Coraline

Title: Coraline
Author: Neil Gaiman
ISBN: 9780061139376
Published: July 2002
Awards: Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Bram Stroker Award
Genre: fiction, fantasy, scary stories, horror, suspense
Characters: Coraline, other mother
Reading Level: 5th grade
Interest Level: 5th-8th grade
Plot Summary: Coraline recently moved to Oregon from Michigan with her parents. Both her parents are obsessed with their work and don't have much time for Coraline. The Pink Palace Apartments don't have any other children and Coraline isn't too thrilled with the rainy weather. The only child that is around is the grandson of the owner of the Pink Palace, who Coraline isn't really too found of. Coraline's parents encourage her to explore the new home in an effort to get Coraline out of their hair. While exploring Coraline finds a mysterious door that's entrance has been bricked over. When Coraline goes to sleep that night she is mysteriously drawn to the door but this time when she opens it, it leads to another world. This world is just like hers except that her parents are friendly and fun but everyone has buttons for eyes. Coraline things she has found the parents she has always wanted but when they ask Coraline to stay with them forever Coraline feels like her "other" parents are hiding a dark secret. Coraline may discover the secret too late.
Review: Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller. He creates a dark story that has you on the edge of your seat till the end. It's a chilling story that is both creepy and compelling. There is some quirky humor that lightens the mood and feeling of the story. Tweens love scary stories and this will appeal to all those ghost story fans. Despite being creepy the story isn't violent or risque, it's a great suspense story for tweens. Gaiman is able to create these dark fantasies that are full of magic and mystery.
Reader's Annotation: Coraline wishes her parents were different. Then when she finds a tunnel to another world and new parents Coraline can't help but wonder why it seems too good to be true.
Main Themes: parallel universe, magic, family, suspense, ghosts
Read Alikes: Doll Bones by Holly Black
Why for Tweens? Tweens love scary ghost stories and Gaiman's suspenseful story will grab their attention. Coraline has to save her parents and become the hero.