Cameron Chaney's Reviews > Don't Let the Doll In

A big thank you to Mike Ford for sending me the Frightville series in exchange for an honest review.

Being a kid in the '90s, I had a front row seat when Goosebumps mania broke out over the entire population. Everything was Goosebumps; books, action figures, board games, school supplies, alarm clocks, bedding, t-shirts, tennis shoes... I'll stop there, otherwise I'll never stop. But one of the things I loved most were the many Goosebumps knock-offs that hit bookstore shelves everywhere. These little series, while not as good as Goosebumps, served to hold me over until the next R.L. Stine book came out. (Back then, you didn't have to wait long, as he was releasing three or four a month.) And then, almost as fast as it came, Goosebumps left, and kids moved onto other things. With it disappeared the many Goosebumps knock-off books that I loved.

But, wouldn't ya know, as soon as Stine started writing Goosebumps once more for modern day kids, the knock-offs (or, as I like to put it, "throwbacks") came back! There are many to choose from, but one of the more recent series is Frightville by Mike Ford. Don't Let the Doll In is a nice start to this spooky new series.

It is about a young girl named Mara who is building a dollhouse with her mom, but before the dollhouse can be considered finished, Mara needs one more important piece: a doll to live in the house. Well, a store by the name of Frightville just opened in town, and they have just the doll for Mara, one that may be host to the spirit of a young girl.

This book definitely gave me Annabelle vibes, though I will say the spirit residing in this doll is far less dangerous. This wasn't a scary book by any means, just a quick, cute read that I think young kids will enjoy. The writing is simple, easier to read than a Goosebumps book even, and has a very simple plot. Most adults probably won't care for this... unless you are a weirdo like me and enjoy a mindless Goosebumps throwback. There are plot holes, yes, so I had to deduct a couple of stars, but I enjoyed this overall. I will definitely continue reading the series.

3 stars. Good cemetery reading material. (Yes, that's a thing for me.)