Book: Coraline novel and Graphic Novel
Author: Neil Gaiman
Book illustrator: Chris Riddell
Graphic Novel adaptor and illustrator: P. Craig Russell
Coraline is a story wrote by Neil Gaiman, and is about a young girl named Coraline who moves into a new home. However, there is something strange about this new home. But it is not anybody in her world that is strange; It is, in fact, the other house behind the door in the drawing room, that is strange. In this house lives Coraline's other mother and other father, who have big, black-button eyes, who have been waiting for Coraline to join them. And they want her to stay with them. Forever. Starting with the big black-button eyes they want to sew on to Coraline.
I watched the movie based on this book before I read it, and as always the book is a lot better than the movie adaption, although both are amazing. I have always found the thought of dolls with buttons for eyes terrifying, and this just freaked me out even more over the concept.
When Coraline first meets her Other parents, she appears hesitant when it comes to trusting them, especially the Other Mother. And after the warnings she receives from the Mice and the black cat, who acts as her companion throughout the book, she is even more worried about the Other Mother's true nature.
I think my favourite part of the entire book is when Coraline begins to exlain to the Cat what she thinks true bravery really is. When you're scared of something, yet you face it anyway, that is truly the bravest thing you can do. And it is because her parents are stolen and kept away she goes to find them; to face her fear of the Other Mother and be brave to save her parents from a terrible fate.
This is an enticing, creepy tale which may be seen by young children as an adventure, but by adults a horror. I feel it is both. It can be quite intense and scary at times, so if you think of giving it to a young child I'd make sure they feel brave enough to read it.
The graphic novel is brilliant, the drawings fun and exciting to look at, but I felt that Coraline looked a lot older than how she did in the animation and how she was described in the book.
I did enjoy reading both the the graphic novel and book, as well as watching the movie, and the character Coraline was a brave and inspiring young girl
Overall rating: 8 out of 10
