The Doll in the Garden, by Mary Downing Hahn

After her father’s death, almost-eleven Ashley and her mother move to get away from the constant reminders of their grief. They end up in a house which was divided into halves, one half for Miss Cooper, the angry, bitter owner of the house, and one half for them. Miss Cooper, who hates kids, orders Ashley to stay away from the wild part of the garden. But Ashley follows a white cat into it, and there discovers a mysterious buried doll…

Ghost stories are the perfect vehicle for stories about grief. This short novel deals movingly with grief and friendship and healing, the impossibility of changing the past and the possibility of changing the present. It’s only a little bit spooky, but is very touching and exactly the right length.

The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story[image error]

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