Broken Dolls, Ally Malinenko
Broken Dolls, Ally Malinenko
List: $23.99 | Sale: $16.79
Club: $11.99

Broken Dolls

Author: Ally Malinenko

Narrator: Renee Dorian

Unabridged: 6 hr 30 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 09/30/2025


Synopsis

"Put it on your list!" -Stephen KingAuthor of Ghost Girl and This Appearing House Ally Malinenko brings to life a terrifying middle grade novel about a girl learning to grieve her grandfather and the creepy antique dolls in his house that seem to come alive, perfect for fans of The Doll in the Garden.One. Two. Three. Are you ready to play?Ever since Kaye's grandfather died, she's been obsessed with counting things: the steps to her bedroom, the dolls on her sister's bed, even the threads on her favorite blanket. It's arithmomania, and with the selective mutism that sometimes prevents her from speaking, she literally can't find the words to talk about how she feels now that Grampa is gone. When they take the summer to clean out and renovate his old house, Kaye finds herself counting the days.That is, until her younger sister, Holly, starts finding dolls. She finds them buried in the backyard, stuffed in the walls, crammed into the closets. From the first one, Kaye knows they aren't like normal dolls. They smile at her like they know something, and sometimes their eyes open and close on their own. Kaye hears her sister talking to them constantly—and she swears she's heard the dolls whispering back.Everyone assumes that Holly's just a kid with a good imagination. Kaye doesn't think it's a game, because she knows that Holly—and the dolls—are going to make her play with them. Forever.Perfect for Halloween ReadingIdeal for fans of the supernaturalFeatures light scares

About Ally Malinenko

Ally Malinenko is a poet, novelist, and librarian living in Brooklyn, New York, where she pens her tales in a secret writing closet before dawn each day. Connect with Ally on her website at allymalinenko.com.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Debbie H on August 18, 2025

4⭐️ This mid-grade horror story was creepy good and so scary! Kaye and her Brooklyn family are grieving the death of their dear father/grandfather. Kaye suffers from OCD and has been increasingly silent. Her Mom decides to take Kaye and her sister Holly to the country to aid in the remodeling of the......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on February 07, 2025

I was absolutely blown away by this book. It had everything I love about horror, and even though it was written with a middle-grade audience in mind, the writing style had a maturity to it that adults can appreciate. The characters felt fleshed out and real. I really enjoyed Kaye's growth and her st......more

Goodreads review by Paige on July 22, 2025

This Middle Grade Horror really grabbed my attention and never let up for a second! It's age appropriate but still spooky and the grief horror aspect was done very well. I really felt drawn to Kaye's character and felt that I could empathize with her. Losing a close family member is life shattering......more

Goodreads review by Courtney (pawsitivelybookish) on May 18, 2025

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......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on June 16, 2025

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 select......more