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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
While a fun read, this started stronger than it finished. The author seemed caught between writing a ghost story and a coming-of-age story and the resulting compromise wasn’t as fulfilling as it could have been.
Review originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
I have been hitting pay dirt lately, with the audiobooks I’ve been listening to. And Doll Bones was no exception. I’ve been making an effort lately to read some Holly Black books because she is coming to a town near me in December. Okay, actually she’s stopping in a town three hours from me, but still. I recently read (via audiobook) White Cat by Black, and I really enjoyed it. I decided to try Doll Bones next because I need to read more children’s books, and it also looked AWESOME.
Doll Bones focuses on three twelve year olds, Zach, Poppy and Alice, with the story from Zach’s point of view. Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for a long time, and their favorite thing to do together is to play with their dolls and action figures. You see, while they’re playing, they create these amazing stories and adventures for their dolls. And overseeing all their dolls on their adventures is The Queen, a very old doll, locked up in a cabinet at Poppy’s house. Suddenly, Zach refuses to play anymore, but Poppy gives them the chance to have an adventure for themselves.
There were so many things I loved about Doll Bones, so I thought I’d share my thoughts that way.
What I Loved:
•Zach, Poppy and Alice! These three characters were each so unique, and so realistic. No one was a perfect little child, and they all made mistakes, but they were such interesting characters, and I loved them all.
•They went on a Quest! I ended up regretting that I never went on a quest as a child. And okay, what kids really go on an epic adventure? But still, the Quest Zack, Poppy and Alice embarked on was fun, and realistic. It’s not too late to go on a Quest at 30 years of age, is it? :)
•How Holly Black discusses what’s it’s like as a kid growing up. I can’t really remember how I felt when I was transitioning from child to teen, but I do remember what an awkward time it was. Black spent time showing how Zack, Poppy and Alice were all transitioning into teens.
•Nighttime adventures in a library! Zach, Poppy and Alice spend the night at the library. Talk about a dream come true.
•Ghost! Doll Bones isn’t incredibly creepy, after all it is aimed for a younger audience, but there is an air of suspense and creepiness.
•Dolls made from bones!
•Nick Podehl! I’ve heard many bloggers profess their love for the amazing audiobook narrator Nick Podehl, but I had never listened to anything he narrated. Well, now that I have, I can say that Podehl is AMAZING! No wonder so many people speak of his amazingness. It is deserved, and I can assure you I will be listening to more of Nick Podehl’s audiobooks. Any recommendations on where I should start?
This I Disliked
•That is had to come to an end?
Of course I went into Doll Bones expecting to enjoy the book. However, I never expected to love the book so much. There was nothing I didn’t like about it, and I already have suggested to other children’s librarians in my library system to add it to reading lists for kids. I also plan on bringing it next year to book talk at the local k-8 school. But even if you aren’t a children’s librarian, I think you would enjoy Doll Bones. It’s almost impossible to not be able to relate to Zack, Poppy or Alice in some way, and it’s fun to look back on that awkward time of our lives. This book needs to be in my own collection.
I have been hitting pay dirt lately, with the audiobooks I’ve been listening to. And Doll Bones was no exception. I’ve been making an effort lately to read some Holly Black books because she is coming to a town near me in December. Okay, actually she’s stopping in a town three hours from me, but still. I recently read (via audiobook) White Cat by Black, and I really enjoyed it. I decided to try Doll Bones next because I need to read more children’s books, and it also looked AWESOME.
Doll Bones focuses on three twelve year olds, Zach, Poppy and Alice, with the story from Zach’s point of view. Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for a long time, and their favorite thing to do together is to play with their dolls and action figures. You see, while they’re playing, they create these amazing stories and adventures for their dolls. And overseeing all their dolls on their adventures is The Queen, a very old doll, locked up in a cabinet at Poppy’s house. Suddenly, Zach refuses to play anymore, but Poppy gives them the chance to have an adventure for themselves.
There were so many things I loved about Doll Bones, so I thought I’d share my thoughts that way.
What I Loved:
•Zach, Poppy and Alice! These three characters were each so unique, and so realistic. No one was a perfect little child, and they all made mistakes, but they were such interesting characters, and I loved them all.
•They went on a Quest! I ended up regretting that I never went on a quest as a child. And okay, what kids really go on an epic adventure? But still, the Quest Zack, Poppy and Alice embarked on was fun, and realistic. It’s not too late to go on a Quest at 30 years of age, is it? :)
•How Holly Black discusses what’s it’s like as a kid growing up. I can’t really remember how I felt when I was transitioning from child to teen, but I do remember what an awkward time it was. Black spent time showing how Zack, Poppy and Alice were all transitioning into teens.
•Nighttime adventures in a library! Zach, Poppy and Alice spend the night at the library. Talk about a dream come true.
•Ghost! Doll Bones isn’t incredibly creepy, after all it is aimed for a younger audience, but there is an air of suspense and creepiness.
•Dolls made from bones!
•Nick Podehl! I’ve heard many bloggers profess their love for the amazing audiobook narrator Nick Podehl, but I had never listened to anything he narrated. Well, now that I have, I can say that Podehl is AMAZING! No wonder so many people speak of his amazingness. It is deserved, and I can assure you I will be listening to more of Nick Podehl’s audiobooks. Any recommendations on where I should start?
This I Disliked
•That is had to come to an end?
Of course I went into Doll Bones expecting to enjoy the book. However, I never expected to love the book so much. There was nothing I didn’t like about it, and I already have suggested to other children’s librarians in my library system to add it to reading lists for kids. I also plan on bringing it next year to book talk at the local k-8 school. But even if you aren’t a children’s librarian, I think you would enjoy Doll Bones. It’s almost impossible to not be able to relate to Zack, Poppy or Alice in some way, and it’s fun to look back on that awkward time of our lives. This book needs to be in my own collection.
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m honestly surprised how very much I enjoyed this! I always enjoy a good story about a group of kids who go on an adventure with supernatural elements (ex. stranger things, E.T., etc), and I found this to be in a similar vein. It’s about growing up, worrying about growing apart, but most of all friendship. I thought this was quite excellent and the storyline was original and the perfect amount of creepy. Dolls tend to be creepy in general, but this one is a real weird one. If you’re a fan of Stranger Things and don’t mind this being more of a middle grade book, I think you might really enjoy this!
I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book but it was amazing! The story is told from Zach's perspective featuring adventures with two of his closest friends who happen to be girls. It's all about growing up and the changes that brings for Zach. It's a bit of ghost story too!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Probably more like a 2.5
This wasn't a bad story by any means. But it definitely was not what I was expecting. The writing is alright if not just unnotable. The characters relationships were turned into a weird, tense love triangle...ish situation that I didn't feel was overly needed for the plot. The spookiness was really lacking, even if this is a middle grade novel. Compared to other middle grade like Nighmares! and ASOUE I felt like this really could have been amped up for a story that was all about a ghost doll. Mostly missed opportunities and disappointment, but again not terrible. I can see some people enjoying it. Just not for me.
This wasn't a bad story by any means. But it definitely was not what I was expecting. The writing is alright if not just unnotable. The characters relationships were turned into a weird, tense love triangle...ish situation that I didn't feel was overly needed for the plot. The spookiness was really lacking, even if this is a middle grade novel. Compared to other middle grade like Nighmares! and ASOUE I felt like this really could have been amped up for a story that was all about a ghost doll. Mostly missed opportunities and disappointment, but again not terrible. I can see some people enjoying it. Just not for me.
This was a solid ok. Honestly Holly Black has a bland style in this book, I've never read her other stuff so I'm not going to completely categorise her writing style but I guess for a middle grade book it was just ok. If this was marketed as a young adult book I would totally bash on it more but again, it's middle grade.