Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion

How were your first and final impressions of Coraline different (or similar)?

I think that my first impression of her was a girl who needed attention or to constantly be doing something. I think that my final impression of her would be that she learned some lessons and also learned to be more self-sufficant. That she can do things on her own and doesn't constantly need the attention of her parents. She even tried some of her dad's pizza which she would've never done before so it also seems like she is going to make more of an effort to get to know her parents.

I'd forgotten about the pizza and how she hated her dad's "recipes" even though she never tried them. I think the fact that her dad was even making recipes is a sign that she wasn't neglected.

I think what I liked best about Coraline is that she's a completely ordinary little girl.

It reminded me of Alice In Wonderland. Books like that are really creepy, and shows how weird children are sometimes O_o.
But I don't know, I was expecting it to be way more frightening, because everyone else was saying how creepy it is. But it wasn't that scary.
I didn't like that rats and dogs though...somehow the animals were the creepiest to me. >< The cat was...somewhat like the Cheshire cat, no? I was just imagining this weird grin on its face when it first started talking to her. And then I thought it looked like Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch. xD Hahaha.
Also how old is Coraline? She seems very grown-up and matter of fact, as if not much really surprises her all that much, especially when he parents first disappeared, I would've been way more upset than she was...she's a LOT like Alice actually. O_O

I don't think it was scary... I did think it was creepy though. As a teen I read Fear Street and they were way more scary than this book. And maybe I thought it was creepy just because most of the YA I've read lately have been just happy books. I just thought the book had a spooky atmosphere to it.

I thought she might be about 11 or 12 because she reminds me so much of my niece who is 12. To me Coraline's transition from not liking her dad's "recipes" to being willing to try them represented that transition between childhood and adulthood. As our epicurial (sp?) tastes mature, so do we -or is it visa vera? Either way, it is a period of disequilibrium in our lives and that is scary, possible even creepy.

I'm late to finish Coraline, and when I checked out the August title, it didn't look like much fun. BUT I've already read the Neil Gaiman September title. My review is on my page, but I'll wait to post until the discussions start.

Anyway, Coraline was better than I expected. I wished for more (creepy) illustrations. I liked Coraline's pluckiness. I liked the sassy cat, the marbles and the rock with the hole in it.

I would recommend this to male and female, ages 5-10.

Steph, Really? 5?! 8-12 for me. 8 & up for sure. But I was an easily frightened child. But also, I pictured Coraline as 10-12 years old so that's another reason why I think kids 8 & up would be more interested.

Steph I don't really know about the August title either but it must be a popular YA book because when I put it on hold at the library there are several people in front of me. So I think it must be decent.

PS the sassy cat is the best!

I think PandaRanda is right on when making the comparison to Alice in Wonderland--I think that was Neil Gaiman's exact intent.

I liked Coraline in the beginning of the novel because she was stubborn and headstrong, but I really liked her at the end because after surviving the adventure with her, I felt like she was a well rounded character.

I think this book is interesting because it could appeal to younger readers--just scary enough. But, it also works with struggling teen readers because there is enough creepiness to keep their interest even though the protagonist is much younger than them.

Steph,
City of Bones is really popular right now. I am reading it for this book club and for my state's YA book award committee. Give it a try.

Plug for City of Bones - I recently started reading it. I didn't think I would like it, but I'm enjoying it so far - and is very popular. There was a waitlist for it at my library.

Lisa,

I'll be trying Coraline out on my 5 year old niece later this month. We'll see. I could be way off.

I remember being read James and the Giant Peach and Alice in Wonderland around age 4 or 5 and thinking them very scary. I felt tense and worried as I listened, but also very engaged and eager for more. Beyond that, I can't think of any frightening stories from my childhood. When my mom read me to me, it was mostly poetry or the Little House on the Prairie series. When I starting reading on my own, my first "scary" titles were Nancy Drew, the Wizard of Oz and Narnia series.

I let you know my niece's verdict. Her little brother, age 4 may end up listening in as well.

Danielle and J-Lynn,

I have been persuaded: I'm not going to skip City of Bones. I'll get it ordered today. Thanks for the advice.

Steph, Let us know how it goes with the five year old. Kids can't truly understand death 'til about age 8 so some fairy tales with death & such aren't quite as scary 'cause they don't understand the finality. But those button eyes would have given me nightmares. But I know a lot of even very young kids like horror type books and this end ok so maybe. I'm curious so would appreciate an update in this thread or somewhere in the group posts. Thanks.

i always meant to read this book for a long time, but whenever i read the summary on the back i would be like, 'well, it doesn't look too interesting...' but i finally sat down and read it, and it was waaaay better (and scarier) than i expected it to be! it's one of my favorite books now.

Glad you enjoyed it! Now you will have to check out the graphic novel, it is really a good read as well.

yeah i saw the graphic novel at the library, and i wanted to read it so badly!! but i was working at the time so i didn't have time to check it out. darn. i'll look for it again though. XD

Helo!

I finally got this book from Amazon and finished it at one shot. I just kept being in awe of Coraline cos I know I was never as brave as her, when I was scared I just didnt go on, not like her! The illustration of the white hand scuttling around scared me the most. I can't believe she did what she did in the end!

Besides Coraline, I liked her other father and the cat :)

I felt Coraline was at peace at the end. But I felt like because she is the person she is, she will always have special encounters as she grows up..

I think Coraline's boredome and restlessness are what make the story work. A lesson to appreciate what you have. I did wish her parents had remembered their imprisonment simply so they would appreciate her and stop neglecting her.

And the cat was a great addition