Coraline

Author: Gaiman, Neil
This haunting children's novel follows a young, curious girl named Coraline, who discovers a hidden world inside a locked cupboard in her home. Inside this world, everything is better. Her father isn't glued to his computer and her mother has time for her. However, this short novel quickly turns dark when Coraline realises that her real parents have been kidnapped and it's up to her and her cat to track them down. This dark yet insightful fairy-tale undeniably proves that Gaiman has mastered the ability to craft a non-condescending and highly immersive fantasy book that also appeals to adults. Much like Rowling's Harry Potter, Gaiman's protagonist, Coraline, is an intelligent, inquisitive, slightly contrary child. This character depiction will appeal to children and adults alike, invoking feelings of parental inattention, boredom and, most importantly, an innate curiosity of what lies behind a locked door. Labelled by Gaiman as "refreshingly creepy," this novel has charmed thousands of readers with its unusual and positively terrifying Tim Burtonesque darkness and inimitable style of writing. Gaiman's work is always unique and Coraline stands apart as one of the author's most distinctive stories.

Booklists having this book

Best Young Adult Fantasy Books

Young adult fantasy targets readers between the ages 12 to 18 and typically feature a young adult as the main character of the story. Because of the protagonist's age, coming-of-age... Read more

Other books by Gaiman, Neil

American Gods

Neil Gaiman is an ever-popular writer who's branched into cinema, comics, and books. Quite a few people will argue that Neverwhere or Stardust is better than American Gods, but I... Read more

Good Omens

Fantasy has never been so clever or funny as it is in the brilliant Good Omens.Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimen form a super team and pen one of the funniest... Read more

American Gods (2003)

American Gods by Neil Gaiman won the 2003 Nebula Award for Best Novel. "American Gods" is a novel written by Neil Gaiman, first published in 2001. The story follows the character... Read more

Anansi Boys

 Read more

Good Omens

A sushi-loving angel, a gearhead demon and Death as a gamer nerd. Do we even need to be a plot?Why it's on this listSometimes fantasy (and its audience) takes itself... Read more

Neverwhere

Most (all?) of Gaiman’s works are urban fantasy. The crowd favorite is Neverwhere, which is an interesting take on the whole multiverse conceit found in science fiction. The premise is... Read more

Ocean At The End Of The Lane

A powerful story that deals with themes of childhood, innocence, and growing up. What's particularly powerful is Gaiman's ability to harness feelings that most of us, as children, have experienced... Read more

The Graveyard Book

Gaiman is one of the biggest names in modern fantasy, and for good reason. His ability to craft fairytale-like, lyrical stories is almost unparalleled. With The Graveyard Book, he goes... Read more

Coraline

This haunting children's novel follows a young, curious girl named Coraline, who discovers a hidden world inside a locked cupboard in her home. Inside this world, everything is better. Her... Read more

Stardust

 Read more

The Sandman

Neil Gaiman is Neil Gaiman. Picking which of his books should be on these lists is kind of like picking the best Queen song. They're (mostly) brilliant, so it comes... Read more

American Gods

In his novel, American Gods, Neil Gaiman ventures into the heart of contemporary America, juxtaposing the decline of America's 'Old Gods' with the rise of new 'deities' (e.g. technology, mass... Read more

Anansi Boys

 Read more

The Monarch Of The Glen

 Read more

Black Dog

 Read more

Neverwhere

Gaiman's work is perfect for anyone who's after stories with 'mundane' protagonists from the real world who are pulled into worlds of unsettling dark fantasy. His stories have worth not... Read more

Norse Mythology

“Remarkable.… Gaiman has provided an enchanting contemporary interpretation of the Viking ethos.”―Lisa L. Hannett, AtlanticNeil Gaiman, long inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction, presents... Read more

News