Common Sense Media Review
Strange, surreal tale sure to creep kids out.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 21 parent reviews
Based on 91 kid reviews
Kids say that this book offers a thrilling mix of adventure and creepiness, with many readers appreciating its unique storyline and relatable protagonist. However, opinions differ on its scare factor, with some finding it sufficiently eerie while others feel it's not very frightening, making it suitable for a range of ages depending on the child's sensitivity to horror elements.
- amazing story
- age-appropriate
- varying scare factor
- psychological themes
- relatable protagonist
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In Coraline's new house, she discovers a door that sometimes opens onto a brick wall and sometimes doesn't. Venturing through, she discovers a world that mirrors her own, though the mirror is disturbingly distorted. There's more fun and better food, but her parents and neighbors are reflected with troubling differences. Returning to her own home, Coraline finds that her real parents are missing, only appearing in the hallway mirror. With the help of a cat that can talk in the mirror world, Coraline returns to rescue her parents -- as well as the souls of other children that she finds imprisoned in the world through the door -- from the fiendish Other Mother.
Is It Any Good?
Gaiman is well known in the world of adult literature, but this is his first book for children, and it's a strange, surrealistic tale -- fun for kids who like their stories creepy. The black-and-white illustrations by Dave McKean are correspondingly sinister. Not everything will make sense to young readers, nor will they find the emotional heart that marks children's classics -- but they will find Coraline to be a brave character who uses her smarts to not only save herself, but also others the Other Mother trapped. Plus, the plot rolls along fairly unpredictably -- and with a few good scares. Ultimately, not awe-inspiring, but entertaining enough.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about scary stories. like Coraline. What makes them fun? Thinking of other chilling tales you've heard, can you think of anything they have in common?
This author often writes for adults, too. What makes a book better suited for a kid or an adult? Do you think both can enjoy Coraline?
What do you think is the scariest part of the story?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Horror
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date : April 1, 2004
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 14
- Number of pages : 162
- Last updated : December 3, 2025
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