Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Ill. by Chris Riddell. Bloomsbury, 2012, 208 pgs., p/b. ISBN 9781408832400.
Recommended for readers 10+. This book is a special 10th Anniversary edition of Neil Gaiman's modern classic with an introduction by the author and spine-chilling illustrations by Chris Riddell, adding to the spookiness of the story. The lure of a locked door is too much for Coraline, the bored young girl at the centre of this spooky tale. Coraline and her parents have just moved into a new flat in the South of England and there is something strange about Coraline's new home. After moving in, Coraline discovers an old door and asks her mother where the door leads to. Her mother unlocks the door to show her it goes nowhere, opening up to a brick wall. One day when her mother pops out to the shops and Coraline is bored and alone, she opens the door to find the brick wall gone so she enters. She finds herself in what appears to be her own home, same carpet, same wallpaper and looking at two people who look like her mother and father, except their skin is white as paper and they have black-button eyes. These two people who look like her parents want Coraline to stay forever.
I really enjoyed the main character, Coraline, because she is curious, intelligent and brave and uses her smarts to save herself and others.
This is a well written short and easy to read story. It is full of adventure, twists and surprises. I would recommend this book to 10+ as there are some scary parts.
'Sometimes a door is closed for a very good reason'.
Michelle Thomson