Broken Dolls - by Ally Malinenko (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"Put it on your list!" -Stephen King

Author of Ghost Girl and This Appearing House Ally Malinenko brings to life a terrifying middle grade novel about a girl learning to grieve her grandfather and the creepy antique dolls in his house that seem to come alive, perfect for fans of The Doll in the Garden.

One. Two. Three. Are you ready to play?

Ever since Kaye's grandfather died, she's been obsessed with counting things: the steps to her bedroom, the dolls on her sister's bed, even the threads on her favorite blanket. 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, Kaye finds herself counting the days.

That is, until her younger sister, Holly, starts finding dolls. She finds them buried in the backyard, stuffed in the walls, crammed into the closets. From the first one, Kaye knows they aren't like normal dolls. They smile at her like they know something, and sometimes their eyes open and close on their own. Kaye hears her sister talking to them constantly--and she swears she's heard the dolls whispering back.

Everyone assumes that Holly's just a kid with a good imagination. Kaye doesn't think it's a game, because she knows that Holly--and the dolls--are going to make her play with them. Forever.

Perfect for Halloween ReadingIdeal for fans of the supernaturalFeatures light scares

Review Quotes

Praise for Ghost Girl: "A girl who delights in the macabre harnesses her inherited supernatural ability. The creepy supernatural current continues throughout, intermingled with very real forays into bullying (Zee won't stand for it or for the notion that good girls need to act nice), body positivity, socio-economic status and social hierarchy, and mental health. This debut from a promising writer involves a navigation of caste systems, self-esteem, and villainy that exists in an interesting world with intriguing characters . . . Warning: this just might spurn frenzied requests for Frankenstein." - Kirkus Reviews

"A tale of survival, friendship, and the strength that comes from overcoming fears. Delightfully nightmarish visions chase Jac, offering the feel of a thrilling game with twisted and terrifying imagery, as she navigates the house, seeking to understand her connection to this unusual place in this emotionally resonant story. Offers a hauntingly truthful view of secrets and strength." - Kirkus Reviews

"Employing haunted house tropes, Malinenko's (Ghost Girl) ominous telling explores layers of anxiety . . . a strong third-person voice accurately evokes the feeling of long-bubbling uncertainty as well as familial and personal fear amid recovery." - Publishers Weekly

". . . Raising themes of body positivity and feminism, debut author Malinenko writes an atmospheric tale that is rife with chilling moments and an affecting exploration of grief . . . " - Publishers Weekly

"Children still emerging out of their own traumatic experiences of a global pandemic, life interrupted, and severed social connections may find Jac's pain particularly resonant; there is nothing to do except go through it . . . [H]er emergence as a girl who understands that life waiting for doom isn't her only option is hard won and meaningful." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

★ "Plenty of imaginative frights to creep out even the most fearless young connoisseur of scary stories. Through Jac, Malinenko also offers a vital corrective to narratives of disease and disability still commonplace in children's literature. At once an inventive and satisfying haunted house story and a powerful exploration of coming to terms with and beginning to heal from trauma, This Appearing House is a triumph." - BookPage

"With its realistic and loveable characters, as well as its many twists and turns, Broken Dolls is everything I could ever need in middle grade horror. What I loved most, though, is that this story had the perfect balance of heart and scares that Ally Malinenko is known for. (Now please excuse me while I check my backyard for doll parts . . .)" - Lorien Lawrence author of the Fright Watch series

"Hauntingly brilliant and so creepy it kept me up at night! I will never ever look at dolls the same way again!" - Daka Hermon, author of Hide and Seeker and Nightmare King

"Sinister, stitched doll mouths, a cryptic Poppet Maker, and a dose of dark magic make Ally Malinenko's newest spooky middle grade title a delight for lovers of horror. But like all the best scary stories, this one has a real, beating heart. Kaye's authentic struggle with grief and earnest need to protect her little sister make this a book about more than just creepy dolls--but I don't think I'll be able to see Raggedy Ann the same way anytime soon." - J. Kasper Kramer author of Eyes on the Sky

"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)." - Booklist

"The dolls' increasing aggression creates wonderful (and non-gory) scares . . . the climax gives young readers a blood-free taste of body horror, and a final stinger keeps the chills alive. Solid scares elevated by psychological richness." - Kirkus Reviews

"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. 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."

Praise for This Appearing House: ★ "Readers will be gripped not only by the terror of a truly haunted house, but also the brutal honesty of Jac on her path to becoming whole. VERDICT Highly recommended; not only for those who have experienced trauma, but for those who love them as well. A gripping, poignant addition to juvenile fiction collections." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"Creepy dolls! Creepy puppets! Creepy magicians! If that were all this book had, it would still be a delight--but Broken Dolls reaches further. This is a story about grief and guilt, and is both tender and terrifying in equal measure. Ally Malinenko's work knows that scary stories can do so much more than just scare us (though scare you, this will)." - Chuck Wendig, author of Monster Movie! and the New York Times bestseller, Dust & Grim

"Scary dolls that multiply. A sinister magician. And an understated but moving subtext about how young people deal with grief. Put it on your list." - Stephen King

"Broken Dolls brilliantly blends all the spooky, creepy fun that kids love with deeper thoughts about what it means to live after loss." - Samantha M. Clark, author of The Boy, The Boat, and The Beast

"Ally Malinenko writes a deliciously creepy story--eerie traveling carnivals! moving dolls!--but it's her insight into her characters' hearts that brings the whole thing to life. This book is a magic spell of fear, grief, courage, and love." - Jacqueline West, New York Times bestselling author of The Books of Elsewhere and Long Lost

"A chilling, heart-racing story where the horror creeps up on you like a shadow. It's perfect for readers who crave suspense, supernatural thrills, and emotional depth. This book is more than just spooky--it's a journey through the scariest parts of ourselves, and the strength it takes to face them." - Shakirah Bourne, author of Beware the Heartman