Wow. I predict we'll be hearing MUCH more about this book in the coming year! Kirby Larson has done it again with this unique collection of stories about 4 (or 5, depending on how you count them) different children's lives, all woven together by the common thread of one doll's journey. There's so much here for middle-grade girls to soak up, from the individual lessons on friendship, to the different historical periods and multiple geographic locations, to the realistic and charismatic main characters, to the magical realism of the doll itself. I'll admit I was a tad skeptical about this one, only because I've never actually liked dolls (like clowns, they totally creep me out!). But I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Another MUST READ !