Review: Coraline

Title: Coraline

Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Children / Fantasy / Horror
Publication: 2002

Summary: Coraline's often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. And when she finds her "other" parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes. When they make it clear, however, that they want to make her theirs forever, Coraline begins a nightmarish game to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror. With only a bored-through stone and an aloof cat to help, Coraline confronts this harrowing task of escaping these monstrous creatures.

My Thoughts: Coraline is among my favorite books ever read. For one thing, it's the first book written by Neil Gaiman that I've read and is the one that started me into reading a lot more. Secondly, this story my kind of story.

If I could sum up the entire book with one word I'd use - creepy. This is the second time that I've read Coraline all the way through from the beginning to the end and it is still as amazing and as frightening as the first time I've experienced it. Perhaps even more frightening this time around now that I have a daughter of my own and couldn't imagine her going through what Coraline had to. But it was for that reason that it made reading this creepy story so exciting. It's because Coraline was just an ordinary girl, who was a bit small for her age. She's a charming, curious, intelligent and brave little girl who gets herself into a scary predicament and needs to gather up all her courage to defeat the odds set against her.

Not only is Coraline's character really great, the other characters in this story are just as interesting. I especially loved the cat and found a lot of his lines very memorable. The eccentric neighbors are also quite unique. And finally the other mother is just plain creepy. I've known people who seem like they could kill you with their niceness, and have wondered if perhaps they are secretly "an other mother". There is not a character in this novel I didn't like reading about.

The atmosphere was also something else that added to the creepiness. Neil Gaiman sure knows how to paint a picture with words that will linger in your memory long after you've read them. One of the more notable of these things, yet such a simple thing, are the black button eyes. Who knew that black buttons could be so creepy! Coraline is filled with nice little touches of creepiness like this one. I loved it!

In the end, Coraline is really a children's book, but it's so unique and scary that I have no doubt that even an adult would love it. Take myself for example. I believe parents with children would find this book a lot more frightening than even the children themselves. So if you're looking for a nice, short book to read about a girl who is cast into a frightening adventure, then look no further.

My Rating: 5/5

Recommend It For: Everyone.

Review: The Candy Shop War

Title: The Candy Shop War

Author: Brandon Mull
Genre: Children/YA Fantasy
Publication: 2007

Summary: Welcome to the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream and Candy Shoppe, where the confections are bit on the . . . unusual side. Rock candy that makes you weightless. Jawbreakers that make you unbreakable. Chocolate balls that make you a master of disguise. Four young friends—Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon—meet the grandmotherly Mrs. White, owner of the Sweet Tooth, and soon learn about the magical side effects of her candies. Then the ice cream truck driver, Mr. Stott, arrives with a few enchanted sweets of his own. The danger unfolds as the four youngsters discover that the magical strangers have all come to town in search of a legendary treasure—one that could be used for great evil if it fell into the wrong hands. The kids, now in over their heads, must try to retrieve the treasure first. And so, the war begins . . .

My Thoughts: The thing about Brandon Mull is that after I have read a book of his, I wish I could erase my memory of ever having read it just so that I can read it all over again for the first time. I have never read anything of Brandon Mull's and not absolutely loved it! And the same goes for The Candy Shop War.

I've read the Fablehaven series, read the first Beyonders and am excitedly awaiting the second book, but have always sort of put off reading The Candy Shop War because I personally don't ca...moreThe thing about Brandon Mull is that after I have read a book of his, I wish I could erase my memory of ever having read it just so that I can read it all over again for the first time. I have never read anything of Brandon Mull's and not absolutely loved it! And the same goes for The Candy Shop War.

I've read the Fablehaven series, read the first Beyonders and am excitedly awaiting the second book, but have always sort of put off reading The Candy Shop War because I personally don't care for candy. I've never been a person who's liked a lot of sweets of any kind, so I figured that this book wouldn't interest me because of the subject matter. Boy was I wrong! The magical candy in this story brought out my inner child and I relished in this tasty treat. I honestly believe that if Brandon Mull picked up a piece of trash off the street and decided to write a story about it he could make it a best seller. As with all of his other books, Mull brings his characters to life in such a great way and really knows how to weave together a great a story. He adds just the right hint of mystery, suspense, action, wonder, magic and always comes out with something amazing. I was really surprised by how much I loved The Candy Shop War but I should have expected as much.

The dialogue was witty, clever and really funny. Nate, Summer, Trevor and Pigeon were all believable characters and had their own spark, and all of the other supporting characters and villains were also enjoyable to read about. Some favorite characters of mine were John Dart and Pigeon. Nearly every character has something unique about them and it really adds to the life of the world. I LOVED John Dart's background and the fact that he couldn't bring harm to others without feeling the pain that they also felt. Considering all the characters of the book, the plot was so well thought out that a lot of the time all I could do was inwardly squeal with joy because of all the shocking, surprising and wondrous moments this story dished out. I never felt once during this book a moment of boredom or that some things were thrown in there for the sake of filler.

The Candy Shop War is a triumph in the genre of Children/YA fantasy and even though it's directed more toward a younger audience, I believe adults can enjoy it as well. The book may be about kids and candy but it's also much more than that - it's a fast paced, page turning tale of magic and adventure that leaves off with a sweet aftertaste.

My Rating: 5/5

Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society

Title: The Mysterious Benedict Society
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Genre: Children / Mystery / Science Fiction
Publication: 2007

Summary: Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children-two boys and two girls-succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help. (Summary taken from Barnesandnoble.com)

My Thoughts: I like puzzles. I like things that challenges my mind and make me work to figure out the solution. I'm not saying I'm any good at it though. The thing I liked most about this book is that its full of puzzles that the children in it must solve.

The first part of the book is the best in my opinion. I really liked reading about how each of the children solved the puzzles in their own way. I even admit that I hadn't even clued in with of them myself! This is probably the strong point of the book I would say.

Other than that to tell the truth I'm actually having a hard time writing a review for this book because even though it was a good book, and it has to be considering its a New York Times Best Seller, I only just liked it. I liked it fine and the story was good but it is certainly geared towards children more I would say. The story is clever with puzzles but the main plot was more or less predictable which made the twists not so shocking. But I don't think that was the focus of this book because aside from that the characters were really great and I loved how they all interacted together and how each of them were very unique. It was funny at times and definitely charming. The writing was really good too and easy to read so in the end it was a good book.

Ultimately I never felt that certain "I just NEED to know what happens next!" itch but I did like it. I would recommend this book to children and young adults because it's a very charming book that's full of adventure and great characters. I'm sure even some adults would find a few of the puzzles in here a little challenging. I will someday read the next ones but they aren't on my immediate to-read list.

My Rating: 3.5/5