*The Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz

The Winter of the Dollhouse is a cozy story with fantasy elements addressing generational relationship, longing, loss, and reconciliation.

*The Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz. Candlewick, 2025. 389 pages.

• Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12
• Recommended For: ages 8-12

From the day Mr. DiLucca, the store owner, took Gretel out of her box and made her part of his holiday window display, she longed for a child to love her and be loved in return. But that wasn’t likely, for Gretel was a collector’s item: “An original Von Schwangau! In perfect condition!” No child would be able to afford her. But Gretel fell in love anyway, with that girl who paused by window to stare at her with longing eyes.

One day another doll joined the window display: Little Red Riding Hood (Red for short), a lively, imaginative figurine (slightly damaged, not worth quite as much) who shares Gretel’s longing for a home. Gretel has to get used to having a friend, for “if you were alone, you could believe you were right all the time. [With] a friend, you learned you weren’t.” The girl on the other side of the glass could also use a friend, having recently moved from Philadelphia to this seaside town. Tiph (short for Tiphany) lost her mother while very young, and though her stepmother Holly is nice, Tiph often resents having to babysit her 3-year-old half-brother Phillip and baby Rain. 

While walking Phillip in his stroller one gloomy November, Tiph comes to the aid of an elderly lady by chasing down her runaway dog. The lady is sharp at first, possibly because she left the hospital too soon after surgery, but the two soon warm to each other. One reason might be that Ms. Rózsahegyi also loves dolls—and even owns a doll house.

She offers Tiph a job walking the dog for $25 per week—and at that rate, Tiph might just be able to afford Gretel after a few months. But when she and her new friend, whom she calls Neni (Aunt) Szilvia, visit Mr. DiLucca’s shop, temptation is too strong. Tiph pockets the doll, setting in motion a chain of circumstances that will create guilt, adventure, change, conflict, and eventually forgiveness and reconciliation.

The setting is small and domestic but the characters (human, doll, and animal) comprise a little universe of loss, longing, and resolution. The only mention of church is about someone not going, and yet universal Christian themes (intentional or not) come through, such as: “Your debt’s been paid. Think it over. And stop stealing.” Characters are allowed to be themselves, flawed but well-meaning, and what has been pulled apart comes together in the way the best stories resolve.

Considerations:

• Language: A few misuses of God’s name.

Bottom Line: A touching and sympathetic portrait of a girl taking a big step toward growing up.

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• Reviews: We’ve reviewed several of Schmitz’s books: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! (Newbery Medal Winner), Splendors and Glooms (Newbery Honor), and Amber & Clay (starred review)
• Review: Ann Martin’s Doll People is a winning chapter-book series for girls.
• Reviews: More fantasy books for this age group that (like the title above) read almost like realistic fiction, include The Library of Curiosities, Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel, and Island of Stars.

You may purchase The Winter of the Dollhouse from Amazon