  | 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.
Reviews:
School Library Journal (08/29/25)
Booklist (+) (00/09/25)
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.
