The Winter of the Dollhouse

By Laura Amy Schlitz

"Intricately detailed and nuanced characters, relatable domestic scenes with emotional heft, and evocative writing make for an enchanting, gratifying read." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

This captivating coming-of-age story is touching, funny, and beautifully layered, with a fairy-tale ending that only Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz could deliver.

On a gloomy November night, eleven-year-old Tiphany Stokes saves an old lady from collapsing in the street. An antique doll named Gretel watches them, longing for Tiph to rescue her from life in a shop window. Though none of these three characters realizes it, their worlds are about to change: Gretel will no longer be a precious prisoner. The old lady--is she a witch?--will discover the secret hidden in her long-neglected dollhouse. And Tiph--whose parents rejoice that she is "never any trouble"--will become a thief, a dog walker, an actor, and best of all, a friend.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 153623608X
• ISBN13: 9781536236088
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.8" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7