In this series opener, Mara and her little brother, Jesse, pay a visit to the strange novelty shop Frightville, where the fifth grader decides to purchase an antique doll for her dollhouse. In the doll's dress pocket, Mara discovers a tiny letter addressed to a mysterious Charlotte, the name Mara decides to give her. But after Mara forgets to recite a ghost-prevention spell that the storekeeper urged her to pronounce before putting the doll to bed, strange things begin to happen. During a sleepover, Mara's best friend tells her about dolls people used to have made in the likenesses of deceased loved ones. Things get worse when Mara wakes up and finds herself trapped in the dollhouse and Charlotte outside, now human-sized and alive. Can Mara find her way out of this dilemma? This early-middle-grade horror tale sacrifices detail to plot and pacing. Setting is given short shrift, for instance, and readers learn only halfway through that Mara has brown skin, depriving readers of color of a potential mirror character for much of the story. Nevertheless, the mystery draws readers along, ending on a truly chilling note. The series' second installment, Curse of the Wish Eater, publishes simultaneously but does not continue Mara's story, instead focusing on Max and his purchase at Frightville. If readers didn't think old dolls were creepy before this, they surely will after. (Horror. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 3--5--If you visited a store called Frightville, purchased a doll, and received the ominous warning to recite a special rhyme before bed every night, wouldn't you follow that advice? Fifth grader Mara does not heed the warning, and she soon faces the horrible consequences. Mara and her mom have just designed a fabulous dollhouse, and she needs a doll to live in her new home. She finds the perfect doll, Charlotte, at the new shop in town. After getting Charlotte settled, Mara wakes up one night and realizes a piece of her hair has been cut off. Could her new doll be responsible? A few nights later, Mara is horrified to discover that she has somehow switched places with Charlotte and is trapped in the dollhouse. The plot is fast paced and perfect for reluctant readers. Nothing deep here; just fun, slightly shivery scares. A very satisfying twist at the end will hook readers to read more in the series. VERDICT A quick read that will please those who like their scary not too scary. Hand to the "Goosebumps" crowd.--Julie Shatterly, W. A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC