This horrific little gem is recommended for children ages eight and up, but it's guaranteed to petrify children of all ages. In fact, we'd recommend that you pass on this one until you're of legal drinking age, and if you scare easily, you should stay away entirely. So, just in case you didn't pick up on this yet-this book is SCARY!

Gaiman has written a horribly twisted tale in which a small girl, Coraline, discovers another world behind the blocked doors of her family's sublet, inhabited by Coraline's "other" mother and father, a strangely familiar couple with black, blank, button eyes. Just looking at on or two of Dave McKean's illustrations should be enough to freak you out for at least a week. Shudder, shudder. All ghastly nightmarish creatures included, this has got to be one of the most creative and unnerving books ever penned in the name of children's literature. Pick it up and read yourself terrified today!