The Doll People

Title: The Doll People
Series: Doll People, Book One
Author: Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin
Pages: 288
Published: 2000

“Annabelle Doll is 8 years old–and has been for over 100 years. Nothing much has changed in the dollhouse during that time, except for the fact that 45 years ago, Annabelle’s Auntie Sarah disappeared from the dollhouse without a trace. After all this time, restless Annabelle is becoming more and more curious about her aunt’s fate. And when she discovers Auntie Sarah’s old diary, she becomes positively driven. Her cautious family tries to discourage her, but Annabelle won’t be stopped, even though she risks Permanent Doll State, in which she could turn into a regular, nonliving doll.

And when the “Real Pink Plastic” Funcraft family moves in next door, the Doll family’s world is turned upside down–in more ways than one! Fans of The Borrowers and Stuart Little will love this exciting story of adventure and mystery. The relationship between the two doll families, one antique, one modern, is hilariously, wonderfully drawn. The Funcrafts are reckless and raucous, with fearlessness born of their unbreakable plastic parts. The Doll family is reserved and somewhat prim, even though they occasionally break into ’60s tunes like “Respect” in their sing-alongs. Annabelle is a heroine with integrity and gumption. Ann Martin (The Babysitters Club series) and Laura Godwin create a witty, intriguing tale, illustrated with humor and a clever eye for detail by Brian Selznick.”

I can vividly recall reading The Doll People; I was still at that age where my dolls and dollhouse were the center of my life, and I remember peeking over the top of my book to catch my dolls mid-movement. No such luck.

But Martin and Godwin’s fantastic tale of Annabelle Doll, a doll who looks eight-years-old but has lived a long life, and her search for her Aunt Sarah, an exploring doll that has disappeared from the doll house seventy-five years ago, is a great read for any little girl obsessed with her dolls. The story is simple to understand, but still contains enough suspense to keep the story moving. And the beautiful illustrations by Selznick gives The Doll People just enough eye candy to make this chapter book feel less like a long read for those who don’t necessarily enjoy it.

Rating: 5
Balance of Opinion: Books on the Brain (guest review by 10-year-old)