At a glance
Coraline
Middle-grade horror
Coraline
176 pages · First published 2001
When Coraline Jones moves into an old house divided into apartments, she discovers a mysterious locked door that leads to a world eerily similar to her own. On the other side, everything initially seems better: the food is delicious, the neighbors are entertaining, and her other mother and other father shower her with attention. But their unsettling black-button eyes hint at something sinister, and the other mother soon reveals that she wants Coraline to stay forever. When Coraline's real parents disappear, she must return to the strange world and confront the terrifying creature who has trapped them, along with the souls of three other children. Armed with her intelligence, determination, and the help of a mysterious black cat, Coraline sets out to outwit an enemy who seems to control everything around her. Darkly imaginative and genuinely unsettling, this modern fairy tale explores courage, independence, and the difference between genuine love and possessive control.
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Jump to the pours ↓Dark Drinking Chocolate + Nevermore Nightcap
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Frightening supernatural imagery and psychological horror; threatening parental figures and emotional manipulation; black buttons sewn over eyes as a proposed transformation; child abduction and captivity; trapped spirits of dead children; parents disappearing and being held captive; disturbing creatures and body transformations; threats of permanent imprisonment; predatory behavior and sustained fear; mild fantasy violence and peril.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Dark Drinking Chocolate
Rich, dark drinking chocolate is the perfect companion for Coraline's unsettling adventure: sweet and comforting at first, with a darker edge that recalls the tempting treats and hidden dangers of the Other Mother's world.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Warm the milk gently in a saucepan. Whisk in the cocoa and salt, then add the chopped chocolate. Stir over low heat until melted and smooth; do not boil. Simmer gently, stirring, until slightly thickened. Taste before adding any sugar.
- Garnish: A light dusting of cocoa.
- Glassware: Small mug.
Cocktail Pour · 21+
Nevermore Nightcap
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
A dark, mysterious Nevermore Nightcap sets the mood for Coraline's journey through a secret door, where a seemingly perfect home conceals an increasingly terrifying world ruled by the Other Mother.
What you'll need
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/2 oz black cherry juice ↗
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.
How to mix it
- Stir bourbon, black cherry juice, and bitters with ice. Strain over one large ice cube.
- Garnish: Orange peel.
- Glassware: Rocks glass.
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