  | Broken dolls Author: Malinenko, Ally | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Ever since Kaye's grandfather died, she's been obsessed with counting things, including the steps to her bedroom and the dolls on her little sister's bed, . It's arithmomania, and with the selective mutism that sometimes prevents her from speaking, she literally can't find the words to talk about how she feels now that Grampa is gone. When they take the summer to clean out and renovate his old house, her younger sister finds dolls stashed everywhere. And the dolls aren't normal.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.30 Points: 8.0 Quiz: 556142 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (08/15/25)
School Library Journal (08/29/25)
Booklist (+) (12/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 08/29/2025 Gr 4–7—Malinenko is back with another spooky middle grade tale. Kaye, a young girl trying to cope with the grief of losing her beloved grandfather, finds herself spending the summer in the country with her mom, little sister Holly, and their uncle while renovating a house. Part of that grief includes developing arithmomania, an obsession with counting things. During a trip to the local fair, Kaye and Holly meet a strange toymaker and win a doll that looks just like Holly, and thus the spookiness begins. Readers will find themselves checking under their beds, while also rooting for the likable Kaye and her quest to save her sister. The depiction of Kaye's grief and anxiety is a realistic portrait of someone struggling to find themselves in the midst of a loss. Main characters are cued white. VERDICT A heartfelt story of a young girl trying to navigate her mental health struggles that is also a fast-paced, creepy tale just in time for spooky season; perfect for fans of Katherine Arden's Small Spaces and Lindsay Currie's books.—Shelby Newhouse - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 09/01/2025 *Starred Review* Kaye is struggling with the death of her beloved grandfather, her grief manifesting in unexpected ways: compulsive counting and selective mutism. These habits help soothe her anxious mind but make it difficult to express her growing melancholy to a family that already seems to have moved on. It’s a lot for any young person to handle, and it threatens to make this summer—spent helping renovate Grampa’s old house—emotionally overwhelming. And then the dolls arrive. The first one is creepy enough—a porcelain poppet that looks eerily like her younger sister, Holly—but before long, the house is overrun with grotesque, frightening figures. Most disturbingly, the dolls seem alive; Kaye sees them moving around at night and hears them whispering in the dark. Soon, it becomes clear that these twisted toys have sinister schemes in mind for Holly—and that Kaye must reckon with her sorrow in order to save her sister’s life. This thoughtful, profoundly compassionate exploration of anxiety and grief also serves up some serious scares. Malinenko (This Appearing House, 2022) portrays Kaye’s emotional journey in a way that feels real, relatable, and resonant, without ever sacrificing the story’s suspense. A perfect pick for fans of Katherine Arden’s Small Spaces (2018) and Lindsay Currie’s What Lives in the Woods (2021). - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
