Coraline - Gaiman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman is the story of a recently uprooted, lonely and ignored girl who dreams into existence her own "other" world. Beyond a bricked up doorway in her family's apartment she finds her "other mother", who has created an "other life" for little Coraline, complete with flat-mates who know her correct name ("It's Coraline, not Caroline"), delicious meals, and a bedroom full of color, clothing and toys.  But most of all, her "other mother" offers her something she doesn't get at home...attention.

But sometimes attention is not all its cracked up to be. The "other mother's" attention may be a bit too much. In fact, she is willing to stop at nothing to keep Coraline in the "other" world. Coraline must break free of this other world, both physically and mentally, and come to appreciate all she has in her real world.\

A short read, this book was cute, though clearly written for children with active imaginations. Maybe I'm getting old, but I just couldn't get into it enough to truly envision the "other world" fully. Though I've never seen it, I am sure the recently made movie was fabulous. I wish I'd known of this book years ago. 

For children:  
4/5- Great. Push it on your friends and family.


For adults: 
3/5- Good. Read it, have a good time and move on. Or not.

More opinions at:
IMCPL Kids Blog