The three friends play their adventure games almost every day after school, and while they all love playing it, Zach is pressured by society to stop playing it because he is a boy. Zach continues to play while doing other things, like basketball, to appease the other students as well as his own father. Sadly, that isn't enough for his dad. Zach's father takes all of the figures Zach uses for the game and throws them away, never to be seen again. Zach feels as if his heart broke, but doesn't want to tell Alice and Poppy because he thinks it will be too hard to tell them, so instead he stays silent. The friends start to grow farther apart until one night Poppy is awoken by a mysterious girl that reveals herself to be the spirit of a girl named Eleanor, the real girl that was made into the doll none other than "The Queen."
Poppy instantly goes to her friends about this, but Alice isn't sure what to think and Zach is still trying to distance himself. Poppy puts up enough of an argument and the two start to believe her. Poppy convinces them they need to leave town and head to East Liverpool, Ohio, to bury the doll and free her spirit, and they head out that night. The children make their way through the state, with the doll and the characters around them getting ever more creepy.
Doll Bones is all about not having to be what people try to make you be. Throughout the story we see Zach fight between two different realities, one where he gets to play with his friends and the other where he is forced to be the man his father wants him to be. Even the other characters go through a bit of change. In the end Alice isn't so nervous about her dominating grandmother, and Poppy is willing to break her mother's rules in order to save Eleanor.
I really enjoyed Doll Bones, and it helped me realize that you can shape the world you want to live in, and become who you want to be. I would recommend this book to any people that feel like society is pressuring them to do something they don't want to be, as well as anyone who likes creepy stories. I hope you check out Doll Bones, as I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Books (and movies) with children and dolls always add an unsettling and creepy factor, which is why I like how you emphasized that there is another more important takeaway besides the possible dangers of playing with dolls found in attics. I thought it was different that the author chose to focus more on a boy’s perspective of society’s expectations. Usually these types of books talk about girls’ struggles with the rules set by society and although that is just as important, people might forget that boys have that same problem.
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a very interesting book and this blog definitely caught my eye with its weird cover art. I think the split that Zach goes through is quite interesting and even connects back to our current reading. This is because he is being pressured by his dad to "be a man" which is part of toxic masculinity, overall this book seems really interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis books sounds like an interesting read. To be honest I don't do well with creepy books and even this post made me slightly scared. However, I am really interested at the message of the book and how important it is. I think that the message that you can be whoever you want to be something that isn't brought up as much anymore but everykid needs to hear. I will definitely try reading this book if I am feeling brave.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds very interesting, especially the part about the pressure Zach is under to "be a man" and is told that playing with dolls isn't man-like. The children and dolls kind of creeped me out, and this definitely isn't something I'd read at night, but the book seems interesting and fun to read.
ReplyDeleteWow, this sounds like a great read. It sounds creepy and mysterious, and I really would like to read something like this. I will definitely check this out (but probably won't read it late at night)!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds interesting and touching. From your summary, it looks like the author deals with hard topics in a simple and understandable way. Since so many young kids can relate to these characters, they will better be able to understand some of the tough subjects discussed. I want to read this!
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