This was my first Neil Gaiman book, and I loved it! 
 Coraline is an ordinary kid. His dad cooks 'experiment' recipes that she hates much, her parents do not give much attention to her, her neighbors never pronounce her name right, and her boredom grows every single day. (view spoiler)[This new flat they transferred to has a magical door that leads to the 'next flat' that looks like exactly theirs, with her Other Mother and Other Father. Turns out, it is another world. The following events showed her Other Mother's strong likeness for Coraline to stay in her world. When Coraline knew the Other Mother's intentions, she wanted to stay out of her [Other Mother's] world but then the Other Mother used her powers to make Coraline visit her and be with her forever. (hide spoiler)] 
 This is generally a short read, made especially for children, that creeps out even its adult readers--in a good way. The plot was interesting and unique. I have never read something like it as a child. It presents the thoughts of a little girl in a way that younger readers her age would relate to her. I even learned things that I think will be useful both for the young ones and the young at heart. 
 Here are few: 
 1. You will not and should not always get what you want 
 (view spoiler)[Even as a child, Coraline already knows this. When she was being convinced by the Other Crazy Old Man (the imitation of Coraline's Crazy Old Man neighbor) to stay in the Other World with her Other Mother, she did not even think twice. She stood her ground even if she knows that going back to her world means being often neglected by her parents (hide spoiler)] 
 2. Do what you must do, even if you are afraid 
 (view spoiler)[Yes, Coraline is very much afraid during her exploring game with her Other Mother (if Coraline wins, Other Mother will return her parents' souls, and free the souls of the children she killed). She doesn't know what her other mother would do to her. Still, she launched into the search for the souls. She even looked for them into the other flat in spite of knowing that it was a trick--because she needs to do it. (hide spoiler)] 
 3. Be nice to others, even if they are not nice to you 
 (view spoiler)[Coraline hated the Cat's remarks on her at first. She hated the way it talked but then she chose to treat it nicely instead. Turns out, the Cat became Coraline's companion in facing the Other Mother. (hide spoiler)] 
 Will read again? Definitely!