Publisher:
Doubleday
Release
Date: 9th
May 2013
Edition:
UK paperback/e-book,
review copy
Other
Titles by this Author: The Spiderwick Chronicles,
Tithe, Valiant, Ironside, White Cat, Red Glove, Black Heart
Twelve-year-old
Zach is too old to play with toys. Or at least, that’s what his father thinks.
But
even though he stops hanging out with Poppy and Alice, stops playing with his
action figures, it’s no good. There’s one toy that still wants to play with him. A doll that’s made with the bones of a dead girl.
The
only way to end the game is to lay the doll to rest for ever. It’s time for a
journey to Spring Grove cemetery. It’s time to grow up.
I’m a big fan of Holly Black’s
gorgeously dark books so I was expecting a lot from Doll Bones. Sadly, it didn’t quite wow me as I was expecting it to.
Though I was slightly
disappointed, there’s no denying that Doll
Bones is a wonderful look at growing up and leaving some of the magic of
childhood behind. I felt the strain on Zach of being pushed out of playing
games and making up stories before he was ready and I hated his dad for it! In the
end, he started to grow up naturally and as he should have by going on a
mystical quest with his best friends.
Zach, Alice and Poppy’s quest
was sparked by their imagination and furthered by a ghost and I wish that had
happened to me when I was twelve! The importance of stories and the imagination
was reinforced as they travelled from Pennsylvania to Ohio to put The Queen,
who is a supremely creepy doll, to rest. I also loved how friction began to
arise among the trio as a little more than friendship began to arise between Zach
and one of the girls. Zach’s utter obliviousness and confusion was brilliant
and heart-warming.
Holly Black’s stark, simple
prose gave Doll Bones a vivid
atmosphere and the moments with The Queen gave me chills. With the addition of
beautiful black and white illustrations of scenes interspersed through the
novel, The Queen and the ghostly goings on came alive (excuse the pun) and thoroughly
creeped me out.
Doll
Bones is a
quick, sweet read with added chills and is the perfect bridge between children’s
and YA.
Thank you to Random
House/NetGalley for the review copies.
Sophie
So sorry this disappointed you, Sophie. I tried to read Tithe a while back but ended up DNF'ing it, sadly. Just couldn't get into it!
ReplyDeleteThis does sound intriguing so I'll have to keep an eye out for it. :)
I keep seeing this on netgalley. and have thought at about reading. Holly black is pretty hit or miss with her books.
ReplyDeleteGreat fair review though.
Http://www.daydreamerN.blogspot.com
I got a random copy of this in the post and must say I do like the sound of it. Sounds quite creepy. Dolls sometimes creep me out though so I'll have to keep an eye on that. Sorry you were a bit disappointed but here's hoping her next book (which sounds amazing, by the way!) makes it up to you!
ReplyDeleteOoh--if the illustrations are anything like the cover, that must add a lot to the feeling of the book!
ReplyDelete