Doll Bones

Zach, Poppy, and Alice are three longtime friends who spend their afternoons playing an elaborate, ongoing make-believe game involving plastic action figures and a locked cabinet containing a porcelain queen doll. As they reach the age where social pressure dictates they leave childhood hobbies behind, Poppy claims she is being haunted by the porcelain doll. She insists the toy is made from the bones of a deceased girl who demands a proper burial in a specific library graveyard. The trio embarks on a clandestine cross-state bike trip, navigating real-world dangers like missed bus connections and suspicious adults while struggling with the supernatural possibility that their cargo is sentient.

Middle-grade readers and fans of dark fantasy choose this story because it depicts the uncomfortable transition from childhood play to adolescent social dynamics. It is for those who appreciate ghost stories rooted in psychological realism rather than high-fantasy spectacle. Readers walk away with a specific look at how friendships shift when shared imaginative worlds collide with the requirements of growing up. The book offers a concrete depiction of the grief associated with losing interest in toys and the difficulty of maintaining old bonds.

Practical, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?