Coraline

And then, in the way of dreams, the picnic had ended and they were playing in the meadow, running and shouting and tossing a glittering ball from one to another. Coraline knew it was a dream then, because none of them ever got tired or winded or out of breath.

I think it may have saved my life, and saved some other people’s deaths.’

but then, back then, in with all the cuts and scrapes (her knees had had scabs on top of scabs) she had a feeling of achievement. She was learning something, doing something she had not known how to do before.

She might want something to eat as well. It’s hard to tell with creatures like that.’

‘Small world,’ said Coraline. ‘It’s big enough for her,’ said the cat. ‘Spiders’ webs only have to be large enough to catch flies.’

She stopped talking. ‘There’s a but, isn’t there?’ said Coraline. ‘I can feel it. Like a rain cloud.’

The other mother could not create. She could only transform, and twist, and change.

the stone with the hole in it.

Coraline knew that when grown-ups told you something wouldn’t hurt it almost always did. She shook her head.