Book Review | Doll Bones by Holly Black

Holy crap nothing scares me more than dolls.

Book Description

Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. But disaster strikes when, without warning, Zach’s father throws out all his toys, declaring he’s too old for them. Zach is furious, confused and embarrassed, deciding that the only way to cope is to stop playing . . . and stop being friends with Poppy and Alice. But one night the girls pay Zach a visit, and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll – who claims that it is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity . . .

Doll Bones was a very unexpected read for me. I've never read anything by Holly Black, but how could I pass up a creepy story about kids being haunted by a china doll?! It turns out Doll Bones was far more heartwarming and cuter than I expected.

The kids in Doll Bones are 12 years old and on the brink of leaving that phase of childhood where it's OK to use your imagination and play with dolls. They are growing up. Their lives are changing and their friendships are changing, but thanks to a doll created from the bones of a murdered girl, they get to go on one last quest together before leaving their childhoods behind them.

I loved reading this as an adult, but it is also a perfect middle grade read for kids who enjoy creepy tales.

8/10: Great Read

Discussion:
Are you a fan of Holly Black? I loved her writing in Doll Bones. Is there another Holly Black book you would recommend? I know she has written a few series of books.