My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I’ve never been one to own a collection of dolls, and I don’t doubt some of the creepy stories that have surfaced around them over the years. So, no one would be surprised that I still get chills even thinking about this book, though I finished it a few weeks ago. I’ve enjoyed Ally Malinenko’s work before in This Appearing House, which was brilliant. BROKEN DOLLS gave me that same eerie, unsettled feeling. But in this book, she mastered the execution of building dread with every secret that unfolded and every new discovery that was made.

I loved the set up with the odd magician coupled with Kaye’s grief about losing a family member and her difficulty speaking. There was something so powerful about showing this middle grade struggle and how it can spread into all conversations and relationships. Plus, Malinenko did a wonderful job showing how the interiority of the character can be rich with thoughts and emotions related to their grief, even if they can’t verbalize them.

Kaye’s struggle to speak joined by the unreal behavior of the dolls, made for powerful tension throughout the book. It was disturbing. It was scary. It is perfect for middle grade horror lovers. Stay away from the dolls!


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