The Oracle Doll

by Catherine Dexter

Lucy and Rose Wilson, together with their neighbor, James, work to control an ancient and powerful oracle that has taken over Gabby, once an ordinary doll

Genres: Childrens, Fiction

195 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1985

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 'ghost story' is actually almost sf, but in any case it's more of a hook to get us interested in a story about family ties and about how much we really want to know about our destinies, and if we can control them. There's a little bit of ancient history which is kinda cool, and a real adventure and mystery.

I like the realistic r'ship between the sisters... there's some rivalry but mostly they get along, and they def. love each other. I like that the dad has no problem taking over when mom has to go away for weeks, even having a repertoire of cooking several different wholesome meals, despite this being written in 1985. (I was there; yes, we had civil rights for women etc., but adult males were still, more often than not, fairly clueless.)

I didn't like that Rose was introduced as a dreamy reader, content to enjoy a quiet summer, and then becomes very adventurous and brave, and also seems to never have read anything relevant to their adventure or to read during downtimes... she seems to be a brand-new person, somehow, as soon as the adventure starts.

Well anyway. Not the shortest book for the demographic, but a fast, fun, engaging read that, if I'd not been interrupted by my own offspring, I would have read in one comfortable sitting. Recommended.

And now, I read it because I'd had the author recommended to me; let's see what else my libraries have by her.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. Originally published as "The Oracle Doll" (a much better title), this is a fun read with just a touch of creepiness and (for this reader, anyway) some 1980s nostalgia. It was published around the time teenage me stopped checking children's books out of the library, but if I'd read it as a kid I'm sure I'd have loved it.

The setting is Boston, not a city I know well, but it felt like the book had a strong sense of place, especially in accounts of visits to the Boston Children's Museum, where a couple of important scenes take place. The characters and interactions of the children are well drawn and believable, and the story offers some food for thought about whether or not it's a good idea to know the future. I'd read more by Catherine Dexter if any of her other books fall serendipitously in my lap, as this one did.

My sister asked me if this was a a time slip book; it's not, though it is speculative fiction.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Oracle Doll, Rose Wilson is enjoying her summer doing nothing, unless it's her mother bugging her to be more pro-active. One day, after being finishing grocery shopping with her mom and little sister, Lucy, Rose could have sworn she heard Lcuy's doll, Gabby, speak. Later, it turns out Gabby could talk, and speaks of predictions that turn out true. Rose learns the spirit of the Oracle, from the Ancient Greek era, has possessed the doll. Soon Rose, Lucy, and new friend James, are visiting Gabby every day in the backyard, building her a shrine in the cave behind the bushes and giving her offerings to have their fortunes told. Truly, seeing the future is much more fun and it becomes the best summer for Rose, that is, until Gabby goes missing. Now the trio must come up with a plan to rescue Gabby and return her to the shrine, even if it means having to call help from their mysterious neighbor, Mr. Edgar.

I spotted this book after going through a small history trip on learning about the Oracle of Delphi. A real figure that worshipped the God Apollo and able to give people visions of their future. For the most part, The Oracle Doll only delves into the basics of history, since this is a children's book. The characters are written believably, though they are not fully fleshed out to be distinctive. Then again, this book was published in the 80s before children's literature took a new edge in the upcoming decades. The mystery of figuring out Gabby's voice was the focus on the first half, before the rescue mission comes by the second. If there was a moral lesson put in here, it could be that knowing everything that could happen in the future would not be too pleasing. Sometimes life is enjoyable in living in the moment and experience surprises in the most unexpected ways, something Rose eventually learns near the end. Still, Oracle Doll is relatively enjoyable in how it fits a little bit of history into a 'contemporary' setting and having an adventure that doesn't require leaving the neighborhood.

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greek mythology meets haunted doll gets a check mark for all of my childhood (and apparently adulthood) interests. A fun little book that never gets too creepy although the adults are weirdly unsettling in some ways.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a child, but I didn't realize how creepy the book could be as an adult. The novel was enjoyable however.

[Robyn]

(My copy is the paperback, but that was put into the GR system with 0 pages)

I had this book in the 1980s, and it was in the box of books my folks brought on their last visit, so I gave it a reread.