Coraline by Neil Gaiman - My Review

I’ll start off by saying that Coraline is a children’s book, and like many children’s books, it can easily be enjoyed by all ages.

The story is about a young girl, Coraline, who discovers a doorway into an alternative universe inhabited by her “other mother and father.”

It’s a simple, yet beautifully written book. It’s a little dark and scary (but not too much), and it’s got some memorable characters (my favourite was the cat). For a book that was written less than a decade ago, I think it’s safe to say this book will be a classic. It’s got that feel to it – the same one I get reading The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – although it’s also safe to say this book stands on its own (even with the similar plot device of being transported to a magical land).

A lot of the story is about not getting enough attention – something most children can relate to. It just goes to prove that sometimes the best stories are the simple ones. If you have young kids (or are young at heart like me), I’d recommend the book. Plus it’s short (maybe a two hour read). What more can you ask for?