Careful what you wish for: The Doll's Eye by Marina Cohen

HI guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're spotlighting a title that released a little earlier this year, but I hadn't had a chance to give it its time in the sun...until now.  Allow me to turn the wattage up to 110% because this author has once again struck gold with a Children's Fiction story the is both familiar and unique, while giving it just enough creepiness to have you leave the light on.  It's a curious combination, I know, but it works oh so well and so, without further ado, I give you today's book of choice...

The Doll's Eye

by

Marina Cohen

9781626722040

Roaring Brook Press

About the book...

All Hadley wants is for everything to go back to the way it used to be—back when she didn’t have to share her mother with her stepfather and stepbrother. Back when she wasn't forced to live in a musty, decomposing house. Back when she had a life in the city with her friends.

As Hadley whiles away what’s left of her summer, exploring the nearby woods and splitting her time between her strange, bug-obsessed neighbor Gabe and the nice old lady that lives above the garage, she begins to notice the house isn’t just old and creaky. It’s full of secrets, just like appearance of a mysterious dollhouse and the family of perfect dolls she finds.

Oh, how she wishes her family were more like those lovely dolls! Then one day, Hadley discovers a lone glass eye rolling around the floor of the attic. Holding it close one night, she makes a wish that just might change her world forever.

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First things first, that cover!

It's so cute yet SPOOKY at the same time...and the deeper you read into the novel, the more things pictured become clear.  Seriously, I didn't see the little detail on the doll's head until I was like halfway through the book and then I almost dropped it in surprise!  ~shudders~  

Second things second, the story!

Just as she did with The Inn Between, the author is able to weave a story with enough chills to keep a broader audience interested, but not so many that younger readers will be clamoring into parents beds.  It has a familiar feel to it, like a memory you've only just forgotten, while still bringing you to new places, circumstances, and curiosities.  The parallels drawn between Hadley and the child from the past serve to strengthen the overall history being uncovered, without overshadowing the strange happenings of present day, allowing readers to get lost in BOTH stories without truly being lost.  You'll come to care dearly about our girl Hadley and worry for her as what's really happening becomes blatantly clear.

Third things third, my conclusion!

In the end, it was a quick read that I simply couldn't put down.  I had to see how things would play out for our little leading lady as well as those around her.  With every turn of the page, we're brought closer to the shifty shady finale, but ultimately what happens is kept as secret as the house's history is to new buyers.  It reminds us to be grateful for what we have as well as who we have in our lives because you never know when something might upset the balance and set things in motion most unexpected.  So, my friends, come in for a cup of tea and sit a spell...just be careful what you wish for, and do mind the dolls....

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About the author...

Marina Cohen grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, where she spent far too much time asking herself what if. . . . In elementary school, her favorite author was Edgar Allen Poe. She loved “The Tell-Tale Heart” and aspired to write similar stories. She is attracted to the fantastical, the bizarre, and all things eerie. 

Site  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

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Special thanks to MacMillan Publishers for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now via Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of MacMillan Publishers, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

The Inn Between by Marina Cohen

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're packing our bags and taking a trip to the...last hotel you ever want to stay at.  *-*  Ominous enough for you?  Perfect!  Then you have been adequately warned because a stay here is like a stay at no other hotel and though you've never seen the likes of them, if you arrive they will have been expecting you.  *gulp*  -cue the creepy organ music-  So ladies and gents, if you'd be so kind as to gather your belongings and step gaily to the virtual desk, an attendant will be with you shortly.  In the mean time, may I introduce today's book of choice...

The Inn Between

by

Marina Cohen

9781626722026

Roaring Brook Press

About the book...

Eleven-year-old Quinn has had some bad experiences lately. She was caught cheating in school, and then one day, her little sister Emma disappeared while walking home from school. She never returned.

When Quinn's best friend Kara has to move away, she goes on one last trip with Kara and her family. They stop over at the first hotel they see, a Victorian inn that instantly gives Quinn the creeps, and she begins to notice strange things happening around them. When Kara's parents and then brother disappear without a trace, the girls are stranded in a hotel full of strange guests, hallways that twist back in on themselves, and a particularly nasty surprise lurking beneath the floorboards. Will the girls be able to solve the mystery of what happened to Kara's family before it's too late?

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I'm not one to believe the hype easily, especially when they contain references to two rather famous works from other areas of the entertainment industry.  In this case however, the hype is FOR REAL.

Toted as a Middle Grade cross between The Shining and Hotel California, this novel really works the magic that can be found abundantly in both movie and song.  We have the mystery of a hotel that they happened to stumble upon in the middle of nowhere, and yet the staff claims they were expecting you nonetheless. Motto or something more?  Hmm...that remains to be seen at first but will be revealed in due time.  While we wait, let's check out the facilities!  It seems Quinn and Kara are more than satisfied with their quarters, although isn't it funny how their room is bedecked in things they both adore?  The pool is certainly nice for a lay about, but beware sinister fellows lurking about in black and yellow ball caps.  Josh, Kara's brother, is in heaven with the seemingly all you can eat buffets...just don't try anything below the ground floor levels dining facilities.  *ahem*  Suffice it to say, things aren't exactly what they seem and while the desire to leave is strong, they just can't seem to actually accomplish it.  With family members disappearing, those lost reappearing, and shadowy happenings going on just out of eyesight, Quinn and Kara will have to unravel what's REALLY going on if they ever hope to check out from their extended stay.

I really enjoyed this novel much more than I anticipated.  The family hardships, the close knit friendship, even the annoying brother, were all heartfelt and thoroughly captured.  The creepiness of the inn itself was just right, allowing readers to settle in without ever really getting comfortable.  I mean really, if they have that many locations, why have they never heard of them?  What's with the odd assortment of attire and the airline stewardess that operates the elevator?  You have a feeling there is something bigger than what you're seeing, and as the recollections dance closer to the truth, it seems to be right in your grasp...until it slips away like a distant dream and you're left with nothing but the TRUTH.  I'm telling you, the ending...you're gonna need tissues.  Be prepared.

To conclude, a great read perfect for the Middle Grade set that spins a story easy to relate to while still remaining in the realm of fantasy.  You'll become fast friends with these besties and feel their apprehension as they approach the final destination that's meant to sever their bond...but they won't go down without a fight.

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About the author...

Marina Cohen grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, where she spent far too much time asking herself what if... In elementary school, her favorite author was Edgar Allen Poe. She loved "The Tell-Tale Heart" and aspired to write similar stories. She is a love of the fantastical, the bizarre, and all things creepy.

SITE  |  TWITTER

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Special thanks to the team at MacMillan Publishing for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now via Roaring Brook Press, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!