The Dollhouse Magic

by Yona Zeldis McDonough, Diane Palmisciano (Illustrator)

Sometimes Miss Whitcomb faced the inside of the dollhouse out toward the street; other times, it was the facade. Either way, the girls loved to see the way she rearranged and changed it, to fit in perfectly with the holidays and seasons.

Lila and Jane can't seem to walk down Cheshire street without stopping at their good friend Miss Whitcomb's home to admire the beautiful dollhouse in her window. Since Daddy lost his job, the girls can only dream of owning a dollhouse as grand. After all, it's three stories, with real clapboard siding and a cedar shingle roof.

But one day something sad happens to Miss Whitcomb, and Lila and Jane are devastated. How will the girls find hope in a time of need? Set during the Depression, this heartwarming story proves that friendship is indeed a magic all its own.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Chapter Books, Childrens, Fiction

96 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2000

About the author

I live in Park Slope, Brooklyn and many of my novels take place here. But my new novel takes place in New Hampshire, and I have woven into it a historical component: the tragic story of Ruth Blay, who in 1768 was the last woman hanged in the state. When I read about Ruth, I was fascinated and horrified in equal measure, and I knew I had to write about her.
I was educated at Vassar College and Columbia University, where I studied art history. But I started writing fiction in my 20's and never looked back. I am the author of seven novels, 27 books for children and am the editor of two essay collections. I'm also the fiction editor of Lilith Magazine . Please visit my website, http://www.yonazeldismcdonough.com or find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/yzmcdonough; I love to connect with readers everywhere.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yona Zeldis McDonough's 2000 The Dollhouse Magic (which I found and read on Open Library) is a historical fiction pre and immediately post Christmas chapter book geared towards young independent readers and in my opinion specifically girls from the ages of seven to nine or so (and bien sûr in particular if they are interested in dollhouses and intergenerational friendship), thus probably second to fourth graders. And indeed, even though for adult me, having historical fiction penned entirely in the present tense does feel rather artificial, well, for the above mentioned seven to nine year olds, Zeldis McDonough writing The Dollhouse Magic without using past tense verbs, this definitely does make The Dollhouse Magic really easy to read and also gives a nice sense of textual immediacy (although it also reduces character depth a bit but that my inner child certainly does not notice this all that much and also does not mind either).

Now with a Great Depression (early 1930s USA) Yuletide setting (nicely realistic with job losses, having to downsize, having to make do with regard to everything, including Christmas presents, but also thankfully not overly doom and gloom either) in The Dollhouse Magic Yona Zeldis McDonough introduces her readers to two young sisters, to Lila and Jane (with there also being three other siblings in the family, along with the parents but that Lila and Jane are definitely the main protagonists of The Dollhouse Magic). And indeed, The Dollhouse Magic is simply but sweetly about the two sisters visiting Miss Amanda Whitcomb's dollhouse, first being shown by Zeldis McDonough as enjoying looking at the dollhouse from the outside, but after actually meeting and becoming friends with Miss Whitcomb then also being able to actually play with the dollhouse, to look and handle all of the furniture, all of the various dolls (and with both the dollhouse and of course equally so Lila and Jane's intergenerational friendship with Amanda Whitcomb being the main attractions and stars of The Dollhouse Magic).

But honestly, why does Yona Zeldis McDonough in The Dollhouse Magic make the friendship between our main protagonists and Miss Amanda Whitcomb be so very fleeting in nature, in so far that she has Miss Whitcomb die on Christmas Eve and only very shortly after her friendship with Lila and Jane begins? Yes, I know that people die and that death is natural, but why have Miss Whitcomb die on Christmas Eve without any warning or preparation? And indeed, and yes, this aspect of The Dollhouse Magic does certainly leave a wee bit of a bitter taste in my mouth for especially childhood me, that even Lila and Jane receiving the dollhouse after their elderly friend's death does not really fully remove said taste for and from me either (and also makes my rating for The Dollhouse Magic be only three stars, although I do acknowledge that I might well be a be a bit overly critical here, but that I also stand by my feelings and my mild but definite criticisms regarding the death scenario for The Dollhouse Magic and that it has to come so very quickly after the friendship starts and also happen on Christmas Eve).

[Kate Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happiest of happy sighs. <3

I spent a great deal of my childhood wishing for a dollhouse book that didn’t include murder, magic, or other drama. Just dolls.

This book immediately took me back to that time in life and was such a lovely, enjoyable experience. The main characters had a sweet, wholesome family life and a beautiful friendship with an older lady in their community. Also, the dollhouse and its occupants were surprisingly detailed for how short the book is, and my little girl heart ate up every word. ;)

The ending was bittersweet and hopeful. <3

Altogether, I enjoyed this very much and immediately added it to my list of favorites. I look forward to sharing it with my younger sisters.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming Christmas story set during the Great Depression. I didn't like it as much as The Doll Shop Downstairs or The Cats in the Doll Shop. It's for a little bit younger age range (maybe 2-3 grade/7-8 years). I found the present tense style didn't really work for the story. It seemed a little bit of an odd choice but maybe kids relate to that better. I though the story was a bit too nice and neat for me. It was so predictable. I didn't really understand the title, that comes in at the end.

I got this for my 7 1/2 year old niece but I think it's a bit too advanced for her still. I'll try again at Christmas.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so glad I didn't read this as a kid...this book needs a warning label! Granted, not every kid is as sensitive as I am when it comes to characters dying...but still.

[Sara Houser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now just because I’ve rated this book 3 stars doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. The book itself felt like it was set maybe in the 40’s following a family with 5 young children who have fallen into hard times. Going from there The story progresses very slowly but still managed to hold some of my interest. The plot which ended up being very sad was still very predictable but yet happy. So yes I did enjoy the read but it still gets 3 stars.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with my 5 year old. The vocabulary was advanced and it was fun to read a historical fiction for kids. The death of the old lady and Great Depression elements were not too scary or emotional.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.

http://spreadthewordnevada.org/

Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.

I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.

[Linore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Innocuous little chapter book with winsome illustrations. The "magic" isn't literal, but figurative, referring to the fact that by the end of the book the two little girls who admire a neighbor's dollhouse become the new owners when the kindly old woman (surprisingly, without any foreshadowing) passes away. I would have preferred some foreshadowing, and I think young readers, while not knowing what's missing, will sense that lack.