Reviews: (by author)

Gaiman, Neil. Coraline. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2002. $17.89. ISBN 0-06-623744-0.

Readers will find more of bravery than terror in this spooky tale of a little girl who battles a demon for the safe return of her parents. Spiders, singing rats, ghostly voices of dead children all make up the creepy cast. Most of the story is set in a grey, cold, two-dimensional nightmare house/trap controlled by the demon other mother who can implode it at will. Readers will love the clear definition of bravery and Coralline's unflagging confidence. The narrative is dreamlike as mysterious whispers and an aloof talking cat warn Coralline and give her advice. The morbid pen and ink illustrations by Dave McKean bring to life Gaiman's frightening scenes and characters. Gaiman is the author of the Sandman series of graphic novels, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, and Stardust.

Recommended for ages eight and up.

LS Spring 2003.

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