The narrative hews closely to a child’s-eye perspective: Coraline never really tries to understand what has happened or to fathom the nature of the other mother she simply focuses on getting her parents back and thwarting the other mother for good. “ No, I am brave.” When Coraline realizes that her other mother has not only stolen her real parents but has also stolen the souls of other children before her, she resolves to free her parents and to find the lost souls by matching her wits against the not-mother. This is Gaiman’s ( American Gods, 2001, etc.) first novel for children, and the author of the Sandman graphic novels here shows a sure sense of a child’s fears-and the child’s ability to overcome those fears. A drawing-room door that opens onto a brick wall becomes a natural magnet for the curious little girl, and she is only half-surprised when, one day, the door opens onto a hallway and Coraline finds herself in a skewed mirror of her own flat, complete with skewed, button-eyed versions of her own parents. 8-12)Ī magnificently creepy fantasy pits a bright, bored little girl against a soul-eating horror that inhabits the reality right next door.Ĭoraline’s parents are loving, but really too busy to play with her, so she amuses herself by exploring her family’s new flat. Fans of Ella Enchanted (1997) will find Aza a kind-hearted, spirited heroine who uses her wit and voice to rescue the kingdom and who learns the hard way that beauty isn’t everything. With Ayortha verging on rebellion, Aza realizes Ivi’s magical mirror will transform her into the fairest of all, but at a terrible price. Aza quickly becomes embroiled in castle intrigue when the king is injured and his scheming bride, Ivi, blackmails Aza into “illusing” her voice to make it seem that Ivi can sing. Fate takes Aza to Ontio Castle, where her voice charms everyone including Prince Ijori. Aza’s voice is the “finest,” but her “htun” hair and large physique mark her as ugly.

In Ayortha beauty and singing are prized above everything. Abandoned at the Featherbed Inn in the kingdom of Ayortha, Aza was raised lovingly by the innkeeper and his wife.

A musical maid with a love for gnomes discovers there’s more to life than being pretty.

Fairest gail carson levine summary