Book Review

Coraline Jones and her parents have just moved into a house so big they share it with an old man who trains mice upstairs and an aging former actresses in the basement. An avid explorer, Coraline investigates the large garden and grounds around her new home until a heavy rain forces her to confront every active child’s nightmare an entire day stuck inside with nothing to do. So she turns to explore the inside of the house, and in a corner of the seldom-used drawing-room, finds something puzzling a locked wooden door that reveals only a brick wall when her mother opens it with a huge rusty key.

One day when her parents are away, Coraline opens the door again and finds that the bricks have vanished, revealing a dark corridor that leads to an almost exact copy of her own house, complete with another mother and father, who have pale white skin and shiny black button eyes. They feed her delicious food and let her play in a room with toys that move on their own. They seem completely devoted to her happiness.

This new world is certainly more interesting than the one Coraline left behind, but the longer she stays the less wonderful and more frightening it becomes. Soon, her other parents want to replace her eyes with shiny black buttons like theirs in order to keep her with them “for ever and always,” and Coraline decides to flee to the comfort of her real parents. When she returns through the door, however, she finds that they have disappeared. It soon becomes clear that her other mother has captured her real parents in an attempt to lure Coraline back. Despite her growing fear, she must return and find a way to save them and escape her other mother’s vengeful anger.

This story has a lot of pros and that’s some of them. Firstly, one of the bravest main characters from the book for children. I still think that Coraline is my inspiration to go where I want and do a thing only because it’s important to me. Also, she is very strong and powerful like the greatest role model. “I have no plans to love you,” said Coraline. “No matter what. You can’t make me love you.” Her words spread a hard atmosphere.

Secondly, the book has only 190 pages, but it feels like 300 because of the number of events. Personally, I can read it in one evening, and its great. You go through this massive path with different characters. You find out what life is and even more.

If we talk about cons so the most obvious one is that this story is kind of scary especially for kids. But for me even a lot of years ago it was totally ok. Maybe it’s because my dad said that it’s can’t be true so you shouldn’t be terrified.

Also, the big problem is parts about family. From my experience it can be for a little harmful because Coraline’s parents have a lot of work and their relationship with a daughter can be not always good. But for me it was not really great to read about it. It makes me feel anxious because this little girl was alone in a new place and her parents have no time for her. “Nothing’s changed. You’ll go home. You’ll be bored. You’ll be ignored. No one will listen to you, really listen to you. You’re too clever and too quiet for them to understand. They don’t even get your name right.” Of course, it’s all depends on your life, age, gender, and a lot of different stuff. But this quotation makes me wanna cry.

Summaries every aspect about “Coraline” by Neil Gaiman, in my personal opinion, it’s one of the best novels for kind and adults as well. Everyone can find something important for them and life. This story is unpredictably wise and will help even to change life. As you can see I’m a huge fan and want to more people know about this little masterpiece. My rating is 10/10.