FICTION

Broken Dolls

by Ally Malinenko
HarperCollins. Sept. 2025. 272p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780063355194. Gr 4-7
COPY ISBN
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 rooting for the likeable Kaye and her desire to save her sister. Malinenko’s depiction of Kaye’s grief and anxiety paints a realistic portrait of someone struggling to find themself 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 of a haunted doll that will leave readers checking under their beds just in time for spooky season; perfect for fans of Small Spaces and Lindsay Currie.
Reviewed by Shelby Newhouse , Aug 29, 2025

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