Coraline, By: Neil Gaiman (2009)

Coraline,  by Neil Gaiman,
Adapted and Illustrated by Craig Russell.

Text copyright: 2002 
Graphic Novel copyright: 2008

Written for grades three and up.

I read this graphic novel and then I watched the movie. I enjoyed the graphic novel more than the movie. I actually became annoyed when things in the movie did not follow the book close enough because I didn’t think the book really needed to be changed. I did like that the movie had a friend for Coraline and that the characters seemed more magical in the movie, but other than that I felt the book was superior.

I like how Coraline came to appreciate her real parents and her not-too-exciting life throughout the book. The new world that the other mother had created could have been a perfect place. The food was better, the toys were better, her other parents paid more attention to her; but all this didn’t matter to Coraline after awhile, because she knew this was not real. Behind the façade, there was nothing good about the new home with her other parents. Everything was fake, and everything was forced to be a little more perfect.

I think that kids that read this can appreciate what they have a little more. In life everyone is always trying to one up one another, everyone always thinks that the grass is greener on the other side. Coraline learns that while you could wish that everything was bigger and better, and just to your liking, but that is just not real life. Home is where your heart is, Coraline could never of really felt at home at the new house with the other parents because her heart would always be with her real parents, in her real home.                

Coraline Awards:

• Publishers Weekly Best Book (WINNER)
• Book Sense 76 Pick (WINNER)
• Child Magazine Best Book of the Year (WINNER)
• New York Public Library's "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing" (WINNER)
• Amazon.com Editors’ Choice (WINNER)
• ALA Notable Children’s Book (WINNER)
• ALA Best Book for Young Adults (WINNER)
• New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age (WINNER)
• IRA/CBC Children's Choice (WINNER)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award Masterlist (Vermont) (WINNER)
• Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers (WINNER)
• Hugo Award for Best Novella (WINNER)
• School Library Journal Best Book (WINNER)

Neil Gaiman was born in England in 1960. He started writing in 1987. He is most famous for his Sandman graphic novel series that he wrote between 1991-1996.

< http://www.answers.com/topic/neil-gaiman>

Craig Russell was born in 1951 in Ohio. He got into comic books in 1971. He did Coraline in 2008.

< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._Craig_Russell>


Genre: Graphic Novel, Character Education
Theme: Appreciating what you have in life.
Grade Level: 3rd and up
Pre-Reading Activity: Students should discuss something they like about their lives. Then they should discuss something they would like to change. This should be done in a small group setting, so that students don't feel embarrassed are are more willing to share.
Post Reading Activity: Students should work with a partner to create their own graphic novel. They Should come up with a short script and use illustrations to tell the story.