Doll Bones by Holly Black

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Justification

Selected for a Newbury Honor, this is the perfect novel to include in a middle grade collection. Doll Bones is slightly creepy without being scary. 

Evaluation

Illustrations: There are not many illustrations, but the few that accompany the text add to the story. They are black and white and look like ink or pencil on paper. Most prominent are the depictions of the titular doll, which is of the creepy porcelain variety with its too big eyes, too perfect ringlets, and literal bones of a child inside it.

Plot: The plot of Doll Bones is well paced, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat without being too intense. It is part ghost story, part adventure. Zach, Alice, and Poppy play together regularly, making up stories and acting them out with dolls and action figures. They are imaginative and growing up quickly at the age of 12. Zach's father tries to "help" Zach grow up by throwing away his beloved action figures, which causes a rift between the trio of friends. Soon enough, Poppy and Alice propose a real adventure to end their game on--based on a dream Poppy had of the Queen, who is a porcelain doll that is possessed by the murdered ghost of a young girl.

Characters: Zach, Alice, and Poppy are each relatable for their differing backgrounds on top of their entrance into middle school. As they move through the story, we see wisps of their childish innocence at odds with their disbelief in the ghost with whom they are travelling. 

Conclusion

Doll Bones is a wonderfully nostalgic story of that time where we are all on the cusp of almost adulthood. We still want to play and have fun, but we are also so aware of and worried about what others think of us.

Citation

Black, H., & Wheeler, E. (2015). Doll bones. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.