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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
This was a creepy book that holds an element of horror but doesn’t rely on jump scares and old castles to get the point across. A journey of growth that comes in many forms and an easy read. If my book hadn’t gotten lost at work I would have finished it fast.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading Holly Black's books for me is always like going back home. I love and enjoy every single one of them and I never get tired of her writing style!
This was a cute story that was dark and occasionally creepy as Holly Black's stories can be. I still wonder whether the doll really was haunted or if it was all in the kids' imaginations.
the creepy kind of came out of nowhere on this one. at its core, doll bones is a classic friendship coming of age story. the details make it very unique.
3.5/5 stars.
I'll preface this review by saying that while I didn't love it, I did like this book, and by saying that I am terrified of china dolls, which may or may not have a consequence on my rating.
This novel follows twelve-year-old Zach and his friends Poppy and Alice who go on an adventure to lay the ghost trapped in a frightening china doll to rest. The story revolves largely around the interplay between fantasy and reality, and what it means to grow up and lose your unflinching belief in the fantastical.
What I liked most about this book was that, and it's funny to say this about a ghost story, it was very believable. The characters, mainly Zach, grappled with whether or not to believe in the ghost and their quest in very much the same way that I did as a reader, and I thought it was really fitting to see the characters understand in themselves that whether or not Poppy's story was true, they wanted it to be true, and that was the most fascinating element. I also found it interesting to read this as a 22-year-old, being absolutely horrified at the thought of any twelve-year-olds I know getting on a bus at two in the morning. I spent a lot of the story thinking to myself, "Oh God, you're going to be in so much trouble."
All that being said, while I think this was a believable story with well-rounded character arcs, the pacing felt a little stop-start to me, the romantic element felt very left-field and unnecessary, and I wouldn't say that the book over-all left a lasting impression on me.
I'll preface this review by saying that while I didn't love it, I did like this book, and by saying that I am terrified of china dolls, which may or may not have a consequence on my rating.
This novel follows twelve-year-old Zach and his friends Poppy and Alice who go on an adventure to lay the ghost trapped in a frightening china doll to rest. The story revolves largely around the interplay between fantasy and reality, and what it means to grow up and lose your unflinching belief in the fantastical.
What I liked most about this book was that, and it's funny to say this about a ghost story, it was very believable. The characters, mainly Zach, grappled with whether or not to believe in the ghost and their quest in very much the same way that I did as a reader, and I thought it was really fitting to see the characters understand in themselves that whether or not Poppy's story was true, they wanted it to be true, and that was the most fascinating element. I also found it interesting to read this as a 22-year-old, being absolutely horrified at the thought of any twelve-year-olds I know getting on a bus at two in the morning. I spent a lot of the story thinking to myself, "Oh God, you're going to be in so much trouble."
All that being said, while I think this was a believable story with well-rounded character arcs, the pacing felt a little stop-start to me, the romantic element felt very left-field and unnecessary, and I wouldn't say that the book over-all left a lasting impression on me.
I really love how eery this book gets when you really let it take over your imagination. I can remember being this age and all the random games I made up.
However this kids are braver then I ever was. Sometimes in the narrative I forgot that they were suppose to be 12 and started seeing them as older.
But I still love the adventure. Is it real? Is it not?
However this kids are braver then I ever was. Sometimes in the narrative I forgot that they were suppose to be 12 and started seeing them as older.
But I still love the adventure. Is it real? Is it not?