Coraline

Title: Coraline

Author: Neil Gaiman

Illustrations: Dave McKean

Target Audience: 8-12

Genre: Fantasy, Horror

Coraline is a creepy fantasy about a bored little girl who finds an opening in a brick wall through a locked door of her brand new house. When she goes through the wall, she finds her mother and father referenced as her "other mother" and "other father." Things at first seem better in this world, she gets everything she wants, gets more attention from her mother, until when Coraline wants to leave and her other parents try to keep her there starting with sewing buttons in her eyes. She also must rescue her real parents and free the souls of other children taken by the "others" in this alternate reality.

About the Author Neil Gaiman:

Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book. He has won numerous awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker awards, as well as the Newbery and Carnegie medals. 

About the Illustrator Dave McKean:

David McKean is an English illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician. His work incorporates drawing, painting, photography, collage, found objects, digital art and sculpture.

             

Discussion Questions:

1. What type of character is Coraline? Name her character traits.
2. How was Coraline treated by her parents?
3. How was Coraline treated by her "other" parents?
4. Have you ever done something you know you were not supposed to do? How did you feel?
5. What special powers does Miss Spink and Miss Forcible's stone have?
6. What is the purpose of the cat in the story?
7. Why is the challenge Coraline makes with the "other mother" risky?
8. What does Coraline learn from her experience in the other world?

Motivational Activity

• Students create a journal entry for each chapter as if they were Coraline. Focus should be on character development and emotions felt throughout the book.
• Based on the illustrations in the text, students create their own text from the point of view of Coraline.
• In small groups, students create a reader's theater of a chapter in Coraline and present it to the class.
• Create a persuasive essay on how to get the "other" mother to let you go back to your world.

If you liked Coraline try these:

Clockwork: or All Wound Up by Philip Pullman

Curses, Inc by Vivian Vande Velde

Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright

The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley

Skellig by David Almond

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Other books by Neil Gaiman:

Stardust

The Graveyard Book

The Wolves in the Walls

Gaiman, Neil. (2002). Coraline. New York, NY: HarperCollins.