Coraline is one of two Neil Gaiman books I read last week (the other was Stardust). Both have won awards and praise. Coraline is a children's book, Stardust is definitely not.

Coraline is about a young girl that has moved into an apartment with her parents. The apartment is one of 4 in a large old house, 2 others are occupied by wild characters, and one is vacant.

Coraline's parents are always busy, working in their apartment, and don't have time to spend with Coraline, who likes to go exploring the grounds and the house.

In one of her expeditions, she finds her way into another apartment, where her other father and other mother dote on her, and her other neighbors are even wierder than before.

But her other parents want her to stay forever with them, and Coraline, aided only by a cat, must go through terrifying trials to escape. The cat is singular, there is no other cat, since cats know very well who they are.

The book is really wonderfull, full of beautiful prose by Gaiman, and wierd and frightening situations. The language is simple, and the book reads quickly.