Doll Bones

Reach for this book when you notice your middle-schooler struggling with the unspoken pressure to abandon childhood play in favor of acting grown up. It is a perfect choice for the child who still loves their toys but feels embarrassed by that lingering attachment in the face of peer judgment. The story follows three longtime friends who embark on a spooky, real-world quest to bury a bone-china doll that may or may not be haunted by the ghost of a dead girl. Holly Black masterfully captures the grieving process of leaving childhood behind. While the eerie atmosphere and ghost-story elements provide high-stakes tension, the true heart of the book lies in the shifting dynamics of a friendship trio as they navigate changing interests and family expectations. It is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of creativity, the power of shared imagination, and the bittersweet transition into adolescence. It offers parents a way to validate their child's desire to keep playing while acknowledging that growing up is an inevitable, if difficult, adventure.