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Coraline Hardcover – Illustrated, July 1, 2002

by Neil Gaiman (Author), Dave McKean (Illustrator)

4.7 21,312 ratings

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New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning author Neil Gaiman’s modern classic, Coraline—also an Academy Award-nominated film

"Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the house...."

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.

Neil Gaiman's Coraline is a can't-miss classic that enthralls readers age 8 to 12 but also adults who enjoy a perfect smart spooky read.

From the Publisher


	Stardust	Neverwhere	The Graveyard Book	Smoke and Mirrors	Fragile Things	Trigger Warning

Customer Reviews	17,184	32,233	16,314	2,376	2,605	4,761
Price	$13.79	$12.69	$16.71	$11.99	$13.39	$11.99

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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.

What's on the other side of the door? A distorted-mirror world, containing presumably everything Coraline has ever dreamed of... people who pronounce her name correctly (not "Caroline"), delicious meals (not like her father's overblown "recipes"), an unusually pink and green bedroom (not like her dull one), and plenty of horrible (very un-boring) marvels, like a man made out of live rats. The creepiest part, however, is her mirrored parents, her "other mother" and her "other father"--people who look just like her own parents, but with big, shiny, black button eyes, paper-white skin... and a keen desire to keep her on their side of the door. To make creepy creepier, Coraline has been illustrated masterfully in scritchy, terrifying ink drawings by British mixed-media artist and Sandman cover illustrator Dave McKean. This delightful, funny, haunting, scary as heck, fairy-tale novel is about as fine as they come. Highly recommended. (Ages 11 and older) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

British novelist Gaiman (American Gods; Stardust) and his long-time accomplice McKean (collaborators on a number of Gaiman's Sandman graphic novels as well as The Day I Swapped My Dad for 2 Goldfish) spin an electrifyingly creepy tale likely to haunt young readers for many moons. After Coraline and her parents move into an old house, Coraline asks her mother about a mysterious locked door. Her mother unlocks it to reveal that it leads nowhere: "When they turned the house into flats, they simply bricked it up," her mother explains. But something about the door attracts the girl, and when she later unlocks it herself, the bricks have disappeared. Through the door, she travels a dark corridor (which smells "like something very old and very slow") into a world that eerily mimics her own, but with sinister differences. "I'm your other mother," announces a woman who looks like Coraline's mother, except "her eyes were big black buttons." Coraline eventually makes it back to her real home only to find that her parents are missing--they're trapped in the shadowy other world, of course, and it's up to their scrappy daughter to save them. Gaiman twines his taut tale with a menacing tone and crisp prose fraught with memorable imagery ("Her other mother's hand scuttled off Coraline's shoulder like a frightened spider"), yet keeps the narrative just this side of terrifying. The imagery adds layers of psychological complexity (the button eyes of the characters in the other world vs. the heroine's increasing ability to distinguish between what is real and what is not; elements of Coraline's dreams that inform her waking decisions). McKean's scratchy, angular drawings, reminiscent of Victorian etchings, add an ominous edge that helps ensure this book will be a real bedtime-buster. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-8-When Coraline and her parents move into a new house, she notices a mysterious, closed-off door. It originally went to another part of the house, which her family does not own. Some rather eccentric neighbors call her Caroline and seem not to understand her very well, yet they have information for her that will later prove vital. Bored, she investigates the door, which takes her into an alternate reality. There she meets her "other" mother and father. They are very nice to her, which pleases Coraline but also makes her a little suspicious. Her neighbors are in this other world, and they are the same, yet somehow different. When Coraline gets nervous and returns home, her parents are gone. With the help of a talking cat, she figures out that they are being held prisoner by her other parents, as are the souls of some long-lost children. Coraline's plan to rescue them involves, among other things, making a risky bargain with her other mother whose true nature is beginning to show. The rest of the story is a suspense-filled roller coaster, and the horror is all the more frightening for being slightly understated. A droll humor is present in some of the scenes, and the writing is simple yet laden with foreboding. The story is odd, strange, even slightly bizarre, but kids will hang on every word. Coraline is a character with whom they will surely identify, and they will love being frightened out of their shoes. This is just right for all those requests for a scary book.
Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Coraline has recently moved with her preoccupied parents into a flat in an old house. The neighbors above and below are odd but friendly: Mr. Bobo trains mice; elderly Misses Spink and Forcible serve her tea and tell her fortune. No one lives in the flat next door. But Coraline knows better, and one evening she discovers what's there: a tantalizing alternate world, filled with toys and food (unlike any of the boring stuff she has at home) and weird-- though wonderfully attentive--parents, who happen to have black button eyes sewn on with dark thread. Although her "other parents" beg her to stay, she decides to leave, but by doing so Coraline sets in motion a host of nightmarish events that she must remedy alone. Gaiman, well known for his compelling adult horror novels (see "The Booklist Interview," opposite), seems less sure of himself with a younger age group. His "nowhere wonderland" setting (think Alice on acid) is magical, deliciously eerie, and well captured in the text and in McKean's loose, angular sketches. But the goings-on are murky enough to puzzle some kids and certainly creepy enough to cause a few nightmares (ignore the publisher's suggestion that this is suitable for eight-year-olds). What's more, Coraline is no naive Alice. She's a bundle of odd contradictions that never seem to gel--confident, outspoken, self-sufficient one moment; a whiny child the next. Gaiman's construct offers a chilling and empowering view of children, to be sure, but young readers are likely to miss such subtleties as the clever allusions to classic horror movies and the references to the original dark tales by the Brothers Grimm. Gaiman has written an often-compelling horror novel, but, as with so many adult authors who attempt to reach young readers, his grasp of his audience is less sure than his command of his material. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“Gaiman’s tale is inventive, scary, thrilling and finally affirmative. Readers young and old will find something to startle them.” — Washington Post Book World

“A modern ghost story with all the creepy trimmings…Well done.” — New York Times Book Review

“Coraline is by turns creepy and funny, bittersweet and playful…can be read quickly and enjoyed deeply.” — San Francisco Chronicle Book Review

“A magnificently creepy story. Coraline is spot on.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Gaiman’s pacing is superb, and he steers the tension of the tale with a deft and practiced narrative touch.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, rise to your feet and applaud: Coraline is the real thing.” — Philip Pullman, The Guardian

“The most splendidly original, weird, and frightening book I have read, and yet full of things children will love.” — Diana Wynne Jones

“It has the delicate horror of the finest fairy tales, and it is a masterpiece.” — Terry Pratchett

“An electrifyingly creepy tale likely to haunt young readers for many moons.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“ Walk through the door and you’ll believe in love, magic, and the power of good over evil.” — USA Today

“So wonderfully whimsical that readers of all ages will hungrily devour itCoraline is destined to become a classic. — Globe and Mail (Toronto)

“Chilly, finely-wrought prose, a truly weird setting and a fable that taps into our most uncomfortable fears.” — Times Educational Supplement

“A deliciously scary book that we loved reading together as a family.” — Orson Scott Card

“Beautifully spooky. Gaiman actually seems to understand the way children think. ” — Christian Science Monitor

“A frighteningly realistic fantasy. Lean crisp prose adds to the suspense and propels the story, and the eerie black-and-white illustrations by Dave McKean heighten the nightmarish quality of the tale.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“Kids will hang on every word. Coraline is a character with whom they will surely identify, and they will love being frightened out of their shoes. This is just right for all those requests for a scary book.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

From the Back Cover

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.

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/

Dave McKean is best known for his work on Neil Gaiman's Sandman series of graphic novels and for his CD covers for musicians from Tori Amos to Alice Cooper. He also illustrated Neil Gaiman's picture books The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, The Wolves in the Walls, and Crazy Hair. He is a cult figure in the comic book world, and is also a photographer.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (July 1, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0380977788
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0380977789
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9+ years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 740L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.69 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #7,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #41 in Children's Parents Books
- #57 in Children's Spine-Chilling Horror
- #412 in Children's Literature (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 21,312 ratings

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Neil Gaiman
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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.
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Lovern Kindzierski
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P. Craig Russell
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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 story engaging and well-written. They describe the book as creepy yet cute at the same time. The book is described as sturdy and in good condition. Readers appreciate the creative and unique art style. Overall, they find the book suitable for readers of all ages.

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Story quality Readability Creepiness Sturdiness Creativity Book for all ages Pace Suspense

497 customers mention "Story quality"489 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality. They find it an easy read with a fun story during spooky season. The book holds their interest and provides enough surprises to keep them guessing. It's a lovely weekend read for all ages, and a great novel in its raw form. The story is captivating and imaginative, with strong scenes and a strong narrative flow that sets the stage for a dark, adventurous fairy tale.

"...The book itself was easy reading but also very enjoyable for child or adult. Five stars when it comes to the story itself...." Read more

"...The prose was great and the story was intriguing, but I couldn’t shake the indifference...." Read more

"...Anyway, from the beginning to the end, Gaiman weaves a tale that is fantastical, suspenseful, and wonderful...." Read more

"...It quickly strikes a mood and sets the stage for a dark, adventurous fairy tale. Definitely recommended...." Read more

185 customers mention "Readability"168 positive17 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story well-written with a subtle narration and engaging characters. The book is easy to understand with great descriptions and spookiness. Readers praise the perfect diction and relatable content suitable for all ages.

"...The book itself was easy reading but also very enjoyable for child or adult. Five stars when it comes to the story itself...." Read more

"...Oh what a breath of fresh air Coraline was. It’s a shorter read, more novella than novel, but that doesn’t matter in the slightest because you get..." Read more

"...This is very relatable. Gaiman really manages to capture the child's perspective of Coraline roaming around her home and the grounds outside...." Read more

"...Coraline is a book for all ages and also great for teaching literary elements to students." Read more

178 customers mention "Creepiness"142 positive36 negative

Customers find the book engaging with its eerie setting and creepy vibe. They appreciate the creepy illustrations by Dave McKean. The narrative has a unique way of causing fear that they haven't seen before. Overall, the book is described as a funny yet creepy read suitable for both kids and adults.

"...-like any other Neil Gaiman story, this one is captivating, eerie and unique...." Read more

"...It is brilliant, as I knew it would be. Also a couple of scenes were quite frightening!..." Read more

"...imposing, and maintains a light, tripping touch which strikes the perfectly balanced tone, allowing both reader and heroine to remain calm in the..." Read more

"It's lots of fun and kind of spooky.Gaiman knows his stuff and is a great author...." Read more

132 customers mention "Sturdiness"97 positive35 negative

Customers appreciate the book's sturdiness. They find it in good condition, with an amazing quality. Readers praise the author's intelligence, resilience, and courage. The story is simple yet high-quality, with positive messages and well-crafted scary bits. Overall, it's a solid story that appeals to older audiences.

"...I wanted a simple, digestible, yet high-quality fantasy. Once I started that search, it didn’t take long to narrow it down to Neil Gaiman...." Read more

"...I got the paperback version, and it’s holding up beautifully with just a little, and I mean very little, wear...." Read more

"Can in an okay condition, little chip at the too of the book on the cover but I can’t wait to start book club with this 🤩..." Read more

"Excellent condition! Exactly as advertised. Bought to replace one lost in a move. Very pleased!" Read more

77 customers mention "Creativity"77 positive0 negative

Customers find the book creative and unique. They appreciate the interesting art style and wonderful themes. The illustrations depict a rich world that readers feel like traveling in. Readers praise the incredible imagination and symbolism.

"...-like any other Neil Gaiman story, this one is captivating, eerie and unique...." Read more

"...of both the creepy and non-creepy variety, Gaiman also weaves some wonderful themes in the story about love, family, fear, and bravery...." Read more

"...Gaiman has a way of using his words sparingly but he still conveys a sense of place...." Read more

"...differs a bit from the film, the story is just as captivating and imaginative. If you enjoyed the movie, you’ll definitely enjoy this read!..." Read more

65 customers mention "Book for all ages"60 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the book for all ages. They find it enjoyable for both adults and children, and a nice gift for teenagers. The plot is familiar and easy to read, making it a great combination for parents who are rather caught up in the day-to-day activities.

"...of the genre, he manages to ride that line where the book is enjoyable for both adults as well as children...." Read more

"...Coraline is a book for all ages and also great for teaching literary elements to students." Read more

"Lovely weekend read. Great story telling. Fun book for all ages. Much better than just watching the movie. Thank you." Read more

"...to introduce horror elements that landed while still being appropriate for most ages...." Read more

48 customers mention "Pace"44 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's pace fast and enjoyable. They say it's a quick, fun read that can be finished in a weekend.

"...This feels like a short novella. A fast read. It quickly strikes a mood and sets the stage for a dark, adventurous fairy tale...." Read more

"Very easy and quick read, a lot of fun" Read more

"...The reading is fast and enjoyable but I felt like the end was rushed. I turned the page to expect more and it was over…." Read more

"...the book, but the book is still worthwhile and entertaining, and a quick read...." Read more

41 customers mention "Suspense"41 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging with its skillful world-building and surprising plot twists. They appreciate the clever writing and imaginative storytelling. The story is described as complex yet familiar, with a strong but simple plot.

"...This makes the story easier for younger readers, but also meaningful and solid for older readers...." Read more

"...it has added a lot of new mysteries connections points!" Read more

"...At five, my son found this piece engaging and mystical, constantly reminding me what elements of the plot he remembered from the 2009 Selick film..." Read more

"...The story is very simple...." Read more

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Sam Chap
"The story is amazing"-"Don't buy from GreatBookDealz"
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
This review is split into two parts, first is the story itself.
-like any other Neil Gaiman story, this one is captivating, eerie and unique. The book is nothing like the movie there are a lot of differences and they took quite a bit of Liberty when making the movie. I recommend you read the book even if you've seen the movie because the way it is written it's almost a whole another story but with similar plot points. The book itself was easy reading but also very enjoyable for child or adult. Five stars when it comes to the story itself.

Second part of review- the bookseller
-if you go to buy a copy of this used I do not recommend ordering from GreatBookDealz. First and foremost it took them ages to ship this book and after almost a month of waiting I had almost given up hope until it finally arrived (this was after Amazon sent me a message saying if it had not arrived by a certain date that they were going to refund me because it was taking so long). The tracking never updated either until the last minute so I never even knew where the package was in transit which is frustrating.

The long wait was disappointing especially since it didn't have far to go, I ordered this near the beginning of October and wanted to receive it so I could read it before Halloween but didn't receive it until November. The other disappointing thing was someone had taken a highlighter to parts of the book but that was not specified in the description. The only thing they specified was that the cover had wear which is normal for used books.
I don't per say mind the highlighter marks but would liked to have been made aware of it beforehand. The wait time was horrible and I definitely will not order any more used books from that seller!

Read more

Sam Chap

"The story is amazing"-"Don't buy from GreatBookDealz"
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2024
This review is split into two parts, first is the story itself.
-like any other Neil Gaiman story, this one is captivating, eerie and unique. The book is nothing like the movie there are a lot of differences and they took quite a bit of Liberty when making the movie. I recommend you read the book even if you've seen the movie because the way it is written it's almost a whole another story but with similar plot points. The book itself was easy reading but also very enjoyable for child or adult. Five stars when it comes to the story itself.

Second part of review- the bookseller
-if you go to buy a copy of this used I do not recommend ordering from GreatBookDealz. First and foremost it took them ages to ship this book and after almost a month of waiting I had almost given up hope until it finally arrived (this was after Amazon sent me a message saying if it had not arrived by a certain date that they were going to refund me because it was taking so long). The tracking never updated either until the last minute so I never even knew where the package was in transit which is frustrating.

The long wait was disappointing especially since it didn't have far to go, I ordered this near the beginning of October and wanted to receive it so I could read it before Halloween but didn't receive it until November. The other disappointing thing was someone had taken a highlighter to parts of the book but that was not specified in the description. The only thing they specified was that the cover had wear which is normal for used books.
I don't per say mind the highlighter marks but would liked to have been made aware of it beforehand. The wait time was horrible and I definitely will not order any more used books from that seller!

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Zachry Wheeler
The reading tonic I sorely needed
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
One thing I have learned after four decades on this planet is that anything can get boring. Donuts for breakfast? The delight will fade. Roller coasters every day? The thrill will abate. Reading sci-fi on a regular basis? (gasp) Yes, even that will get tedious after a while.

I recently hit an apathy wall when I started reading a new book by a favorite author. I got two chapters in and realized, “I’m just not enjoying this.” The prose was great and the story was intriguing, but I couldn’t shake the indifference. It took me a while to realize that my reading mind was over-saturated. The quality was irrelevant, I was just bored. And what’s the remedy for any boring activity? Do something else.

And so I switched to fantasy. But not just any fantasy, and I specifically avoided epic fantasy because I didn’t want to get halfway through a giant tome only to realize that I had made a mistake. I wanted a simple, digestible, yet high-quality fantasy. Once I started that search, it didn’t take long to narrow it down to Neil Gaiman.

Coraline fit the bill, which had already set itself apart as one of the most beloved children’s fantasy stories of all time. I had already watched the stop-motion movie, which was fantastic. This gave me the opportunity to play every reader’s favorite game: “Which is better?” (Spoiler alert: they’re both fantastic.)

Oh what a breath of fresh air Coraline was. It’s a shorter read, more novella than novel, but that doesn’t matter in the slightest because you get the feeling that Gaiman hand-selected each word from a bowl of perfection. The prose is simply magical and it seizes your attention from the very first page.

The story follows the titled protagonist, a young girl who is small for her age, as her family moves into a new house. While exploring, she discovers a portal into another house. It’s a mirror image with all sorts of fun and adventure, but with a sinister underbelly. She slowly uncovers that mystery, which pulls her into a mission to save her family.

This story can easily be read in a single sitting. But when you find a bowl of candy, it’s best not to eat it all at once. This was the first time in recent memory where I intentionally doled out a book to myself. I read a few chapters a night over the course of a week, which was a delightful way to end each day. I was actually sad when Coraline ended because it was the reading tonic I sorely needed. Thank you, Mr. Gaiman. What a masterpiece.

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Jennifer C.
A book with a scary story for the whole family
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2022
Verified Purchase
Coraline and her parents have moved in to a new flat, and things seem wonderful. But, Coraline's parents are too busy for her, so she goes exploring. As she does so, she finds that the new flat has twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Of those fourteen doors, thirteen open and can be passed through. The fourteenth, though, when Coraline's mother unlocks and opens the door, has only a brick wall behind it.

Or does it?

Because when Coraline unlocks and opens the fourteenth door, there isn't a brick wall there. Instead, she discovers another flat - which looks exactly like her own. At first, the other flat is really nice. The food there is much better, and her bedroom has a toy box with windup toys that are great fun. There's also another mother and another father. And they want Coraline to become their other daughter. But, in order to do so, Coraline would have to change.

And that's where the trouble begins.

I must confess that I am not one to read scary stories. If I do, I do so during the daytime, with all the lights on in the house. You can never be sure when the scary monsters will come out, after all. As such, I have not read many books by Mr. Gaiman. This is only the third, the first two being Odd and the Frost Giants and Norse Mythology - neither one of which falls into the category of scary story. As I had heard many good things about Coraline, and it's written for readers aged 9 and up, I thought it would be a safe enough option for me.

I loved it.

It did still scare me (I freely admit to being an adult scaredy cat), but I continued listening. As Coraline puts it, "when you're scared but you still do it anyway, that's brave." For Coraline, I was brave.

I should first point out that I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Mr. Gaiman himself. I am often leery of author-read audiobooks because, while they may be wizards with the written word, narrating involves an entirely different skill-set, and many authors just don't have it. Neil Gaiman does. His narration absolutely pulled me right into the story from the very beginning, and his knowledge of the story and the characters meant that he knew exactly what to emphasize and where to add tension to make the audiobook a truly great experience.

From the beginning, when Coraline has to entertain herself because her parents don't have time for her to the end when Coraline finally ... no, I shouldn't say that. I don't want to give away spoilers. Anyway, from the beginning to the end, Gaiman weaves a tale that is fantastical, suspenseful, and wonderful. I loved the running - not really a joke or a gag, so much as a continuation of incompetency, so we'll go with that - the running incompetency of the other residents in Coraline's building being unable to say her name correctly; they keep calling her Caroline, even after she has corrected them...multiple times.

Beyond the human characters - and I'm including other mother and other father in that category despite their being ... not really human - are the animal characters with which Coraline interacts multiple times. The rats. Oh. My. God. The rats. They sang. And I'm not talking about pretty little songs written by Disney musicians that will make you feel all happy and light. Oh, no. These rats sang songs that were dark and creepy and just... *shivers*.

But, also... I loved those rats. I don't know why. There might be something wrong with me. But I thought they were great characters, and that's not even considering the old man who trains them. Then there's the cat. That cat is perfect, as anyone who has ever been owned by a cat can attest.

In addition to all the great characters of both the creepy and non-creepy variety, Gaiman also weaves some wonderful themes in the story about love, family, fear, and bravery. As such, despite the creepiness of this story, I suspect that will become one of those stories that I revisit around Halloween each year, whether that's as a reread or a relisten.

What about you? Will you also take a chance on this story? I vote for yes, but you obviously have the deciding vote...

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Lucky boy
Pasta dura viene en ingles
Reviewed in Mexico on September 9, 2024
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De perfecta calidad solamente que la version de pasta dura no esta en español

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Ariel W
Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition 🗝️💀
Reviewed in Canada on July 11, 2024
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I've always loved the movie "Coraline," so I was excited to get my hands on this 10th Anniversary Edition of the book. It's a beautiful edition, with a gorgeous cover and a special ribbon bookmark. The book itself is just as captivating as the movie, with its dark and imaginative story. Neil Gaiman's writing is truly magical, and the illustrations by Dave McKean are stunning. I especially loved the way the book captures the creepy atmosphere of the Other World. If you're a fan of the movie, or just looking for a great fantasy novel, I highly recommend this edition.

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Rebeca
Amo!
Reviewed in Brazil on April 12, 2023
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Dei 5 estrelas pois gosto muito da história de Coraline. Já li em português, agora comprei pra ler em inglês.

Quanto à qualidade do livro, não é muito boa. A capa é bem frágil e não tem orelhas, creio que a maioria dos livros em inglês são assim.

As páginas são bem finas, como páginas de bíblia.

Mas nada disso atrapalha minha leitura, então não há problema.

Quanto à história, leiam! É muito boa!

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Leser
Phänomenal
Reviewed in Germany on September 6, 2024
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Ich wurde durch den Film aufmerksam auf das Buch und das hat der Geschichte noch einmal mehr Details gegeben und sie tiefer gemacht. Mich hat das Buch total überzeugt.

Das Buch kann man gerne einem jungen Fan des Films schenken, um die Englischkenntnisse zu vertiefen.

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Una lectura imprescindible si estás en el camino de aprender a cuidar de tu salud, entender lo mucho que podemos hacer diariamente para prevenir enfermedades tanto físicas, como mentales. Me sentí totalmente alineada con la visión integral de la salud de Borja y sin duda recomiendo este libro también a profesionales de la salud que quieran ampliar su visión, romper paradigmas e incluso comenzar a cuidarse más para divulgar desde el ejemplo. Muchas gracias por este gran libro Dra Radharani Jiménez
El libro era más aterrador que la película.
Reviewed in Spain on July 13, 2024
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Entretenido, me ha gustado
(Compré este libro para mi hijo y le he ayudado a escribir esta reseña)

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Coraline Hardcover – Illustrated, July 1, 2002

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5.0 out of 5 stars Pasta dura viene en ingles

5.0 out of 5 stars Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition 🗝️💀

5.0 out of 5 stars Amo!

5.0 out of 5 stars Phänomenal

5.0 out of 5 stars El libro era más aterrador que la película.

The day after they moved in,
Coraline went exploring....

"The story is amazing"-"Don't buy from GreatBookDealz"

The reading tonic I sorely needed

A book with a scary story for the whole family

Pasta dura viene en ingles

Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition 🗝️💀

Amo!

Phänomenal

El libro era más aterrador que la película.