Playmates

by Abigail McDaniels

Moving to a new house is the last thing six-year-old Cassie Walker wants--until she finds the wonderful playhouse waiting for her. Even better than the playhouse is the toy chest Cassie discovers inside, filled with all sorts of wonderful treasures. And the best treasure of all is the doll. With her shiny blue eyes, curly blonde hair and silky-soft skin, she's a special dolly. But even Cassie doesn't know how very special Ara is.

For over seventy years, Ara has lived in the playhouse, sharing her sinister secrets with each new little girl. But when Cassie decides she doesn't want to play with her scary new friend anymore, Ara sets out to teach her the same lesson she taught all her other playmates--a lesson that will take Cassie's last breath away!

Genres: Horror

252 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1993

Reviews

[Zoé-Lee O'Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh, what an unsettling book! I hate dolls, and detest them but keeping in line with researching possessed dolls. I picked this up. It’s taken me a year to read it but safe to say…I am sleeping with one eye open tonight!!

Dolls are creepy and unsettling and even reading this book in the daytime didn’t help the nerves in certain parts of this book. Even though it’s not real, I could imagine it happening! *shudder*

Cassie is such a cute girl and I felt for her. She was struggling with this psychotic doll. Her mum, Janet, who knew something was going on, just completely dismissed her when Cassie told her the truth and that really peeved me off! But she came through in the end.

It has the elements for such a good horror story and I really enjoyed this. Unnerved, I definitely, hate dolls even more. Completely.

I wish I had found this book when it came out in the 1990s as this would have sedated my need for scary books….but to be fair, the younger me might have been terrified even more of dolls and had my own burning party.

I am really intrigued by this author and her other books. They sing to my love for the darker side and if she can cause the reactions she has with this book I can’t wait to see what she does with the other books!!!

[Jonny Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

This was a fun read and was super glad to thrift this.

Nothing horribly original. Girl has haunted doll and parents won't believe her and things get worse.

This felt like an adult Goosebumps book

It definitely won't be for everybody, but I read this pretty fast, so, always give points for readability.

I do think it ended too abruptly, but overall was fun

[Egghead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evil doll threatens
a small child in a small town.
You've read this before.

[Susi Mirick · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome book...fresh idea...not something that is rehashed to death...i loved it...it is an easy read and fast paced but not childish....