Eleven-year-old Tiph is pushing her little brother Phillip in his stroller when she sees an old lady gripping a fence as if close to collapsing. Tiph collects the woman’s dog and helps her to a seat at the nearby dollhouse store, where Gretel, a small doll, has been put on display in hopes of a Christmas sale. Although Gretel is vintage and valuable, collectors pass her by year after year. Gretel doesn’t want a collector—she wants a child. And so, the stage is set for this unexpected trio to form a connection that will impact each of their lives in small and in significant ways. The old woman is Ms. Rózsahegyi, a sometimes prickly and often outspoken elder who solicits Tiph’s help to walk her dog and care for her cat as she recovers from surgery. Tiph welcomes the chance to get out of her house, where her father and stepmother are clashing and a new baby demands attention. She also wants to earn the money to buy Gretel from the store whose owner believes Tiph is guilty of an earlier theft—and he’s right. Complex contemporary characters and realistic interactions merge seamlessly with the magic of the dollhouse world. The satisfying conclusion heals rifts new and old while fitting together the plot’s puzzle pieces into heartfelt perfection.

Eleven-year-old Tiph is pushing her little brother Phillip in his stroller when she sees an old lady gripping a fence as if close to collapsing. Tiph collects the woman’s dog and helps her to a seat at the nearby dollhouse store, where Gretel, a small doll, has been put on display in hopes of a Christmas sale. Although Gretel is vintage and valuable, collectors pass her by year after year. Gretel doesn’t want a collector—she wants a child. And so, the stage is set for this unexpected trio to form a connection that will impact each of their lives in small and in significant ways. The old woman is Ms. Rózsahegyi, a sometimes prickly and often outspoken elder who solicits Tiph’s help to walk her dog and care for her cat as she recovers from surgery. Tiph welcomes the chance to get out of her house, where her father and stepmother are clashing and a new baby demands attention. She also wants to earn the money to buy Gretel from the store whose owner believes Tiph is guilty of an earlier theft—and he’s right. Complex contemporary characters and realistic interactions merge seamlessly with the magic of the dollhouse world. The satisfying conclusion heals rifts new and old while fitting together the plot’s puzzle pieces into heartfelt perfection. (Ages 9-12)

"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.