The Winter of the Dollhouse

By Laura Amy Schlitz

A girl, a doll, and a mysterious old lady's lives intertwine, revealing secrets and unexpected friendships.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 682 ratings

400 pages

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

On a dreary November night, young Tiphany saves an old woman, unknowingly setting off a chain of events. An antique doll, Gretel, yearns for freedom from her shop window prison. As Tiph's life transforms, she becomes a thief, a dog walker, and an actor. Meanwhile, the enigmatic old lady uncovers secrets within her forgotten dollhouse. Are these changes mere coincidence, or is there magic at play? Discover how these three lives intertwine in a tale of mystery, friendship, and unexpected adventures.

From the publisher

“In the small-scale world of Laura Amy Schlitz’s novel The Winter of the Dollhouse, the emotional stakes are both intimate and enormous. . . . [She] is a masterly storyteller.” –The New York Times Book ReviewThis captivating coming-of-age story is touching, funny, and beautifully layered, with a fairy-tale ending that only Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz could deliver. On a gloomy November night, eleven-year-old Tiphany Stokes saves an old lady from collapsing in the street. An antique doll named Gretel watches them, longing for Tiph to rescue her from life in a shop window. Though none of these three characters realizes it, their worlds are about to change: Gretel will no longer be a precious prisoner. The old lady–is she a witch?–will discover the secret hidden in her long-neglected dollhouse. And Tiph–whose parents rejoice that she is “never any trouble”–will become a thief, a dog walker, an actor, and best of all, a friend.

At a glance