Happy Friday, and welcome to the latest installment of our feature.
I finally got a library card (it only took me a little over a decade to do it since I moved here). As I perused the selections looking for an ebook or audiobook to borrow, Holly Black’s middle grade horror novel Doll Bones caught my attention. Twelve-year-olds Zach, Poppy, and Alice spend their free time playing with dolls and action figures, bringing to life complex and descriptive imaginary worlds full of pirates, ladies, high seas, mermaids, and dangerous adventures.
When Zach’s father decides that he’s too old to play with toys anymore and throws them away, Zach reluctantly tells Poppy and Alice that he doesn’t want to invent stories with them any longer. But before he can really separate himself from the girls, Poppy tells them that she’s being haunted by the ghost of a girl who died and whose bones were ground up and made into the china doll that is locked in a glass case at Poppy’s house. The bone china doll “Queen” wants them to reunite her ashes (which are inside the doll) with a grave in a neighboring state, and the three friends reluctantly go on one last real adventure. Strange things start happening along the way, and their friendship is tested in ways they didn’t think possible.
Doll Bones is a novel about friendship and growing up, and how you change and your relationships change when all of that happens. That important transitionary period between childhood and the teenaged years leaves the three friends questioning their friendship, especially just what their friendship is when feelings evolve in this new, uncertain time in their lives.
I give Doll Bones a four out of five. The levels of horror and creepiness were appropriate for the middle grade age level. More of an adventure novel than a supernatural/horror focused book, the creepy doll lends just enough uneasiness to the story to make you question what is real and what is imagined. This is an enjoyable read for adults and kids alike.
I listened to the audiobook provided by my local library
Get your own Audiobook at Audible: Doll Bones.
I liked Nick Podehl’s performance, and he did the different voices for the main characters really well. With great emotion and pacing, I definitely recommend this audiobook.
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is this a children’s book? it sounds so spooky!
ailynk recently posted..Veiled
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Doll Bones is a Middle Grade book. It’s not too spooky, so it’s kid appropriate.
Heather recently posted..Pre-Squee about The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
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I love the name of this section! Bewitched kids corner. I like that you used the words uneasy… that’s perfect for creepy dolls. =)
maggie recently posted..Review & Giveaway: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
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I’m glad that you like the name of our Kids’ feature! Thanks for reading 🙂
Heather recently posted..Pre-Squee about The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
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You know, the sad thing is that I haven’t really used my library card since I started blogging (well, since Netgalley and Edelweiss). I tried. I did. But I’d check books out, forget about them and then have to pay a fine. *sigh* But Doll Bones!! Sounds like creepy awesomeness. Dolls freak me out.
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..End of an Era: SHAMAN RISES by C.E. Murphy
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I’ve never checked out a physical book from the library so far, but I have checked out several audiobooks and e-books since I can just download those using Overdrive on my laptop or phone. Once the checkout period is over, they just disappear. So much easier than having to trudge back to the library.
Heather recently posted..Pre-Squee about The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
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I so look forward to reading this one! I have it sitting on my shelf infact. I am a huge lover all things doll so I’m suer I’m going to adore it especially since I’ve enjoyed everything else she’s written.
I like the sound of it being a good coverage of their transition into growing up and how things change for them when that happens. This’ll make for some good fan art
Tabitha (Not Yet Read) recently posted..Review & Giveaway: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
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I’m sure that you could make some really good fan art for Doll Bones, Tabitha!
Heather recently posted..Pre-Squee about The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
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I’ve already got one going!! It’s a painting 🙂
Tabitha (Not Yet Read) recently posted..Review: Hollow World by Michael J. Sullivan
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I’m glad you enjoyed it! I loved this book–it was a great example of how great middle grade can be!
Michelle recently posted..Taking a Step Into BookTubing: The First of Many Questions
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Doll Bones is a great example of how good Middle Grade books can be. I should read more books like these.
Heather recently posted..Pre-Squee about The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
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