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This book is wonderful, and beautifully emotional, and OH GOD THEY’RE MOVING ON THEIR OWN

Yes, readers. BROKEN DOLLS BY @allymalinenko is about my absolute kryptonite… creepy dolls, and not just creepy dolls, but creepy dolls with A PLAN.

Kaye is struggling hard with the loss of her grandfather while she spends the summer at his former house with her mom, uncle, and younger sister Holly. When Holly wins a doll from a mysterious magician at a fair, things take A TURN. For one thing, Holly calls it Holly-doll, which, just, no. But for another, strange things start happening. Holly digs up some dolls from the yard, red flag there, and things just get creepier and more terrifying from there. My other kryptonite is basements and Ally showed me no mercy there either.

Along with the doll-induced terror, of which there is a lot, BROKEN DOLLS is an incredibly moving story about grief and loss, and how we deal with it and navigate it. It’s so insightful about these feelings at all ages. While this is a middle grade novel, in terms of emotion and dread, it holds nothing back. The story moves propulsively and compellingly, does a great job of showing us a character working through crisis and balancing feelings and friendship and family during one fateful summer, and it more than delivers on the promise of CREEPY DOLLS FOR DAYS.

Folks, after reading this, I’m not OK, but I’m OK with not being OK because Ally has written a beautiful and affecting novel. I mean, yes, instead of being immersion therapy for my fear of dolls, it really has just escalated it and took it to a whole new level. But it’s really, really great. One of my favorite reads this year, no question. It feels like it’s always been one of my faves, like the dolls have always been there…: Uh, anyway, I’m so grateful to Harpercollins and NetGalley for the ARC. You have to pre-order, because this is a wonderful book.

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I couldn’t get into this one. It was about grief which I love in books but this felt so repetitive and honestly boring.

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This is so creepy for middle grade! I was getting creepy tingles whilst reading it and I am really impressed with the book. Normally middle grade is laughable but this was scary

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Broken Dolls is one of my fave books this year. I can never remember the name but as a kid there was a series of books about creepy dollhouses and dolls and the description for Broken Dolls really reminded me of reading those books.

Kaye is grieving her grandfather and has developed (what seemed to me a grief induced case of OCD due to her counting) mutism. Her younger sister Holly is also sad but seems to Kaye like she, and her mom and uncle are all already over grandpa's death.

Cue her younger sister Holly finding dolls everywhere around the house during the renovation and then some creepy guy gives Holly a doll and things escalate DRAMATICALLY from there. Fortunately Kaye makes a new friend who believes her and they work together to stop the dolls.

This one was scary and the descriptions were especially engaging. A must read for those who like scary stories and kids saving the day.

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really fun middle grade horror that manages to pull off some intense ominousness despite keeping it age appropriate. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

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Kaye loved her grandfather. He was the one who taught her to play chess, who recognized her need to count things and shared Suduko with her, who was always there for her. And now he’s gone. Since his death, her arithmomania has become much more noticeable and she is so reluctant to speak that selective mutism has been added to her diagnoses. Spending the summer at Grandpa’s old house helping Uncle Stan with some renovations is supposed to help Kaye, her 6 year old sister Holly and her mom focus on the happy memories and begin to hurt less. But a doll won at a carnival sets off a creepy string of events resulting in Holly having a roomful of old dolls and doll parts that Kaye is certain are speaking, moving and causing changes in her sister that she has to stop before tragedy strikes their family again.

By the time readers finish Broken Dolls, they will be certain dolls can terrorize a child, multiply and keep their movements and words hidden from the adults in the same house. Along with the terror, those same readers will be relieved that Kaye reestablishes her close relationship with her younger sister, finds a friend she can open up to about her grandfather, and the family begins to show signs of processing their grief and looking towards the joy that will come again. However, Kaye’s grief is a plot line that shares equal time with the haunted doll story and some will find themselves skimming over her conversations with a counselor and periods when she closes herself off from those around her and hurts. Others may find relief knowing that someone else, even if it is a book character, is struggling to see that happiness will come again.

Horror-scary is an immensely popular genre with the grades 5-8 crowd and this one should be popular. Malinenko keeps her text free of profanity, sexual content and there is no significant violence. There are a few “jump” scare moments (in print, of course, but readers of the genre know that some written scenes have that kind of punch), and this is probably not a good choice for someone who has recently lost a loved one. Representation: Physical descriptions are limited so heritage of main characters is left to the imagination of readers. Uncle Stan refers to himself as the girls’ “guncle,” which stands for gay uncle and his new boyfriend stays with them at the house periodically with no physical contact noted between the two men. Kaye becomes friends with Joey, a girl in the neighborhood, and brushes off the butterflies in her stomach while around her saying to herself that she doesn’t have time for a crush. Counseling is presented as a helpful tool for managing grief and OCD behaviors. However, the difficulty of Holly and Kaye to talk to their mother about their feelings is not healthy and I hope readers identify it that way.

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I will never look at dolls the same ever again. It rings all the bells, and I think it's a great story of how children work through grief. I highly recommend Broken Dolls. My daughter is reading it, and she loves it.

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Thank you Netgalley and author for this e-ARC

Book Review: A Haunting Tale of Grief, Family, and Malevolent Dolls

I absolutely loved this book! It masterfully weaves a girl's emotional struggle with grief and shifting family dynamics into a spine-tingling story where dolls come to life with sinister intent. After the death of her beloved grandfather, Kaye travels with her mother and sister to spend the summer in a quiet town outside New York. While the rest of her family seems ready to move on, Kaye remains deep in mourning—and she’s the only one disturbed by her sister’s growing obsession with a strange collection of unsettling dolls.

What begins as unease quickly escalates into terror when the dolls reveal themselves to be sentient—and dangerous. As they set their sights on her sister, Kaye must confront the darkness head-on. With the help of a new friend, she finds the strength to face her fears, not just to battle the dolls, but to begin healing her own grief.

Creepy, heartfelt, and suspenseful, this story delivers both emotional depth and chilling thrills. A must-read for fans of dark, character-driven horror.

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4 stars

The cover got me, and I was not disappointed. Don't let the middle grade audience fool you. This is creepy for all ages (though, to be clear, ENTIRELY age appropriate for its target population).

When Kaye's grandfather dies, her grief manifests in several ways, but her mom is extra concerned about Kaye's selective mutism. This new development lands Kaye in therapy and it earns her some extra careful supervision when she joins her mom and little sister, Holly, to meet their uncle and his boyfriend at their grandfather's former home in upstate New York. You know who was NOT invited to this family gathering? A whole collective of terrifying dolls. They invite themselves.

I enjoyed so much about this. It's an authentic but creative approach to grief in young people, the conversations around mental health are meaningful, and the horror element is top notch. I did want a little more character exploration at the end, but for the genre, this is also well articulated.

This was a wild one in a good way, and many folks will find this useful in addition to being highly entertaining.

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Loved this book! A girl's struggle with grief and changing family dynamics is the backdrop for a creepy tale where dolls come to life with malicious intent. After the death of her grandfather, Kaye and her mom and sister go to spend the summer with her uncle in a small town outside of New York. But Kaye seems to be the only one still mourning her grandfather. She's also the only one who notices that her sister's obsession with a growing collection of strange and eerie dolls is bordering on disturbing. Her concern about the dolls turns out to be warranted when the dolls become sentient and threaten to take her sister away. With the help of a new friend, Kaye faces her own fears about loss and grief to save her sister and heal her own broken heart.

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I will never look at dolls the same way again!

Broken Dolls by Ally Malinenko is my latest review book from Net Galley. I just finished reading it and…oh my gosh. WOW. I can see why Stephen King loves it. What’s it about?

Kaye’s grandfather recently died. She’s been having a hard time with it. The whole family has but Kaye has stopped talking and she mostly just counts things. When her family goes out to stay at her grandfather’s house for the summer, it seems like it maybe, possibly, it might be a fun summer. Then her sister Holly starts getting obsessed with dolls, which she keeps finding all over the house. What’s worse though is that the dolls are getting obsessed with Holly right back. Kaye realizes that something horrible is going on and doesn’t know what to do. How do you stop broken dolls?

Whew. Okay, Broken Dolls is a middle grade book, so things don’t get too scary but…this book still really creepy. There were some parts where I jumped a bit. Stephen King loves this book so yeah, you know is going to be a bit scary at least. That said, the book is also really beautiful. Its not just about creepy dolls.

Broken Dolls is about grief and loss. Its about dealing with the death of someone you really love and not being sure about what comes next. I can relate for sure. My Dad died back in 2021. Its been about four years now but I still think about him every day. I still miss him a lot. I can talk about him though. I can laugh about memories and cry a little bit if its all too much. Kaye is trying to find her way to that. The grief in Broken Dolls feels very real. I know from what the author has said, she based this on real grief that she was dealing with. I can feel that while reading this.

I do think a book this, a scary book, that can also deliver this message to kids and yeah even to adults like me, is very important. The book entertains but also just puts a hand on your shoulder and says “you know, if your dealing with this too, its alright. Its okay.” People of all ages need to know that its fine.

The story of Kaye’s loss and the story of the dolls is just so good. This book is so good. Its definitely going to be one of my favorite things I’ve read this year. And yeah, I have a lot of favorite books this year. Broken Dolls is a must read. Its a must read if you love creepy books. Its a must read if you are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Its a must read even if you are not dealing this because, well, sooner or later, you will.

Ally Malinenko is a wonderful writer. I love how she easily navigates the scary and the sad and the fun and the funny and little moments that will make you smile. Others might almost make you scream. Her characters, especially the kids, feel very real. The dialogue is smart and the descriptions are well done.

I highly recommend this book no matter your age. Broken Dolls is a fantastic book.

Broken Dolls releases on September 30th, 2025. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an early digital copy of this book. Also thank you to Ally Malinenko for writing it.

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I do not read very much YA, especially in the horror vein.
But this.... this was AMAZING.

Tense, atmospheric, raw, and emotional.

Will keep in mind for recommending to YA readers!

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Broken Dolls is such a special book. Not only is it super creepy, but it offers a unique look at grief and how differently each person handles it.

Kaye was very near and dear to my heart as she struggled to understand and handle her OCD and the loss of her grandfather. Both things I have gone through in my life.

It was really something to watch as Kaye came to terms with sadness and understanding that it’s something okay to feel.

And the dolls??? No, thank you 😅 SO creepy.

“Just because they are a different kind of sad doesn’t mean that you don’t get to be your kind of sad too.”

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Broken Dolls is a creepy horror story. I can see why Stephen King has praised it. It's one of the creepiest stories about haunted dolls I've ever read. The story also deals with grief. About how hard it is getting through your grief over the loss of a loved one. This story really hit home with me since I recently lost loved ones. The author does an amazing job of combining horror and grief into a great story. Fans of Goosebumps will also like reading this book. I highly recommend this book to horror fans!

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I don't read a lot of middle grade books, but I was drawn in by the concept and gorgeous cover art. This book is delightfully creepy and hauntingly emotional. The two young sisters at the heart of the book are each working through their grief in their own ways, and the way it's woven into the plot of evil dolls is masterfully done. Its depiction of grief is so honest and raw, but Kaye and Holly leave you feeling optimistic and heartened by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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My rating: 4.5
Kaye has been struggling ever since her grandfather died, and spending the summer renovating his former house with her family isn’t likely to improve things. Kaye feels stuck in her grief while the rest of her family seems to have moved on. After her sister Holly wins a creepy doll from a strange magician, they begin to find more dolls hidden around the house – buried in the garden, hidden within the walls – almost as if someone didn’t want them to be found.
As Holly’s doll collection grows, so does Kaye’s discomfort. Kaye begins to doubt her senses when she sees the dolls blink, move, or speak. She tries to warn her mom and uncle, but they accuse her of making trouble. When Holly starts acting strangely, Kaye knows it’s up to her to protect her family from the creepy dolls and whatever they’ve got planned for her little sister.
Kaye’s struggles felt realistic and grounded, making the creepy moments all that more effective. Ally Malinenko does a masterful job of building dread, and there are quite a few good scares. Broken Dolls will have you watching porcelain dolls with suspicion. I would absolutely recommend Broken Dolls for any young reader who enjoys a good scare and a relatable heroine.
Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.

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Still grieving her grandfather who recently passed, Kaye isn't exactly excited to stay with her uncle for the summer. Her grief is weighing on Kaye so heavily that she struggles to speak, but has been working through it with her therapist. During some bonding time at a local festival with their family, Kaye and her sister Holly win a doll from a weird magician who calls himself the Poppet Maker. Soon weird things start happening with Holly and the doll, and more dolls keep appearing at the house. With the help of her therapist and a new friend, Kaye has to find her voice in order to figure out what is going on and save her sister before it's too late.
This is a stunning middle grade horror that centers on grief in a way that I haven't often seen in other middle grade novels. I love that we see multiple therapy sessions with Kaye and how those sessions help her and give her tools to use in real life situations. The doll aspect was very effectively creepy and is sure to scare. I will absolutely be recommending this novel to middle grade readers and some adult readers alike.

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What an engaging read! I'm on a middle-grade novel kick right now and reading Broken Dolls really hit the spot. It was a novel that really draws you in. I'm not usually a horror reader, but Broken Dolls has encouraged me to explore the genre more. The author also adeptly explored many important themes for middle-grade readers: grief and death, family, queer crushes, self-discovery, and friendship. I will absolutely recommend this novel to my younger patrons who love horror, or are looking for a book about loss.

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“Broken Dolls” is middle grade horror at its best. It’s age appropriate while still being genuinely spooky. The characters are well developed and relatable. I really felt attached to our protagonist early on. The suspense in this book is unbeatable! I found myself on the edge of my seat trying to figure out where this was all going to end up, and I was not disappointed once! Though I’ll definitely look twice at next doll I see!

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Broken Dolls takes full advantage of the creepy doll trope, but in a way I haven't quite seen before. Although I am not the target audience, I genuinely felt unsettled by the description of the dolls materializing and moving around the house. The Poppet (not puppet!) Maker was perfectly creepy and mysterious with an intriguing backstory.

However, Kaye being the only person who could sense something was "off" required a little suspension of disbelief. I just can't imagine many parents would let their kid play with a rotting old doll they found outside and not question it. Or even wash it. Joey's inclusion in the story felt a bit random; I was expecting David to play a bigger role, but I get Kaye needed someone her own age to confide in. Holly could have also been fleshed out a little more, since much of the story revolves around her and the dolls.

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