Book Riot Read Harder Challenge #3: Read a middle grade horror novel.

As someone who adores everything that goes bump in the night and has since childhood, I am honestly surprised that I had never read this book before. But oh did this book quench my need for spookiness, at least for now.

Coraline is one of those stories that freaks you out no matter how old you are. It has combinations of the most common fears: spiders, rats, the dark, old people, etc. It also manages to tap into that uncanny valley feeling. Everything is just slightly off from the real world. Her parents are more attentive, the old neighbors remember her name, even the food is more to Coraline’s liking.

Because there are so many elements that can be scary, you are bound to find at least one part of this book gets to you. For me, it was the moment where Coraline tries to walk away from the creepfest happening around her, only for the world to take her right back to the house. Something about not being able to trust anything around you gives me the heebie-jeebies.

In addition to the horror aspects of this story, there is a heartwarming center. In the beginning, Coraline’s family irritates her. She feels alone. But after her adventures, she is happy to be back with her weird family again. After all, there’s no place like home.