Reviews

After not having the luck with young adult books, I had decided to drop into a children's book I had always meant to read but had never gotten the chance or opportunity to. I really have to say, I was not disappointed.

Coraline tells the story of a young girl who has recently moved to a new house that is shared between her own family, a pair of old women who used to be actresses in the theater, and an old man who was probably part of a circus at some point in his life. Coraline's parents mean well, but they're neglectful, which leads to her spending her time exploring around her new surroundings. In her explorations, she goes through a door that leads her to some sort of mirror world where she has an Other Mother and an Other Father, and they want her to stay in their world and be their daughter.

Man, if I was ten years old, this would probably be my favorite book ever. Coraline is a dark and gritty tale, very unlike your typical kids book, but it's still a fun adventure all the same. Coraline is a lovely protagonist to follow and very relatable to kids her own age. The storyline itself is more fearful to adults than it would be to child, who probably see it as an adventure, albeit a scary one.

The writing is lovely, if simplistic though it's for children so that's not a bother at all. The storyline is great, and Coraline is great, and this entire book is great, and everyone should read it if they haven't already, and why the hell did it take me so long I don't know at all.

guyd's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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