Coraline

Neil Gaiman

I'm not exactly sure what to say about this minor gem. It's a kids' book, but not really a kids' book. It's a fantasy/horror novel, but not a fantasy/horror novel. It has minor similarities to about a hundred books to be found over the ages, both children's and adult, but nothing strong enough to be called an influence (at least, not one that wears its heart on its sleeve). About the best thing I can come up with would be a much darker version of Roald Dahl's Matilda with a leavening of The Secret Garden, a touch or two of Neverwhere, and a dash of Wendy Walker's The Secret Service just for flair. And a large number of flavors running underneath you will sense but not really be able to put your finger on.

Coraline is a girl who's pretty much bored with the way things are. While exploring, she discovers that a door in the drawing room, behind which has always been a wall of bricks, now has a tunnel to what she assumes is the flat on the other side. But when she goes through, she finds a weird alternate universe where her parents have buttons for eyes, things are interesting, and the world ends beyond the garden...

Gaiman mentions in an interview after the book (found only in the ebook edition) that Coraline is usually seen by children as an adventure story, by adults as a horror novel. Both are correct, of course. It is a lovely rendition of both, told in an almost classical children's-book style (consider the diction in older children's books, from the depression or before, and then consider Coraline) but without ever talking down to its target audience. Coraline is a wonderfully well-drawn character, as are most of the book's creations. There is a great deal to enjoy here; this is easily Gaiman's best aside from American Gods. If you've been avoiding it because you thought it was a kids' book, think again.