by Neil Gaiman

Coraline came out in 2002, and at the time I thought it had to be the only truly scary children’s book I had ever read. I still feel that way. But it’s a good kind of scary – really creepy and fascinating, and you just want Coraline to figure things out and make things right again. It begins with Coraline moving in to a new flat with her parents. They don’t have much time for her, so she explores the house and finds one strange door that opens to a brick wall…until one day when Coraline unlocks it and finds a passageway instead. On the other side, she discovers a parallel world where some things are better, brighter, tastier, but also not quite right. Other things, like her parents with their button eyes, are darkly sinister. Danger seems to be lurking in the corners and crevices, while eccentric neighbors and talking rats give Coraline mysterious messages. Gaiman creates a vivid but surreal storyline that will stick in your head (and keep you checking under your bed). I have reread it at least once, watched the new movie, and I think I will try the graphic novel version this year around Halloween. Ooooo.

Reviewed by Jennifer