A visit with some creepy button-eyed people

Coraline

by Neil Gaiman

I’m guessing I’m not alone in stating that I first heard of Coraline when the movie of the same name came out. However, the film is actually based on a book of the same title, written by the wonderful Neil Gaiman, who I met last fall when I read The Graveyard Book.

Summary

Coraline isn’t quite satisfied with her life. She has just moved into a new apartment with her mom and dad, and neither of them seem to have any time for her. They make her eat yucky foods, and when she wants to do anything, they give her boring games to play, such as counting all the windows in the apartment. While dutifully attempting to have some fun with this particular task, Coraline discovers a door in the living room that has a brick wall behind it. “They probably boarded it up when the house was divided,” her mother explains. However, Coraline soon discovers that the wall isn’t always behind the door, and one night, following the mice that belong to one of her crazy neighbors, she enters the door and walks down a long hallway that takes her into ... her own home. Only this home is much better. Her “other” mother and father are there, and, aside from their somewhat creepy button eyes, they are fantastic! They pay attention to Coraline’s stories, they cook her favorite foods, and generally want to do anything to make her happy.

After a few more nighttime visits to her “other” home, Coraline wants to stay forever. But as we all know, nothing is ever perfect, and Coraline soon discovers that having a perfect life with her “other” parents isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and she may even be in danger if she can’t get back to her real home soon.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Yes, but be sure to leave a light on once you do go to bed! Coraline creeped me out, but in a good way. Gaiman has created a wonderfully imaginative world that any child will be able to relate to on some level. Who hasn’t felt ignored by his or her parents before, or wished that every meal could feature favorite foods and endless attention from mom and dad? The descriptions of Coraline’s adventures had my imagination working overtime, and I found myself anxiously turning pages to find out what would happen to the “other” mother and whether her disturbing wish to keep Coraline forever would come true.

Who should read this book?

My library shelves Coraline with the children’s fiction titles (under 12-years-old), but I would recommend it for any readers age 10 and up. Younger ones will delight in the spooky goings-on, while older ones will enjoy the twists and turns of imagination present on every page.