Holly Black

Eliza Wheeler

Zach, Alice, and Poppy, friends from a Pennsylvania middle school who have long enjoyed acting out imaginary adventures with dolls and action figures, embark on a real-life quest to Ohio to bury a doll made from the ashes of a dead girl.

Doll Bones

Maybe the high side of 2 but this was really just ok at best. I'm not gonna say it was bad and I wish I hadn't read it. I enjoyed the story around The Queen. And the dedication the children had to their story, and their fear of growing out of it. Very relatable, actually. But it was just ok overall and the grievances I have definitely knock down a star.

Those are the descriptions of Zach and Alice. Zach's is just a nuisance, the way a 12 year old is described almost as tall as his dad and with hands big enough to make cstching a basketball easy. Never seen a 12 year old that big. But Alice's description is just problematic. She is the only black girl of the group and described as having developed curves at 10 years old that make her look older than she is. I shouldnt have to explain what's wrong with that.

Ari Rose

Maybe the high side of 2 but this was really just ok at best. I'm not gonna say it was bad and I wish I hadn't read it. I enjoyed the story around The Queen. And the dedication the children had to their story, and their fear of growing out of it. Very relatable, actually. But it was just ok overall and the grievances I have definitely knock down a star.

Those are the descriptions of Zach and Alice. Zach's is just a nuisance, the way a 12 year old is described almost as tall as his dad and with hands big enough to make cstching a basketball easy. Never seen a 12 year old that big. But Alice's description is just problematic. She is the only black girl of the group and described as having developed curves at 10 years old that make her look older than she is. I shouldnt have to explain what's wrong with that.

Caroline Lewicki

A really creepy story but really fun. If you know kids who are fans of Goosebumps or Mary Downing Hahn, this would be a great recommendation for them!

Emily Ruth Carter

Fantastic middle reader book. Full of creepiness and adventure focusing on a friendship of our three heroes, kids at the start of growing up.

Renee K Hopper

This story focuses more on coming of age than a spooky ghost story. I feel the book aptly describes the changes preteens go through with friends and feelings towards those friends, but the spooky factor is almost non existent. Yes the doll is creepy but is it really communicating with the kids or is it just their fears that are coming through their dreams...?
I also felt the story was a little non-believable. What parent or grandparent hasn't went to the police when they find their children are missing? Or, what parent tells you to finish your "quest" and basically gives you permission to escape from the people who are helping you get home?
I listened to this book on audio and thought the reader did a fantastic job and that is why I kept listening instead of putting down the book.

Amy Grieve

Such an interesting way to kick off the new year. Creepy yet cute.

Cindy Lee

Reviewed at The Book Belles.

Doll Bones is the first Holly Black story I’ve ever read and I thought it was pretty okay. Doll Bones is a middle grade ghost story. While it isn’t something that would give you nightmares, it’s a children’s tale with some creepy and fun elements.

The thing that made Doll Bones so enjoyable was the quest. The three friends (Zach, Alice, and Poppy) were determined to go on a quest to East Liverpool, Ohio, to give the ghost of Eleanor Kerchner some peace and let her rest in her grave. The relationship between the three friends were tested as they all have secrets from one another. The adventure was fun and creepy, told in a third person’s perspective. The secrets were revealed along the way but I’m glad they held onto their friendship and worked past their problems with one another. 

Even though it’s told in a third person’s perspective, I still connected easily with Zach. He was still a kid and it was easy to see how much he valued his friendship with Alice and Poppy. I don’t get why he would keep his secret from Poppy and Alice. I don’t think they would be mad at him because it wasn’t his fault in the first place. As for Alice’s secret, it was really easy to figure out. Why Zach didn’t figure it out though, I think it was because he’s a guy. Guys don’t think that much about that kind of stuff.


There were some other problems I ran into. In the beginning, I couldn’t tell Alice and Poppy apart. They sounded the same even with their different backgrounds. It was only when they went on the quest that I finally figured out who was who. In fact, nothing made the three main characters distinguishable. Zach was just easier to identify because he was the only guy and he was the narrator. 


Doll Bones is definitely a fun and chilling Middle Grade ghost story. It isn’t anything that’s super scary but still enough to pull you into the quest with Zach, Alice and Poppy. I would recommend this to anyone who are getting tired of YA and wants a good story about friendship and a ghost quest.

Anastaciya

Total creepiness for middle graders. I wish I'd read this book when I was younger :)

Hannah

this was a great middle grade book! it was a fun, light, creepy, adventure-filled story that I'm sure almost anyone can love.

everlinet

3,5*
Sweet little slightly spooky read. Been on my tbr since 2015, so I am glad I finally picked it up and finished. It was really lovely, it´s Holly Black after all! And I love children´s books so much.
It was atmospheric, beautifully written, and the characters were sweet. The plot was really nicely done, too. Not too spooky, but had some interesting and really cool background. I enjoyed this little adventure very much.
I basically recommend reading anything written by Holly Black. She is a magician and knows her way with words & imagination.

Kimi 

The story follows a trio of best friends Zach, Poppy and Alice who love to play with action figure toys and imagine a magical world of adventure. It all comes to a halt then Zach's dad throws out his figures and he is unable to continue on with their story. Zach unable to communicate how everything transpired to his best friends decides to stop playing bringing their story to an abrupt stop. 
Then a mystery unravels when Poppy swears a china doll the trio named as "The Queen" in their adventure stories is haunted by a murdered girl who's bones were grind up for the making of the doll. They have to bring the doll back to its origin and bury it otherwise they will be haunted forever. 

This story was super creepy for middle grade and I love it! If I was a kid reading this I would be worst off but I think it's a great creative story for middle grade who loves paranormal, mystery, and horror. Holly Black does an imaginative weaving this story with three best friends and a china doll. The writing was easy, plot was well thought out and flows, and very intriguing.

Giulia 

Recensione su Giulia's World

Come romanzo è carino, scorrevole e un pò pauroso... ovviamente paura a misura di bambino essendo un middle grade ;).
Mi è piaciuta molto l'amicizia tra i protagonisti e come, attraverso questo viaggio che intraprendono, venga cementata ancora di più. L'unica cosa che non ho apprezzato è stata la relativa fretta con cui si è concluso il romanzo. Potevano esserci molte scene cupe e paurose nel finale, invece il tutto si è risolto molto velocemente. Fin troppo per i miei gusti.

Doll Bones

Reviews