and mishaps, Coraline successfully locates the souls of the ghost children by making use of the protective stone in her pocket. Coraline finally discovers that her parents have been trapped in the snow globe on the mantelpiece. She is eager to rescue them and return home.

However, we reach the climax of the story as Coraline soon realizes that the Other Mother never meant to live up to her side of the bargain. As soon as Coraline makes this discovery, she hatches a plan to escape from the Other Mother. Here, we see the ultimate confrontation between Coraline and the evil witch. Coraline realizes that the key to defeating the Other Mother lies in her cleverness and resourcefulness. She ultimately tricks the Other Mother into revealing her weakness, allowing Coraline to use the power of a magical object, the seeing stone, to trap her and safely return to her real home.

Thus, Coraline manages to flee the alternate universe along with her parents and the ghost children. Coraline’s parents seem to have no recollection of anything that has happened in the alternate universe, and Coraline is content with the way things turned out. This is where the resolution of the climax is reached. However, she discovers to her dismay that the dangers have not passed.

Coraline’s tenacity and ingenuity stand out to me as she delves deeper into the clutches of the Other Mother’s twisted realm. Her determination to save her parents and free the trapped souls is both admirable and heart-pounding to witness. Yet, it’s in her realization of the Other Mother’s deception and her subsequent plan to outsmart her that Coraline truly shines.

The falling action in the story then begins. That night, Coraline dreams of having a picnic with the ghost children whom she had earlier set free. The children inform Coraline that the Other Mother is extremely angry and that she will not rest until she has located the key that unlocks the door to the alternate universe.

True enough, the Other Mother detaches her hand and sends it through the corridor to look for the key. Coraline hatches a plan to outsmart the Other Mother. She pretends to have a picnic with her dolls right above an old well in front of her house. She places the key precariously in the middle of the picnic cloth. The Other Mother’s hand lunges for the key and falls into the well. Coraline then boards up the well with some planks and the Other Mother is finally defeated, marking Coraline’s triumph.

Coraline visits Mr. Bobo once again who passes on another message to Coraline from his rats, saying the danger has passed. Coraline is satisfied and goes to sleep. The next day is the first day of her school year and she wakes up excited for a new adventure once again.

I can’t help but marvel at Coraline’s ingenuity once again. Her fake picnic serves as a clever ruse to outmaneuver the Other Mother, demonstrating Coraline’s ability to think several steps ahead in the face of danger. The showdown with the Other Mother’s detached hand is both thrilling and satisfying, showcasing Coraline’s resourcefulness in defeating her foe.

Coraline Quiz

Unleash your imagination and courage—our 'Coraline' Trivia Quiz awaits! Do you have the cleverness to navigate the eerie mysteries and hidden dangers of Neil Gaiman's haunting world? Accept the challenge now and prove your mastery over the otherworldly adventures of Coraline!

1) Who is the author of Coraline?

2) What is Coraline's last name?

3) What unusual feature do the inhabitants of the other world have?

4) Who does Coraline meet in the other world who resembles her mother?

5) What is the name of Coraline's cat?

6) How does Coraline enter the other world?

7) What does the Other Mother want to do to Coraline?

8) Who helps Coraline understand the dangers of the other world?

9) What object does Coraline use to see the truth in the other world?

10) What does Coraline find trapped in the other world?

11) Who is Miss Spink and Miss Forcible?

12) What game does the Other Mother propose to Coraline?

13) What is the final challenge Coraline faces in the other world?

14) How does Coraline manage to trap the Other Mother's hand?

15) What does Coraline discover when she returns to the real world?

16) What type of creature is the Other Father?

17) What does Coraline use to keep the souls of the children safe?

18) Who warns Coraline about the other world before she discovers it?

19) What does Coraline find in the other world’s garden?

20) What is the fate of the Other Mother at the end of the novel?

21) What does Coraline's real mother do for a living?

22) What is Coraline's father’s hobby?

23) How does the Other Mother control the other inhabitants of her world?

24) What is the old man upstairs training in his apartment?

25) What does Coraline do to stay calm when she is scared?

26) What is the name of the cat’s owner in the real world?

27) What do Miss Spink and Miss Forcible give Coraline for protection?

28) What is Coraline’s reaction when she first discovers the other world?

29) Why does the Other Mother want Coraline to stay in the other world?

30) How does Coraline save her real parents from the other world?

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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.

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Coraline | Book Review

I am a big fan of the Coraline animated film adaptation. It has become a staple October movie for me. I had read the book years ago, but wanted to give it a reread. And, I can say that I will probably reread it every October from now on.

The book was very fast paced, and I loved the setting. It is told in second person, but honestly I don’t really care how a book is told. First person, second person or even third person it is all the same to me.

The story follows Coraline, who moves into a new apartment building with her parents. The parents in this book are kind of neglectful, but by the end of the book, Coraline learns to appreciate her family.

“You’re going to stay here for ever and always.”

I enjoyed the character of Coraline, because I found her to be smart for her age, and not immature. However, she was a bit judgmental at times, but I chalked that up to her still being a kid. Also, who doesn’t love a sarcastic talking cat?

Overall, I liked the book equally as much as the film adaptation. The story was simple, but spooky. The writing made the plot come to life and I had a good time reading it.

In the comments, let me know your thoughts on the book. Don’t forget to give my blog a follow before you go!

Until The Next Chapter, Bunny

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I’ve always loved the story of Coraline but the book has never been one of my favorites. I love to see what others loved about it — and I agree with all your observations! I guess it just isn’t the book for me, sadly.

Love your work:)

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Coraline: The Graphic Novel Paperback – May 5, 2009

Neil Gaiman's enchanting, nationally bestselling children's book Coraline is brought to new life by acclaimed  artist P. Craig Russell in this gorgeously illustrated graphic novel adaptation.

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.

• Part of Series Coraline
• Print length 192 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 3 - 7
• Dimensions 6 x 0.5 x 9.5 inches
• Publisher HarperAlley
• Publication date May 5, 2009
• ISBN-10 0060825456
• ISBN-13 978-0060825454
• See all details

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Editorial Reviews

“A virtuoso adaptation…a master of fantastical landscapes, Russell sharpens the realism of his imagery, preserving the humanity of the characters and heightening the horror, even as Gaiman’s concise storytelling ratchets up the eeriness.” — Booklist (starred review)

“A deliciously dark graphic adaptation of Gaiman’s modern classic...sure to delight established fans and to mesmerize newcomers.” — Kirkus Reviews   (starred review)

“This adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel reads as though it were intended for the graphic novel format in the first place.… Russell’s illustrations suit the tone of the story perfectly. — School Library Journal (starred review)

“This graphic novel is as dark, creepy, and brilliant as anything out there.” — Chicago Tribune

From the Back Cover

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/

P. Craig Russell lives in Kent, Ohio, and has spent forty years producing graphic novels, comic books, and illustrations. He is well-known for his graphic novel adaptations of Neil Gaiman's Coraline and Sandman: The Dream Hunters , as well as his Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde series. His work ranges from such mainstream titles as Batman , Star Wars , and Conan to adaptations of classic operas and a Jungle Book series. He has won several Harvey and Eisner Awards.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperAlley; Reprint edition (May 5, 2009)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060825456
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060825454
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10+ years, from customers
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 9.5 inches
• #14 in Comic Strips (Books)
• #73 in Children's Spine-Chilling Horror
• #352 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books

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Customer Review: Beautiful illustrations

Customer Review: book was already torn when my daughter opened the package 😒

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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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Customers say

Customers find the storyline great, with a wonderful transition to graphic novel format. They also appreciate the good artwork. Readers describe the book as a good read for all ages, with chilling, mesmerizing, and beautiful story. They praise the writing style as well-written and showing specific points-of-view. Customers also mention the book is very scary.

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Customers find the storyline great, moving along at a decent pace. They also say the book is a wonderful adaptation of the original work and an excellent example of graphic novels.

"...The story is fully laid out , illustrated in a charming and colorful way - it's such a great graphic novel adaptation of one of my all time favorite..." Read more

"...CORALINE is a mesmerizing story of one girl's horrific and scary adventure, and her fight to get back to the real world and her real parents...." Read more

"...The artwork is lovely, the story moves along at a decent pace , and I think this is a wonderful book for anyone who is into this dark, riveting type..." Read more

"...This is just a chilling, mesmerizing and beautiful story . I got the creeps just reading this version...." Read more

Customers like the artwork in the book. They say it's good, endearing, and sassy. Some readers also mention that the book looks brand new.

"...The story is fully laid out, illustrated in a charming and colorful way - it's such a great graphic novel adaptation of one of my all time favorite..." Read more

"...In this geaphic novel, however, very ( VERY!) realistic drawings , (by artist P. CRAIG RUSSELL), show up the difference between real, and "Other"..." Read more

"Love this book so much!! The illustrations are beautiful <3 highly recommend if you love coraline like I do :)" Read more

"It was a very good read I enjoyed the illustrations . The graphic novel was definitely worth the purchase. Would recommend" Read more

Customers find the book a good read for all ages, and a wonderful option for reluctant readers. They also describe it as a delightful coming-of-age story with horror elements. Customers also say the book is great for kids looking for a chill or adults wanting an escape. They say it teaches them to love their parents and enjoy every moment with their loved ones.

"...the story moves along at a decent pace, and I think this is a wonderful book for anyone who is into this dark, riveting type of story...." Read more

"Was a pleasure to read (even though this was the illustrated version). Everything I've read by Gaiman has been a delight to read." Read more

"...This is just a chilling , mesmerizing and beautiful story. I got the creeps just reading this version...." Read more

"Coraline is a delightful coming-of-age story with horror elements meant to keep you on your toes...." Read more

Customers find the writing style well written, detailed, and figurative. They also appreciate the great imagination and talent for putting a world together. Readers also mention the book is realistic and a wonderful read.

"...She said it's highly detailed and spends as much time looking at each graphic as she does reading it." Read more

" Very well written and illustrated " Read more

"...the characters in Coraline are fantastically lifelike and down-to-earth ...." Read more

"...Neil Gaiman has such a great imagination and talent for putting a world into words. I look forward to reading more books by him including Coraline." Read more

Customers find the book very scary, creepy, and haunting.

"..."other world" that the Other Mother created, is, to be frank, downright terrifying ...." Read more

"...It’s creepy, beautiful, and haunting —all things I rather enjoy...." Read more

"...Even in this little comic book it was so creepy ! I would have to say that it was even creepier than the movie version...." Read more

"...Follows the original.novel more than the movie. All the thrills and scary parts are there . The love!y, satisfying ending from the novel is there...." Read more

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Nice hardback picture book

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Screen Rant

Coraline re-release passes huge domestic box office milestone, outgrossing major 2024 movies.

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The 15th anniversary re-release of Coraline has passed a major milestone at the domestic box office. The 2009 stop-motion animated movie, which was directed by Henry Selick and is based on the Neil Gaiman novella of the same name, was the first feature film produced by Laika, which has since put out releases including ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings . When the Coraline movie came back to theaters for its latest re-release, it turned out a dazzling performance, outdoing the typical re-release performance with an $8.37 million debut on the Top 5 chart, competing well against major new releases.

Per Deadline , as of Sunday morning, the Coraline re-release is projected to take in a 3-day total of $3.15 million during its third weekend at the domestic box office and a 4-day total of $4.3 million over the Labor Day holiday weekend. This will bring the cumulative domestic total of the re-release to $30.6 million , making it the 34th highest-grossing domestic movie of the year so far. This outgrosses the domestic totals of many major 2024 releases, including Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 , Imaginary , Abigail , Arthur the King , Monkey Man , Cabrini , The Bikeriders , The First Omen , and Ordinary Angels .

How Coraline Compares To Major Contemporary Re-Releases

The 2009 classic is outshining the competition.

The stellar performance of the Coraline re-release cannot be overstated. While re-releases have always been part of the fabric of the theatrical landscape, they have become increasingly popular in recent years, both as a promotional tool for upcoming releases and as a way to make up for a deficit of new theatrical releases in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Hollywood strikes. However, they typically do not perform at this level, and in fact many re-releases dramatically underperform , such as the Saw 10th anniversary re-release, which earned the third-worst wide release debut in history at the time.

However, even among the high-performing re-releases that earned more than $10 million during their theatrical runs, Coraline is outstripping the competition. It is the highest-grossing re-release of the decade , even outperforming the 2022 re-release of the record-shattering Avatar , which was put back into theaters to promote the impending sequel Avatar: The Way of Water , which then went on to become the third highest-grossing movie of all time. Below, see a breakdown of how Coraline 's current domestic box office total compares to the highest-performing domestic re-releases since 2010:

It has been more than 10 years since a re-release has outperformed Coraline , and that was the 30th anniversary re-release of the Steven Spielberg classic Jurassic Park , a movie with twice as much built-in nostalgia at the time. It is worth noting that both re-releases also received an added boost from 3D showtimes increasing ticket prices, as did Avatar . Regardless, the performance of the 15-year-old stop-motion title is nearly at the level of the Spielberg classic shows how well this re-release has connected with audiences.

Source: Deadline

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Based on Neil Gaiman's novella, Coraline follows Coraline Jones, a lonely young girl who, after moving to a new house with her inattentive parents, discovers a portal to another, more sinister alternate reality behind one of the house's many doors. Written and directed by Henry Selick, the film uses stop-motion animation and stars Dakota Fanning as Coraline.