Module 9: The Dollhouse Murders Review

What's It All About?

12-year-old Amy is always having to look after her sister, Louann, who is brain-damaged. THis costs her friendships and the joy of being a kid with no responsibilities. When Aunt Clare lets Amy stay with her for a while she discovers an exact replica of the family home in dollhouse form. THis isn't just any dollhouse though, it is haunted by a past family mystery and won't stop until someone hears what the dolls within have to say. With the help of her sister, they'll dig up the past and solve the mystery once and for all.

What'd I Think?

I'm not typically into paranormal-type mysteries as I am what one might call a "Pansy." THis one had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out just what had happened in that old house. Wright does a great job of keeping the suspense up and illustrating the ups and downs that come with being the sister that is always counted on.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

School Library Journal

(August 01, 1999; 9780874995206)

Gr 3-7-When she witnesses peculiar events surrounding her aunt's old dollhouse in the attic, 12-year-old Amy unravels a mystery that involves a deadly family secret. By Betty R. Wright. (c) Copyright 2010.

Publishers Weekly

(May 10, 1999; 9780874995237)

Wright's taut, suspenseful novel proves a solid choice to kick off the Live Oak Mysteries audio series. The attic is always a great place to look for nuggets of one's family history, but when 12-year-old Amy explores her great-grandparents' attic, she uncovers clues to a chilling family secret. As Amy and her Aunt Claire sift through clothes, trinkets and other memorabilia, Amy comes across Aunt Claire's long-forgotten dollhouse, a finely crafted replica of the house they are in. Aunt Claire seems unusually distressed about the dollhouse and Amy is determined to find out why. The real fun begins when Amy learns that the dolls in the dollhouse move of their own willÄand that they seem to be trying to tell her something. After a little sleuthing at the local library, Amy learns that her great-grandparents were murdered years ago and that Aunt Claire's fianc‚ (who died in a car accident that same night) was the prime suspect in the unsolved case. Before long, Amy unravels the mystery, helping Aunt Claire to resolve her feelings about the past. A subplot about Amy's relationships with her parents, younger sister and best friend adds depth and warmth to this crisply paced tale. Stewart handles the narration with aplomb, using her voice to give listeners a hint of each character's personality. Her portrayal of Aunt Claire, who delivers a few chillingly snappish retorts to Amy, is particularly strong. Ages 8-up. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

What Do I Do With It?

Using a shoebox, students could create a diorama/dollhouse of any type they choose. It could be based on a house from a story, real life, or even just their imagination. They will create objects such as tables, and couches using recycled materials.

Mod 8: Nightmares! Review

What's It All About?

Charlie Laird can't catch a break. When his mom passed away his dad married, Charlotte, whom he is 99.9999% sure is a witch. They had to move to HER house, this weird purple mansion. Worst of all, he can't sleep for fear of running into a nightmare that won't go away.

What'd I Think?

Jason, baby, honey, what are you doing?! I had such high hopes for this novel when I heard you were behind it. Your screenwriting has been brilliant thus far and your acting never leaves me wanting. not to say I thought the book terrible. There were definitely some good comical parts but overall it felt like it was a plot that was stretched too thin and would have been better had it not been made to drag on.I do think kids will enjoy the silly bits and jokes that have been thrown in but won't be overly frightened of the monsters within.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

Booklist

(September 15, 2014; 9780375991578)

When Charlie Laird's mom died, he was, of course, devastated, and he's devastated all over again when his dad marries Charlotte, the kooky herbalist with unruly red hair. After they all move to Charlotte's family home a spooky, purple mansion Charlie begins having terrible nightmares starring a cauldron-stirring, red-haired witch, and he starts believing that his stepmom is not who she seems. While investigating her workroom in the tower of the house, he stumbles through a portal into the Netherworld, a creepy, fractured version of his own town that's populated with elements from kids' nightmares, including bunnies with toothy jaws for faces and a fedora-wearing gorgon. There he discovers who's really behind his bad dreams as well as some secrets about not only Charlotte but also his own mother. Segel (of The Muppets movie) and Miller build an entertaining, cartoony world full of scary (but not too scary) monsters, silly jokes, plucky kid heroes, and a cinematic plot that trundles onward to a satisfying conclusion, with a promise of adventures to come. Final illustrations not seen.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2014 Booklist

School Library Journal

(September 01, 2014; 9780385744256)

Gr 4-6-Eleven-year-old Charlie Laird is absolutely convinced that his stepmother Charlotte is a witch. She dresses funny, serves seriously strange food (kale pancakes), and runs a store called Hazel's Herbarium. Charlie's dad, little brother, and friends all like Charlotte and think Charlie's still grieving for his mom. He's also suffering from terrible nightmares, and living in Charlotte's crazy purple mansion isn't helping. The evil witch who stars in those nightmares threatens to follow the protagonist into the real world and kidnap his brother. Instead, he is tricked into the Nightmare World, peopled with monsters and madness: gorgons, goblins, crazy clowns, scary bunnies, tests filled with gibberish, and the monomaniacal President Fear (who also inhabits the real world as the truly terrifying Principal Stearns). But all is not what it seems, and some of the scariest creatures turn out to be sympathetic-or even allies. There are lessons to be learned about facing fears and uncovering the real enemy in this tale. Pals Alfie, Rocco, and Paige are interesting and fairly three-dimensional; most of the adults (with the exceptions of Fear/Stearns and Charlotte) are merely background. The fear is as much psychological as anything, and there's humor and a fairly high ick-factor, but relatively little violence. A good choice for elementary-aged scare-seekers.- Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2014. 

What Do I Do With It?

Students will create their own monster. They must give it a name, powers/scare tactics, as well as other valuable information about it should be mentioned. Their imagination is key here. They will then put the monster on a "wanted" poster to display in the hallway.