There's something about the way Neil Gaiman writes that appeals to me greatly. He doesn't WASTE words. No flowery, adjective laden descriptions or ridiculous cliches. And yet, I never feel cheated. He'll often move a character from one place or situation to the next, and if you're new to him or have been reading someone else you might think for a second "That was abrupt", but he does it well and it serves the story.

More importantly, Coraline is an engrossing tale. Firstly, while Coraline the character isn't particularly warm or cute, she's smart, inquisitive, polite... you feel bad for her in the boring life she's so unsatisfied with, and in the journey she takes from there. And she's brave, while still admitting her fears and insecurities. And all of this is done without wasting words and while maintaining a reading level that kids could follow.

The best part about Coraline is the fun, interesting, vivid story. Neil Gaiman creates an imaginary world here that still feels like it could exist. He doesn't explain away the differences between the book's world and ours with magic or science; his fantasy world exists in or world, and it doesn't feel like it couldn't or shouldn't. And what a world it is. "Other" parents in a house just like yours but better (and far worse) in the subtlest of ways. Keys, mists, a talking cat and ghosts... all done with a class and timelessness that others in the genre (that I'm familiar with anyway) have failed to pull off (but not to attempt).

It also seems like Coraline is just begging to be read aloud. Plenty of other books are this way too, but it's obvious that Gaiman knows how to write a story that kids and parents will enjoy cuddling up together with.