87 pages • 2 hours read
Coraline
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Book Brief
208
Novel • Fiction
England • Contemporary
2002
Middle grade
8-12 years
740L
Super Short Summary
Coraline by Neil Gaiman is a middle-grade horror novel that follows a perceptive and adventurous girl named Coraline, who discovers a mysterious door in her family's drawing-room that leads to another world. In this strange and unsettling place, she meets her "other mother" and "other father," who have black buttons for eyes and want her to stay with them forever. Using her wit, bravery, and the help of friends, including a black cat and ghost children, Coraline must escape the other world and rescue her real parents.
Mysterious
Dark
Unnerving
Fantastical
Adventurous
Reviews & Readership
742,343 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Neil Gaiman's Coraline has been widely praised for its dark, imaginative storytelling and unique characters, appealing to both young and adult readers. Critics commend its atmosphere and Gaiman's skillful writing. However, some find it too eerie for children and feel the narrative may lag at times. Overall, it's a compelling modern fairy tale with broad appeal.
Who Should Read Coraline?
A reader who would relish Coraline by Neil Gaiman likely enjoys dark fantasy, eerie adventures, and strong, courageous young protagonists. Similar to fans of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Harry Potter, they appreciate imaginative worlds and spine-chilling yet whimsical narratives that explore deeper moral themes.
742,343 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Other Mother
The Other Mother
A mysterious and sinister figure who creates an alternate version of reality that lures Coraline with tempting promises but hides a dark, underlying menace.
The Cat
The Cat
A sly and observant feline companion who aids Coraline during her journey in the other world, offering cryptic advice and assistance when needed.
Miss Spink and Miss Forcible
Miss Spink and Miss Forcible
Eccentric retired theater actresses who live in Coraline's building, known for their theatrical behavior and the aid they unintentionally provide to Coraline through a mystical object.
Mr. Bobo/Other Mr. Bobo
Mr. Bobo/Other Mr. Bobo
An odd and reclusive upstairs neighbor who trains a mouse circus and provides Coraline with cryptic warnings through his performers, adding a strange charm to the tale.
The Ghost Children
The Ghost Children
Three spectral figures that Coraline encounters, who provide insight into the dangers of the other world and rely on Coraline to aid in their liberation from its sinister force.
Coraline’s Parents
Coraline’s Parents
Busy and often preoccupied individuals whose inattentiveness indirectly leads Coraline to seek adventure in the fantastical yet perilous other world.
208
Novel • Fiction
England • Contemporary
2002
Middle grade
8-12 years
740L
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