The Doll Graveyard

May 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-As Shelby's life begins to morph into a new normal after her parents' divorce, things get complicated by the dolls in residence at her new house. Formerly owned by her great-aunt, the house has been in her family for years and contains ancient items, among them a collection of dolls seeking revenge for the poor treatment they suffered at the hands of their previous owner. Shelby is haunted by the creepy sounds, and the fact that the dolls won't stay buried in their graveyard. As she learns about former residents, Shelby begins to work through the anger she's harbored since her parents' separation. When the haunting high jinks escalate, it's up to Shelby to make peace with the past both for the sake of the dolls and for herself. The scare factor for this book is fairly tame for the intended audience. The treatment of life for a family post-divorce is realistic and strong. The main character navigates a difficult issue for preteen girls: that of finding her place in the social hierarchy at a new school. The management of Shelby's issues reads a bit stronger overall than the horror sequences, making this a book that could be recommended for more than just those looking for a thrill, especially because the scary elements aren't too graphic.-Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2014
Grades 3-7 Shelby Tats is dealing with her parents' divorce in her own angry, snarky way, and she's ready for a distraction when she's given a mystery to solve by her dying great-aunt, Amelia. The details of the mystery aren't obvious right away, but as Shelby and her mother and brother move into an eerie old house called Cinder Creek, she begins to suspect there's a lot more to it than she originally thought. She finds a spooky dollhouse and many creepy dolls to go with it, and after some investigation, she discovers that the dolls belonged to a previous resident, an angry girl named Sadie. Now, Shelby thinks she hears the dolls talking to her and about her, and no one believes her. Will it get worse before it gets better? Is she actually crazy? The story races along at a snappy pace, winding mystery in with adventure, realistic characters, and unsettling horror. Perfect for fans of classic spooky stories, this is scary enough for older kids and tame enough for younger readers, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)