Coraline

Illustrated by Dave McKean.

The day after they moved in, Coraline went exploring...

In Coraline's family's new flat are twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close.

The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another flat in another house just like her own.

Only it's different.

At first, things seem marvelous in the other flat. The food is better. The toy box is filled with wind-up angels that flutter around the bedroom, books whose pictures writhe and crawl and shimmer, little dinosaur skulls that chatter their teeth. But there's another mother, and another father, and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.

Other children are trapped there as well, lost souls behind the mirrors. Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits and all the tools she can find if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself.

Critically acclaimed and award-winning author Neil Gaiman will delight readers with his first novel for all ages.

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Horror Childrens Locus Award Bram Stoker Award Hugo Award BSFA Award

Release date: 2002

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Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is a storyteller whose work effortlessly bridges the realms of mythology, fantasy, and reality. Known for his uniquely poetic prose and his ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, Gaiman’s books have captivated readers of all ages. With a career spanning novels, short stories, graphic novels, and even television, his writing is celebrated for its dark yet whimsical tone, its profound insight into human nature, and its masterful weaving of mythological and fantastical elements.

Born in Portchester, England, in 1960, Gaiman grew up with a voracious appetite for books, with a particular fondness for fantasy, horror, and the classics. His early exposure to mythology, fairy tales, and comic books would later influence much of his writing, where ancient gods, creatures of lore, and the magic of storytelling find their way into modern-day worlds. His professional journey began in journalism before he transitioned into writing fiction.

His breakthrough came with Neverwhere, a novel that transports readers to a hidden, darkly enchanting underworld beneath London. From there, he continued to craft stories that blended the surreal with the everyday, from the haunting beauty of American Gods to the thought-provoking Good Omens (co-written with Terry Pratchett). His work explores the intersections of myth, identity, and the thin lines between the seen and unseen, always with a deft touch of wit and wisdom.

What makes Gaiman’s writing stand out is his ability to create worlds that feel both timeless and startlingly immediate. His characters—whether gods, ghosts, or ordinary people—are deeply human in their struggles, desires, and fears. The atmosphere in his books lingers long after the final page, a testament to his rare gift of writing stories that are both sweeping and intimate, fantastical and grounded. Whether it’s the young boy facing impossible odds in The Graveyard Book or the complex tapestry of deities in American Gods, Gaiman’s worlds feel like places readers can almost touch, places where myth and reality blend seamlessly.

Gaiman’s influence stretches far beyond the pages of his books. His work has been adapted into graphic novels, films, and TV shows, with American Gods and Good Omens among the most notable. His distinct voice has earned him numerous awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker Awards, and his contribution to literature and pop culture continues to resonate with fans worldwide.

One of Gaiman's most cherished quotes captures the essence of his approach to storytelling: “I believe that it is important to tell stories, especially in difficult times.” This belief runs through every page of his writing, where the act of storytelling itself is both an escape and a revelation, offering readers not only new worlds but new ways of seeing their own.

From the whimsical to the profound, Neil Gaiman’s writing invites readers into imaginative spaces where the rules of reality bend and twist, and where the unexpected always lurks just around the corner. His stories continue to inspire generations, confirming his place as one of today’s most influential and beloved authors.