Who's On The Other Side?

Grand old manors are known to keep secrets. The truth is hidden in the details by the characters that dwell within their walls. Coraline Jones may be young, but she has a keen eye and likes to explore. When her family moves into a flat that's part of a big spooky house, she sets out to investigate. Coraline meets the interesting people that live in the other flats, like Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, two strange women who have a bunch of dogs and a seemingly spiritual connection. Then there's the crazy man with the mustache and the invisible mouse circus. Coraline finds a weedy garden and a deep well she's not supposed to play around, which she does anyway. When it starts to rain, she's forced to stay inside. Her parents are busy working on their computers, it's raining buckets, she's bored- time to investigate the rooms in her new house. There are fourteen doors, and one is locked. She bugs her mom to open it, but there's nothing there, only a brick wall. A shadowy dream wakes her and she sees something dark move down the hall. She follows it to the door that opens to the brick wall. Remembering where her mom hid the key, she opens it and discovers a secret corridor that leads to another, better side of the house, where she finds her other mother and father waiting for her. They're doting and give her everything she wants, but there's something very wrong with their eyes.

Ah, Neil Gaiman. I just love his writing. The intertwining characters and scene building is brilliant. If you're into spooky house mysteries (we are!) then this is a story for you. I think it's brilliant that the manor is split up into flats, each with a character who brings a piece of the puzzle together- like how the flats make up the manor. The scenes with Miss Spink and Miss Forcible are fantastic, and I love that they predict things, but nonsensically; you must pay attention to pick up on the foreshadowing and woven in symbolism- one of the reasons I enjoy Neil Gaiman's writing so much. I would recommend this book to readers ages 10 and up. The book is scary, and it's awesome! (so is the movie.)

Has anyone else read Coraline or seen the movie? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Happy reading!

~ L