Author: Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean
Illustrated: Dave McKean
Copyright Date: 2003
Suggested age: 9 to 12
Genre: Fantasy
Summary: This book is a book that will spook you silly with its deep story of a odd person in a different world, (through a secret door) who tries to steal children and sew buttons into their eyes and take them in forever to love and live off of. The other world is the exact same, save for a few things. But she also finds a duplication of her parents in the other world, who wanted for her to live in the other world. But reality was way different there were also other children souls trapped and lost there as well. Coraline had to fight with the evil parents and save the lost children as well as herself and her real parents.
Reaction: This is an excellent book for younger but mature readers (4th through 7th grade), but it could be somewhat scary for anyone younger. It's fast paced, very Tim-Burtonish, a really quick read. I couldn't put it down! I could only say that Gaiman consistently produces sophisticated works that blend fantasy and reality into absorbing stories. The movie is also excellent, but do read the book first.
Uses: I would ask children to write a book report: Main characters, settings, introduction (How does the book begins), Point-of-View-From whose point of view is this story told from? Explain why you think this point of view is best for this story. List the two main characters and briefly, How did the main characters solve the problem? Reaction and conclusion.
Sounds very interesting. I am going to try to read the book before i watch the movie!
ReplyDeleteI could not wait and had to see the movie! It was awesome for those who love a creepy animated film but I am going to read this soon to compare. Using the book and the film together may offer activities such as having the students/child draw their own interpretation of the story and then compare to what they see in the film.
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