2006
WISE Score
Amazon
A haunting, brilliant box of dark chocolates for the brain—just don’t let the little ones grab a handful without checking the wrapper first.
4.4
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Fragile Things is a heavy hitter for anyone who loves the 'weird' side of literature. It’s not a book you give to a 10-year-old just because they liked the Coraline movie; this is the 'grown-up' Gaiman.
It’s imaginative, dark, and occasionally very sexy or very scary. If you have a high-schooler who is bored with standard school reading lists, this will wake their brain up. Just be aware that it’s an anthology, so the 'safety' level fluctuates wildly from one story to the next.
Best for ages 14 and up. While Gaiman is famous for 'Coraline,' this collection is written for adults and older teens who can handle mature themes and some 'blink-and-you'll-miss-it' explicit moments.
Gaiman doesn't do 'sunny.' These stories are emotionally heavy and often deal with loss, fear, and the darker corners of the human psyche. While deeply empathetic, the tone is gothic and unsettling rather than traditionally 'wholesome.'
This is a masterclass in 'what if.' From a Sherlock Holmes/Lovecraft crossover to stories about the circus and the Matrix, the level of creative world-building in just a few pages is staggering.
It's a mixed bag. While many stories are fine for teens, a few contain explicit sexual content and graphic horror elements. It is definitely not a 'surprise' read for a middle-schooler without a heads-up.
The prose is top-tier. It encourages lateral thinking, explores complex ethical dilemmas, and introduces readers to high-level literary allusions and genre-bending structures.
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