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When the Dolls Woke #2
When the Dolls Woke
Long neglected dolls come awake and help their new owner and her elderly aunt find a treasure hidden in their dollhouse years ago.
136 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 11, 2018
The Dolls Come To Life plot was a literary...lodestar of my youth. If there was a book in which any humanoid-shaped toys became reanimated, you can bet I fucking read it. And fortunately there were a shit ton of them.
February 18, 2026
Marjorie Filley Stover's 1985 When the Dolls Woke is with regard to story chronology the sequel to her 1989 Midnight in the Dollhouse, with the setting for When the Dolls Woke being originally Massachusetts and later Indiana (and When the Dolls Woke taking place a century after Midnight in the Dollhouse and thus in the late 1960s since Midnight in the Dollhouse happens right after the the Civil War). But the publication dates of course show that Filley Stover penned When the Dolls Woke four years prior to Midnight in the Dollhouse, and for me personally speaking (for both my inner child and even more so for adult me), When the Dolls Woke is not in any way even remotely as engaging and as delightfully readable as Midnight in the Dollhouse has been (and that while I would definitely consider rereading Midnight in the Dollhouse, I will only ever be wanting to read When the Dolls Woke but this one time).
For yes, regarding Marjorie Filley Stover's text for When the Dolls Woke (her featured storyline, both thematically and contents wise), the mystery surrounding the treasure of When the Dolls Woke feels more than a bit routinely generic, the characters both human and doll lack the depth and development that is found in Midnight in the Dollhouse and there also being a palpable textual aura of age, decay, family dysfunction omnipresent throughout When the Dolls Woke, well, this rather makes especially my inner child lastingly sad and with this depressiveness also remaining after the generally happy enough ending for both dolls and humans in When the Dolls Woke. So while When the Dolls Woke has not been a horrible story (is a decently nice enough offering of doll fiction, friendship and family), sorry, but compared to, juxtaposed to what Filley Stover textually shows her readers with Midnight in the Dollhouse, When the Dolls Woke just does not measure up.
Finally, there are for me also some annoying issues with factual errors and political incorrectness regarding When the Dolls Woke. And while the family tree gaffe of When the Dolls Woke (with Marjorie Filley Stover writing that Woodcliff was built in the 1890s when in the story proper it is clearly pointed out that the house was built by Vance Wurling's father in the 1850s) is not really a huge problem, this did and does distract and also somewhat annoy me (and in particular adult me). But considerably more of a bone of textual contention (and for both my inner child and adult me equally and collectively), sorry, but Filley Stover in When the Dolls Woke does indeed present instances of some horrid political incorrectness which worked (or rather would be historically accurate enough) in Midnight in the Dollhouse due to it being set in the 19th century but which in When the Dolls Woke and its late 1960s time frame make us (both) very uncomfortable (how for example in When the Dolls Woke Melissa is constantly being referred to as "lame" Melissa and how the dark skinned Caribbean doll Martinique with her penchant for bright clothing, telling about and doing voodoo and speaking broken English might be and feel historically acceptable in Midnight in the Dollhouse, but in When the Dolls Woke, this is problematic, this feels misguided and has been textually handled by Marjorie Filley Stover in a manner that makes even my inner and not all that critical child cringe).
And thus, only a two star rating for When the Dolls Woke, since the lesser quality text than Midnight in the Dollhouse combined with the political correctness and error issues I have encountered can for me personally only mean two stars (and in particular so because I did indeed really adore reading Midnight in the Dollhouse and was as such also very much looking forward to When the Dolls Woke only to be rather hugely disappointed).
For yes, regarding Marjorie Filley Stover's text for When the Dolls Woke (her featured storyline, both thematically and contents wise), the mystery surrounding the treasure of When the Dolls Woke feels more than a bit routinely generic, the characters both human and doll lack the depth and development that is found in Midnight in the Dollhouse and there also being a palpable textual aura of age, decay, family dysfunction omnipresent throughout When the Dolls Woke, well, this rather makes especially my inner child lastingly sad and with this depressiveness also remaining after the generally happy enough ending for both dolls and humans in When the Dolls Woke. So while When the Dolls Woke has not been a horrible story (is a decently nice enough offering of doll fiction, friendship and family), sorry, but compared to, juxtaposed to what Filley Stover textually shows her readers with Midnight in the Dollhouse, When the Dolls Woke just does not measure up.
Finally, there are for me also some annoying issues with factual errors and political incorrectness regarding When the Dolls Woke. And while the family tree gaffe of When the Dolls Woke (with Marjorie Filley Stover writing that Woodcliff was built in the 1890s when in the story proper it is clearly pointed out that the house was built by Vance Wurling's father in the 1850s) is not really a huge problem, this did and does distract and also somewhat annoy me (and in particular adult me). But considerably more of a bone of textual contention (and for both my inner child and adult me equally and collectively), sorry, but Filley Stover in When the Dolls Woke does indeed present instances of some horrid political incorrectness which worked (or rather would be historically accurate enough) in Midnight in the Dollhouse due to it being set in the 19th century but which in When the Dolls Woke and its late 1960s time frame make us (both) very uncomfortable (how for example in When the Dolls Woke Melissa is constantly being referred to as "lame" Melissa and how the dark skinned Caribbean doll Martinique with her penchant for bright clothing, telling about and doing voodoo and speaking broken English might be and feel historically acceptable in Midnight in the Dollhouse, but in When the Dolls Woke, this is problematic, this feels misguided and has been textually handled by Marjorie Filley Stover in a manner that makes even my inner and not all that critical child cringe).
And thus, only a two star rating for When the Dolls Woke, since the lesser quality text than Midnight in the Dollhouse combined with the political correctness and error issues I have encountered can for me personally only mean two stars (and in particular so because I did indeed really adore reading Midnight in the Dollhouse and was as such also very much looking forward to When the Dolls Woke only to be rather hugely disappointed).
May 13, 2017
Following on from Midnight in the dollhouse this story skips forward in time about 100 years to a time when the doll's house is passed on to a descendant of the original owner. A mystery is solved again and treasure is found.
A 3.5 star book, my daughter said that this was an okay book, but I think it would appeal more to younger children, under 8 yrs perhaps. We did find it annoying how many times the author used the term 'vapours', we are not really sure what this means other than feelings ? Papa's vapours rose merrily, dipped and swirled, churned, frothed, and many other actions on nearly every page, it did become tiring, although we have had fun the last few days slipping the word 'vapours' into conversation!
This is an enjoyable book for young children who like dolls, doll's houses and treasure hunting.
A 3.5 star book, my daughter said that this was an okay book, but I think it would appeal more to younger children, under 8 yrs perhaps. We did find it annoying how many times the author used the term 'vapours', we are not really sure what this means other than feelings ? Papa's vapours rose merrily, dipped and swirled, churned, frothed, and many other actions on nearly every page, it did become tiring, although we have had fun the last few days slipping the word 'vapours' into conversation!
This is an enjoyable book for young children who like dolls, doll's houses and treasure hunting.
November 18, 2014
Wish fulfillment at its finest for any age: a young girl inherits an antique dollhouse passed down through generations, which just may happen to contain a treasure, and definitely contains a family of dolls who can move about when no one is looking and have long memories of the house's history and all its former owners. Along with the treasure mystery, there are nothing short of exquisite descriptions of the dollhouse's magnificent and intricately detailed furnishings. I haven't read this since elementary school, but the minute I saw the title it stirred up a rush of giddy nostalgia, and I'm pleased to discover upon rereading it that it is every bit as wonderful and cherished as I remember.
April 14, 2019
If you really loved Midnight in the Dollhouse...maybe consider not reading this one. I was so excited to find out one of my favorite childhood books had a sequel, and so let down by it. It’s like the literary equivalent of “never meet your heroes.”
On the first page you see a family tree and find out Melissa, the main character of the first book, never married and has died. It also is upsetting that, while in the first book they try to tell Melissa that her limp won’t matter, in this one they refer to her repeatedly as “lame Melissa.” And beloved Vance and Rosemary have also passed on.
You also learn about a terrible plane crash that took the lives of many in the family, which is barely relevant to the story. Basically it only serves to be the reason Abby gives the Dollhouse to her niece and namesake instead of a grandchild. And why, for heaven’s sake, did we need to have a character marry their second cousin; again, not really relevant to the story?
As for the dolls... Martinique has turned into a bitter grump, although she does get redeemed. And while it is what would happen, it’s very sad to read about how the dolls have been abused (torn dirty clothes, matted and cut hair). Again, they get fixed up, but it just seems to take away so much of the magic.
From the very beginning, I expected the gold coin that Melissa got at the end of the first book to be the treasure they found in the fireplace, so that was a nice surprise that it wasn’t. The author had emphasized in Midnight that it was smaller than a dime.
I guess I just wanted a more magical and joyful story than a truthful one of age and decay.
On the first page you see a family tree and find out Melissa, the main character of the first book, never married and has died. It also is upsetting that, while in the first book they try to tell Melissa that her limp won’t matter, in this one they refer to her repeatedly as “lame Melissa.” And beloved Vance and Rosemary have also passed on.
You also learn about a terrible plane crash that took the lives of many in the family, which is barely relevant to the story. Basically it only serves to be the reason Abby gives the Dollhouse to her niece and namesake instead of a grandchild. And why, for heaven’s sake, did we need to have a character marry their second cousin; again, not really relevant to the story?
As for the dolls... Martinique has turned into a bitter grump, although she does get redeemed. And while it is what would happen, it’s very sad to read about how the dolls have been abused (torn dirty clothes, matted and cut hair). Again, they get fixed up, but it just seems to take away so much of the magic.
From the very beginning, I expected the gold coin that Melissa got at the end of the first book to be the treasure they found in the fireplace, so that was a nice surprise that it wasn’t. The author had emphasized in Midnight that it was smaller than a dime.
I guess I just wanted a more magical and joyful story than a truthful one of age and decay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2011
Jennie and I got to talking about books we'd loved as kids and we both remembered this one - although all we could recall was a doll family, one of which was from Martinique. A few google searches later and we had the title. A few days later, I had a copy - thanks ILL! I loved this book SO MUCH - and I still do. Come on, Christmas, history, family trees and lore, dolls and adventure. It's still stuff I love. I was so jealous of this dollhouse and Aunt Abby and how they decorated everything. Not to mention the dolls that could think for themselves, live their own lives outside and inside the parameters set by whatever little girl owned them, and go on adventures like getting their own Christmas tree and solving a century long mystery of a treasure in the dollhouse. <3
What I don't like is that the original owner was called "Lame Melissa" all the time, and the resolution for Martinique sucked. But still...pretty doll house. Christmas. Adventure.
Originally read 1989.
What I don't like is that the original owner was called "Lame Melissa" all the time, and the resolution for Martinique sucked. But still...pretty doll house. Christmas. Adventure.
Originally read 1989.
July 9, 2011
The dollhouse was built in 1890 by Captain Vance for his lame sister. It's current owner, 90 year-old Abby, decides to give it to her namesake, her great great niece Gail (both were named Abigail). The dolls who live in the dollhouse can think and hear. Abby has no money to move to a retirement home. The doll, Sir Gregory, has a vague memory of Captain Vance long ago telling him to keep a secret until a time when his daughter Abby is in trouble. And Gail is certain that there is a fortune hidden in the dollhouse. This is a nice imaginative story for middle grade readers.
September 29, 2024
Even more charming than I remembered.
February 13, 2019
This book was a rare find, I loved it!
July 28, 2024
Not impressed. I get it's fantasy, and the concept was cute, but when you start getting into telepathy and voodoo, I'm not impressed.
October 16, 2022
I absolutely LOVED this book as a kid but couldn’t for the life of me remember the name as I got older. So glad to have found it here. It’s been long enough since I read it that I don’t know if I can give it the full five stars for something I’d recommend now (I’ll update this if I can get my hands on it), but it was imaginative and charming and I remember it had a sense of tension regarding a 100-year-old mystery that, looking back, I’m pretty impressed by.
June 8, 2021
Another blast from the past. Apparently this book was written a few years before the other, I never knew that. I think Midnight in the Dollhouse is the better book, but this one was fun too, although it's a bit sad to find out what happened to Melissa, Vance, and Rosemary. Makes me want to pull out my old dollhouse stuff.
February 10, 2023
I don't give away spoilers in my reviews. I often read young adult and will read any children's book about dollhouses.
When the Dolls Woke was a fast read and was creative. The dollhouse was passed down through generations and held a secret only the dolls knew. I thought it was well written and a cute little mystery.
When the Dolls Woke was a fast read and was creative. The dollhouse was passed down through generations and held a secret only the dolls knew. I thought it was well written and a cute little mystery.
August 20, 2024
This book was a childhood fever dream that I reread multiple times. Who doesn't want an ancient dollhouse where the dolls are secretly alive and guarding a hidden treasure?
I had no idea this book was a sequel. I have no idea if this book would hold up to my adult expectations. Mom donated/tossed my copy when I got "too old" for kid's books and it's no longer in print.
I had no idea this book was a sequel. I have no idea if this book would hold up to my adult expectations. Mom donated/tossed my copy when I got "too old" for kid's books and it's no longer in print.
December 5, 2022
No doubt if I were still a young school child (RL4), I would have given this at least a 4-star rating. Rather dated for today's elementary kids, but perhaps that makes it a more valuable read for children nowadays.
August 30, 2025
What a fun story—enchanting, not spooky with a bit of character development. I foresaw a logical ending that would suit all the characters, and though the author didn’t carry the story that far, I’ll pretend that’s what happens!
October 24, 2018
A great and easy to read book!
November 14, 2019
Great story with a little mystery.
September 24, 2020
Fun read.
February 16, 2017
As a kid, I found this to be a lovely book to read. Intriguing, and I found each of the doll's characters to be very interesting (particularly Martinique).
A good children's book.
A good children's book.
April 18, 2016
A young girl receives an antique dollhouse from her great aunt that may hold hidden treasure. The dolls come awake and help her find it.
I remember loving this book as kid and so I decided to reread it. I loved my dollhouse as a child and I remember being enchanted by the idea that the dolls would come awake when people weren't looking. I still find the story charming, but now as an adult I can see that there are things that could be considered problematic. There is a disabled person referred to as "lame Melissa," which wouldn't exactly be PC today. There is also a doll who is from the french Islands with dark skin who practices Voodoo and is portrayed as mysterious and scary to start. As I did not pick up on these as a kid and just remembered the charming aspects, I think these can be forgiven or just maybe have a conversation about them.
I remember loving this book as kid and so I decided to reread it. I loved my dollhouse as a child and I remember being enchanted by the idea that the dolls would come awake when people weren't looking. I still find the story charming, but now as an adult I can see that there are things that could be considered problematic. There is a disabled person referred to as "lame Melissa," which wouldn't exactly be PC today. There is also a doll who is from the french Islands with dark skin who practices Voodoo and is portrayed as mysterious and scary to start. As I did not pick up on these as a kid and just remembered the charming aspects, I think these can be forgiven or just maybe have a conversation about them.
February 4, 2016
I don't remember quite what age I was when I read this book, but I think I was about ten or so. The fact that my father actually had built a dollhouse for my sister and me back when I was four or five probably helped seal my interest in the story. Even now, nearly 30 years later, I remember the inscription that helped solve the mystery of the dollhouse:
"Build stone by stone" our motto dear;
Keep faith and seek thy fortune here.
Since it's been a while, I can't really speak to how well the story may stand up to modern sensibilities, but I remember it as having good pacing and feeling relatively imaginative and original.
"Build stone by stone" our motto dear;
Keep faith and seek thy fortune here.
Since it's been a while, I can't really speak to how well the story may stand up to modern sensibilities, but I remember it as having good pacing and feeling relatively imaginative and original.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2010
I read this book, and the prequel, Midnight in the Dollhouse over and over when I was younger. I hadn't thought about them in years, and I found this one on accident in a used book store and was estatic! Now, I just need the other one... But I loved them!
Read more about my thoughts, feelings and memories of this book on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
Read more about my thoughts, feelings and memories of this book on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
July 1, 2013
This feels extremely familiar, but I can't say 100% I read this as a child. Midnight in the Dollhouse, the other book by Marjorie Filley Stover, sounds extremely familiar. If I recall correctly, the girl had one leg longer than the other because of her accident. There can't be more than one series involving the plot, right?
I do know I read a book about a dollhouse come to life, and it made me want a dollhouse with miniature furniture SO BAD. I've never quite gotten over that.
I do know I read a book about a dollhouse come to life, and it made me want a dollhouse with miniature furniture SO BAD. I've never quite gotten over that.
February 16, 2013
The only thing i did not like about this book was the vodoo they tried to incorporate into the book. Otherwise, the plot, characters, settings, and conflict were both interesting and believable (for being about dolls, of course ;) )
January 8, 2014
I am pretty sure that reading this book as a kid started my obsession with miniatures and dollhouses! I loved reading about the dolls' history and Abigail and Gail's family tree. The description of the antique dollhouse and its details is purely magical! This is one of my favorite childhood books.
April 8, 2008
I have a nice memory of reading this out loud to my Mom on a really long car trip. Very sweet story, and motivated me to get a dollhouse (although I never did much with it)!
December 17, 2008
Would the dolls tell Gail their secret?
February 17, 2015
I love this book and this author!! Very creative story and a fulfilling quick read! I love the hidden treasure aspect of this story! I'm interested in finding more books by this author.
August 28, 2010
A favorite from childhood.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews