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Doll People #2
The Meanest Doll in the World
Annabelle Doll and Tiffany Funcraft are two dolls who have been best friends since they met in Kate Palmer's house at 26 Wetherby Lane. In this sequel to The Doll People, they hitch a ride in Kate's backpack and find themselves in the biggest adventure of their lives, a day at school! But when an attempt to return home lands them in the wrong house, they're in far deeper trouble than they imagined. Along with a host of new doll friends, they also encounter Mean Mimi, the wickedest doll of all. Mean Mimi is mean-really mean-and she's determined to rule all of Doll-kind or else destroy it. Will the world ever be safe for dolls again? In this masterfully plotted sequel, Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin take the listener/reader on another nonstop adventure from a doll's eye view!
RUNNING TIME ➩ 3hrs. and 52mins.
©2008 Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin (P)2008 Random House, Inc.
RUNNING TIME ➩ 3hrs. and 52mins.
©2008 Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin (P)2008 Random House, Inc.
Audible Audio
First published September 23, 2003
92 people are currently reading
2091 people want to read
About the author
Ann M. Martin
1,114 books3,062 followersAnn Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 519 reviews
July 6, 2013
I loved the first book in the series, and this one turned out to be just as fantastic!!!
This, the second book in the Doll People series, sends Annabelle and Tiffany on some harrowing adventures -- and for the first time, these adventures take Annabell and Tiffany *outside* of the Palmer's house! Gasp!! They end up at Kate's school - and their adventures are just starting.
Soon, they meet the Meanest Doll in the world, and what follows in a tiny look into friendship vs. dictatorship, kindness vs. fear. And underlying all this, the haunting question of: PDS (permanent doll state)! Does it exist? And how far does a doll have to go before it happens to him or her?
While a few times the action sequences felt a bit boring/confusing to me, overall I felt the story clipped along at a great pace, but didn't skim over the wonderful opportunities for reflection. Author Ann Martin seems to have a great understanding of how the emotions and minds of children work -- and what I love is that she never sells them short. She'll let them work through problems the way kids probably would, and always lets them be smart and clever and gives their minds the respect they deserve.
I will say, I'm not entirely sure how I felt about the resolution for one of the characters. While it's wrapped in a very child-friendly appearance, it is (when one truly considers the consequences) quite severe. Whether the character deserves this resolution -- I suppose it's quite possible. But it could raise some difficult (though important) questions from your young reader/listener.
If the story wasn't delightful enough, Lynn Redgrave's narration is so rich and warm, hilarious and touching, that it was a pure joy to listen to -- I can't imagine someone else reading these tales.
This, the second book in the Doll People series, sends Annabelle and Tiffany on some harrowing adventures -- and for the first time, these adventures take Annabell and Tiffany *outside* of the Palmer's house! Gasp!! They end up at Kate's school - and their adventures are just starting.
Soon, they meet the Meanest Doll in the world, and what follows in a tiny look into friendship vs. dictatorship, kindness vs. fear. And underlying all this, the haunting question of: PDS (permanent doll state)! Does it exist? And how far does a doll have to go before it happens to him or her?
While a few times the action sequences felt a bit boring/confusing to me, overall I felt the story clipped along at a great pace, but didn't skim over the wonderful opportunities for reflection. Author Ann Martin seems to have a great understanding of how the emotions and minds of children work -- and what I love is that she never sells them short. She'll let them work through problems the way kids probably would, and always lets them be smart and clever and gives their minds the respect they deserve.
I will say, I'm not entirely sure how I felt about the resolution for one of the characters. While it's wrapped in a very child-friendly appearance, it is (when one truly considers the consequences) quite severe. Whether the character deserves this resolution -- I suppose it's quite possible. But it could raise some difficult (though important) questions from your young reader/listener.
If the story wasn't delightful enough, Lynn Redgrave's narration is so rich and warm, hilarious and touching, that it was a pure joy to listen to -- I can't imagine someone else reading these tales.
March 14, 2016
3.55 stars
It's always a pleasure reading about these living dollies, so tender and cute, and I feel guilty giving The Meanest Doll in the World only three stars and fiftyfive, but I have to be honest and I expected it to be a bit more satisfaying. I was waiting for a different ending, maybe. And I'm very PRETENTIOUS!
Is PDS real? I'm not sure...
Princess Mimi is no Chucky, and thank you very much, and nonetheless she had had a poor end.
Oh, well, I'm excited for the following installment! :)
currently-requesting
July 30, 2025for Travel theme in Children's Books group
September 21, 2025
I used to check this out of the library all the time. I loved this story and I think it holds up. It’s just a fun concept.
October 5, 2010
One of the books that I read this trimester is The Meanest Doll In The World by: Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin. It does not exactly say where this book takes place, but I never really think of the setting anyway! To me this book takes place in a town just like ours, in a regular home just like mine. This book has some pictures so I can visualize what things look like. The Meanest Doll In The World is the sequel to The Doll People so I knew who some of the characters are, because I read the book. I think the lesson in this book is that although it may not seem like it but mean people and even mean dolls need a little love just like you and me. I loved how it was based off of the thoughts of dolls and a doll house, because I have a doll house of my own and I picture this story in my doll house. I'm pretty that doll house has no electricity though, unlike mine! :)
This story starts off in a weird location. The bathroom! Half of the dolls in Palmer’s household are in the tub. Luckily those in the tub were the plastic dolls so it didn’t matter! Perched up on the soap shelf is the china doll Annabelle. Annabelle is the doll that tells the story. In the moment Nora, the youngest in the family, is playing a game called Miami beach a-go-go. She knows that her older sister would be mad if she got Annabelle wet so that is why she has Annabelle perched on the soap ledge! When Kate got home from school Nora put Annabelle back in the doll house and went back in the bathroom. As soon as she was out of sight and earshot the doll family came to see if Nora had done any damage to Annabelle. They all soon decided to go to the Funcraft’s to discuss the events of their day. This was a once a week or maybe even a twice a week walk. When everyone was asleep the doll family crept out of the room and went down to Nora’s room. Pretty soon they saw the Funcraft’s coming down the hall and went to go see them, then they started walking back to Nora’s room. They were almost there when Nora comes walking down the hall and all the dolls run and hide. Annabelle and Tiffany jump into to Kate’s backpack and it’s pretty much all down hill from there! The reason the book is called the meanest doll in the world is because on one of Annabelle and Tiffany’s adventures out of the house in a different house they meet a doll named Mimi who is putting doll kind in jeopardy! When the two dolls finally come back home they realize that Mimi came with them and soon she is making life miserable at the Palmer household too! In the end they all realize that all Mimi needed was a little love.
I would recommend this book to 3rd through 6th graders because it was a little kiddish but I did like it. I don’t know about boy’s reading it though because the consept of dolls just does not agree with them. It was a great book and I would also recommend it as a mother daughter read. That is a book review of one of the books I read this trimester!
February 5, 2017
This book starts out okay but then becomes inane and boring. I thought the first one was cute, but this one not so much.
March 2, 2015
This book rocks! It is really cool to read a sequel that is as good as the original.
In this chapter of the living doll saga, Annabell and Tiffany, the two girl dolls, accidentally end up on a big adventure which takes them (gasp!) outside of the Palmer's house. This adventure also brings them in contact with the meanest doll in the world of the title.
What I appreciate most about this book is that the outcome was not predictable. I had no idea what might happen as I was reading. I found that really refreshing.
I also adore the illustrations. While this is not a picture book, I think the illustrations really add to story and could be a big plus to a new or slow reader. I wish more books for grown-ups had pictures.
I read this book in just a few hours and had a great time doing so.
Now I'm going to pass it on to my sister (to whom I sent my copy of The Doll People when I finished it).
In this chapter of the living doll saga, Annabell and Tiffany, the two girl dolls, accidentally end up on a big adventure which takes them (gasp!) outside of the Palmer's house. This adventure also brings them in contact with the meanest doll in the world of the title.
What I appreciate most about this book is that the outcome was not predictable. I had no idea what might happen as I was reading. I found that really refreshing.
I also adore the illustrations. While this is not a picture book, I think the illustrations really add to story and could be a big plus to a new or slow reader. I wish more books for grown-ups had pictures.
I read this book in just a few hours and had a great time doing so.
Now I'm going to pass it on to my sister (to whom I sent my copy of The Doll People when I finished it).
May 21, 2019
This is a review of the entire Doll People series, including The Doll People, The Meanest Doll in the World, The Runaway Dolls, The Doll People Set Sail, and The Doll People's Christmas.
When my mom came to visit just before Easter, she brought us paperback copies of all of the Doll People books. I have always wanted to read them, so I decided to just preview them all at once so that I will be ready to hand them to my oldest daughter whenever I think she is ready.
The main character of the series is Annabelle Doll. She and her family belong to Kate Palmer, an eight-year-old girl who is the most recent owner of a dollhouse that has been passed down through several generations. The other members of the Doll family include Annabelle's mother and father, her brother Bobby, Nanny, baby Betsy, Uncle Doll, and, though she has been missing for 45 years, Auntie Sarah. The adults have always been very protective of Annabelle, owing in part to their fear of breaking the oath all dolls take if they want to remain living. Part of the oath is to avoid behavior that threatens dollkind, such as being seen moving around by humans, and the penalty for putting other dolls in danger in this way can be as mild as "Doll State," a 24-hour coma-like state in which the doll is only a doll and not a living being, and as severe as "Permanent Doll State," when the doll becomes inanimate forever. When Annabelle finds Auntie Sarah's diary, however, she begins gathering clues as to where her aunt may have gone. Despite the dangers, Annabelle convinces her family that she must venture out into the Palmers' house to find her aunt and bring her back home.
On the night she leaves her dollhouse for the first time, Annabelle comes upon a box containing a present for Kate's younger sister Nora to receive on her upcoming fifth birthday. The package contains a Funcraft dollhouse and a family of brand-new, durable, plastic dolls: Mom, Dad, Bailey, Baby Britney, and Tiffany, with whom Annabelle becomes fast friends. With Tiffany by her side, and buoyed by the Funcrafts' less cautious outlook on life, Annabelle is certain she can find her long-lost aunt and bring their family back together again. This quest comprises the plot for book one, The Doll People (2000).
The Doll People is really well-done. The story is similar to tales like Hitty: Her First Hundred Years and The Borrowers, but the authors also add new twists to the concept to make it their own. I love all the descriptions of the ridiculous games Nora plays with all the dolls, including the fragile ones that belong to her sister, as well as the fun little details, such as the fact that Baby Betsy was sent to the original owner of the dollhouse by mistake, and that she is actually a much larger doll from a different set. Martin and Godwin understand what appeals to the imaginations of little girls who love dolls, and they tell a great story using those elements.
Brian Selzick's illustrations, which I don't always like, are perfect for a book like this. His cinematic changes in perspective, and the immersive quality of his pictures really place the reader in the doll world and keep her there for the duration of the story. He does an especially great job capturing the differences in appearance and personality between the Dolls and the Funcrafts.
Book two, The Meanest Doll in the World (2003), sends Annabelle and Tiffany to school in Kate's backpack. When they climb out to explore the school and inadvertently go home in the wrong backpack at the end of the day, they find themselves in a house full of dolls who live in fear of Princess Mimi, a bully who constantly puts them all in danger by intentionally doing things that can't be undone before the humans discover them. Before they return to the Palmers', Annabelle and Tiffany want to save their new friends from Mean Mimi once and for all.
In book three, The Runaway Dolls (2008), the Palmers are getting ready to go on vacation when a mysterious package arrives. Annabelle discovers that it contains a baby named Tilly May - the baby doll that was originally supposed to come with the Dolls has finally been delivered after all these years! Annabelle is overjoyed to have another sister, but also very nervous. What if the Palmers don't realize what's in the package and return it unopened? Unwilling to take that chance, she and Tiffany carefully open the package, release Tilly May, and take off into the great outdoors. Unfortunately, they don't have much of a plan, and before they know it, all three girls, along with their brothers, are placed for sale in a department store from which no doll has ever escaped!
The conclusion of the series, The Doll People Set Sail (2014), is illustrated by Brett Helquist, and sadly, though he tries to uphold the style established by Selznick, the charm just isn't there. The story, which is about the Dolls and Funcrafts accidentally being donated to charity and shipped overseas, is not as strong as the others to begin with, and the loss of Selznick as the illustrator just contributes to the feeling that maybe this series went on just one book too long. I will have no objection to my kids reading it (I gave it three stars), but it kind of a let-down to end the series on a low note.
There is also a picture book companion to the series, The Doll People's Christmas (2016), also illustrated by Helquist. The illustrations are in color, which makes them work a little bit better than Helquist's black and white ones, but the story is bland compared to the plots of the novels. I'll probably bring it out as a novelty at Christmastime sometime after we have read the rest of the series.
My oldest daughter who loves dolls and adventure stories is definitely going to love these books. She will not understand some references (the dolls sing "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, which she has never heard, and a couple of the books mention Barbies, which she has played with but has never heard called by their brand name) but the themes of friendship and family will appeal to her, and since there are always consequences for bad behavior, I feel like the series will uphold the values we are currently trying to teach her. I haven't decided yet whether to read the first one aloud to my two older girls or to just hand it over to the oldest for independent reading, but we will definitely be getting to these soon! They are great additions to our shelves, and I'm happy to have them.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
When my mom came to visit just before Easter, she brought us paperback copies of all of the Doll People books. I have always wanted to read them, so I decided to just preview them all at once so that I will be ready to hand them to my oldest daughter whenever I think she is ready.
The main character of the series is Annabelle Doll. She and her family belong to Kate Palmer, an eight-year-old girl who is the most recent owner of a dollhouse that has been passed down through several generations. The other members of the Doll family include Annabelle's mother and father, her brother Bobby, Nanny, baby Betsy, Uncle Doll, and, though she has been missing for 45 years, Auntie Sarah. The adults have always been very protective of Annabelle, owing in part to their fear of breaking the oath all dolls take if they want to remain living. Part of the oath is to avoid behavior that threatens dollkind, such as being seen moving around by humans, and the penalty for putting other dolls in danger in this way can be as mild as "Doll State," a 24-hour coma-like state in which the doll is only a doll and not a living being, and as severe as "Permanent Doll State," when the doll becomes inanimate forever. When Annabelle finds Auntie Sarah's diary, however, she begins gathering clues as to where her aunt may have gone. Despite the dangers, Annabelle convinces her family that she must venture out into the Palmers' house to find her aunt and bring her back home.
On the night she leaves her dollhouse for the first time, Annabelle comes upon a box containing a present for Kate's younger sister Nora to receive on her upcoming fifth birthday. The package contains a Funcraft dollhouse and a family of brand-new, durable, plastic dolls: Mom, Dad, Bailey, Baby Britney, and Tiffany, with whom Annabelle becomes fast friends. With Tiffany by her side, and buoyed by the Funcrafts' less cautious outlook on life, Annabelle is certain she can find her long-lost aunt and bring their family back together again. This quest comprises the plot for book one, The Doll People (2000).
The Doll People is really well-done. The story is similar to tales like Hitty: Her First Hundred Years and The Borrowers, but the authors also add new twists to the concept to make it their own. I love all the descriptions of the ridiculous games Nora plays with all the dolls, including the fragile ones that belong to her sister, as well as the fun little details, such as the fact that Baby Betsy was sent to the original owner of the dollhouse by mistake, and that she is actually a much larger doll from a different set. Martin and Godwin understand what appeals to the imaginations of little girls who love dolls, and they tell a great story using those elements.
Brian Selzick's illustrations, which I don't always like, are perfect for a book like this. His cinematic changes in perspective, and the immersive quality of his pictures really place the reader in the doll world and keep her there for the duration of the story. He does an especially great job capturing the differences in appearance and personality between the Dolls and the Funcrafts.
Book two, The Meanest Doll in the World (2003), sends Annabelle and Tiffany to school in Kate's backpack. When they climb out to explore the school and inadvertently go home in the wrong backpack at the end of the day, they find themselves in a house full of dolls who live in fear of Princess Mimi, a bully who constantly puts them all in danger by intentionally doing things that can't be undone before the humans discover them. Before they return to the Palmers', Annabelle and Tiffany want to save their new friends from Mean Mimi once and for all.
In book three, The Runaway Dolls (2008), the Palmers are getting ready to go on vacation when a mysterious package arrives. Annabelle discovers that it contains a baby named Tilly May - the baby doll that was originally supposed to come with the Dolls has finally been delivered after all these years! Annabelle is overjoyed to have another sister, but also very nervous. What if the Palmers don't realize what's in the package and return it unopened? Unwilling to take that chance, she and Tiffany carefully open the package, release Tilly May, and take off into the great outdoors. Unfortunately, they don't have much of a plan, and before they know it, all three girls, along with their brothers, are placed for sale in a department store from which no doll has ever escaped!
The conclusion of the series, The Doll People Set Sail (2014), is illustrated by Brett Helquist, and sadly, though he tries to uphold the style established by Selznick, the charm just isn't there. The story, which is about the Dolls and Funcrafts accidentally being donated to charity and shipped overseas, is not as strong as the others to begin with, and the loss of Selznick as the illustrator just contributes to the feeling that maybe this series went on just one book too long. I will have no objection to my kids reading it (I gave it three stars), but it kind of a let-down to end the series on a low note.
There is also a picture book companion to the series, The Doll People's Christmas (2016), also illustrated by Helquist. The illustrations are in color, which makes them work a little bit better than Helquist's black and white ones, but the story is bland compared to the plots of the novels. I'll probably bring it out as a novelty at Christmastime sometime after we have read the rest of the series.
My oldest daughter who loves dolls and adventure stories is definitely going to love these books. She will not understand some references (the dolls sing "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, which she has never heard, and a couple of the books mention Barbies, which she has played with but has never heard called by their brand name) but the themes of friendship and family will appeal to her, and since there are always consequences for bad behavior, I feel like the series will uphold the values we are currently trying to teach her. I haven't decided yet whether to read the first one aloud to my two older girls or to just hand it over to the oldest for independent reading, but we will definitely be getting to these soon! They are great additions to our shelves, and I'm happy to have them.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
October 3, 2014
I LOVE this doll people series! Ann M. Martin was always one of my most-read authors growing up and to be reading something by her other than the Babysitter's Club or Babysitter's Little Sister is just awesome. I'm really happy to call myself a big fan of hers. I plan to gradually collect this series as I know I'll read it over and over again and pass it along. :)
May 6, 2021
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Critical Score: B
Personal Score: C
Reading Experience: 📚 📚 📚 📚
Pretty on par with the first book. I entirely skimmed this one, though.
Less literary than the first. This is essentially an anti-bullying book, and that’s cool.
The design of the jacket and title pages was really fun.
Critical Score: B
Personal Score: C
Reading Experience: 📚 📚 📚 📚
Pretty on par with the first book. I entirely skimmed this one, though.
Less literary than the first. This is essentially an anti-bullying book, and that’s cool.
The design of the jacket and title pages was really fun.
Read
February 15, 2019It's NOT SCARY!!!! it is really good even though people say its scary. THEY HAVENT READ THE BOOK!!
don't judge a book by its cover!!
don't judge a book by its cover!!
May 24, 2020
Annabelle and her best friend Tiffany go on an adventure to the attic with Annabelle's Auntie Sarah. They accidentally stay in the attic for much too long. On their way back, they are faced with the morning. Kate Palmer and her family are already awake and getting ready for their day. Annabelle and Tiffany are separated from Auntie Sarah and have no choice but to hide in Kate's book bag and go to school. In this adventure, they are faced with obstacles such as getting left behind at school, going home with the wrong kid, and facing the evil, Mean/Princess Mimi who is reckless, disastrous and a "menace to Doll kind".
I like this book much better than The Doll People Set Sail (which I read first), I think the plot is much more well-thought out. Both books are definitely targeted toward younger readers, but the book is just as entertaining. These books remind me a lot of Toy Story, which isn't a bad thing because I really enjoy Toy Story.
I like this book much better than The Doll People Set Sail (which I read first), I think the plot is much more well-thought out. Both books are definitely targeted toward younger readers, but the book is just as entertaining. These books remind me a lot of Toy Story, which isn't a bad thing because I really enjoy Toy Story.
July 4, 2023
Checking out this series for my granddaughter, and they are adorable! This is book two, and the dolls are so interesting and sweet. Would highly recommend them to children. The stories revolve around two sets of doll house dolls, one antique family over 100 years old and one new and plastic! They have doll rules, but can go on adventures when the humans are not around. Fun!
July 5, 2025
Was really good but the ending had me very confused and left questions unanswered. All this torment from Mimi just for her to jump off a book shelf and land herself in PDS? I thought it was going to be a lot more extravagant as to how she got herself in PDS. They also never confirm if she is in PDS, we just assume she is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2021
The Meanest Doll in the World is a fun sequel to The Doll People. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lynn Redgrave. This one was as delightful as The Doll People once it got going. The beginning was a bit boring and slow.
April 15, 2019
Great book!!!!!
October 7, 2025
Not as good as book 1 but looking forward to finishing the series with Isla! 🙂
Read
February 10, 2022Oh wow I love it!
April 25, 2015
Annabelle Doll and Tiffany Funcraft are back, and this story is even better than the first one.
With Aunt Sarah returned to the Doll family, she Annabelle and Tiffany continue their adventures and exploring of the home of their humans owners. On an especially longer exploration, the dolls realize they've stayed out to late. In the rush to get back to perspective homes, Tiffany and Annabelle have to dive into Kate's backpack to avoid being seen. Before they can get out, Kate's scooped up her backpack and taken them off to school.
At school, the dolls take the opportunity to explore for the day; excited about all the things they will have to tell Aunt Sarah upon their return. However, at the end of the day, the girls jump into the wrong backpack; winding up at the wrong house. What they encounter there is a bunch of dolls who are afraid of the meanest doll in the world. Mean Mimi is a princess doll who has plans to bully her way into making friends, but her recklessness could be a threat to all dollkind. Can Annabelle and Tiffany help the paper, troll and baby dolls from Mimi's wrath? And what are Annabelle and Tiffany going to do when Mean Mimi follows them home?
I loved that there was so much more adventure in this story for Tiffany and Annabelle. Taking them out of their own house and into another was a great way to expand the story that didn't seem like just a plot device to write something larger. That their return to school doesn't take them to their home, but the home of someone else where they encounter other living dolls was another great way to expand the story.
Mean Mimi is a bossy bully. She makes friends by making the other dolls fear her. The paper dolls and troll dolls grew tired of Mimi always wanting things her way and bossing them around, so, they stopped being friends with her. That's when things got rough. Each time the humans are asleep or way, Mimi plans attacks on the dolls with two baby dolls who fear her, more than want to do what Mean Mimi says. When the attacks are over, Mimi just leaves the mess for the other dolls to clean up. Mimi doesn’t believe in "doll state"; the state dolls find them in if a human sees; completely immobile for 24 hours, and she certainly doesn't believe in permanent doll state. This gives her a no fear attitude, which could pose a real danger to all dollkind.
Annabelle and Tiffany help out the dolls in defending themselves, but where there better help comes from is showing the other dolls that Mimi has no real power. Tiffany stand up to one of Mimi's henchmen, an action figure. This situation shows that he's all figure and no action. Annabelle figures out that the baby dolls only do what Mean Mimi wants because she holds their blanket hostage to get them to do her bidding. Once the Annabelle and Tiffany get the blanket back, Meannie has lost the remaining power she had over the dolls; leading them to stop doing as Mimi says.
I liked this demonstration of a bully is only as powerful as those around them who are willing to do what they say. The story shows that not every bullies power comes from individual strength, but strenght in numbers. Once you deplete those numbers, you deplete the bully.
There were two parts of the story that I did not like. First was when Annabelle and Tiffany got mad at each other through some hearsay that Mean Mimi tells Annabelle. Annabelle knew that Mean Mimi was sneaky, so, she should have been a lot more suspicious about what Mimi told her. Second was the resolution of the Mean Mimi following Annabelle and Tiffany home. Mean Mimi gets her just desserts in the end, but it is is not in a way that allows her to change or grow. The former could have helped in reinforcing a message about not being a bossy bully.
With Aunt Sarah returned to the Doll family, she Annabelle and Tiffany continue their adventures and exploring of the home of their humans owners. On an especially longer exploration, the dolls realize they've stayed out to late. In the rush to get back to perspective homes, Tiffany and Annabelle have to dive into Kate's backpack to avoid being seen. Before they can get out, Kate's scooped up her backpack and taken them off to school.
At school, the dolls take the opportunity to explore for the day; excited about all the things they will have to tell Aunt Sarah upon their return. However, at the end of the day, the girls jump into the wrong backpack; winding up at the wrong house. What they encounter there is a bunch of dolls who are afraid of the meanest doll in the world. Mean Mimi is a princess doll who has plans to bully her way into making friends, but her recklessness could be a threat to all dollkind. Can Annabelle and Tiffany help the paper, troll and baby dolls from Mimi's wrath? And what are Annabelle and Tiffany going to do when Mean Mimi follows them home?
I loved that there was so much more adventure in this story for Tiffany and Annabelle. Taking them out of their own house and into another was a great way to expand the story that didn't seem like just a plot device to write something larger. That their return to school doesn't take them to their home, but the home of someone else where they encounter other living dolls was another great way to expand the story.
Mean Mimi is a bossy bully. She makes friends by making the other dolls fear her. The paper dolls and troll dolls grew tired of Mimi always wanting things her way and bossing them around, so, they stopped being friends with her. That's when things got rough. Each time the humans are asleep or way, Mimi plans attacks on the dolls with two baby dolls who fear her, more than want to do what Mean Mimi says. When the attacks are over, Mimi just leaves the mess for the other dolls to clean up. Mimi doesn’t believe in "doll state"; the state dolls find them in if a human sees; completely immobile for 24 hours, and she certainly doesn't believe in permanent doll state. This gives her a no fear attitude, which could pose a real danger to all dollkind.
Annabelle and Tiffany help out the dolls in defending themselves, but where there better help comes from is showing the other dolls that Mimi has no real power. Tiffany stand up to one of Mimi's henchmen, an action figure. This situation shows that he's all figure and no action. Annabelle figures out that the baby dolls only do what Mean Mimi wants because she holds their blanket hostage to get them to do her bidding. Once the Annabelle and Tiffany get the blanket back, Meannie has lost the remaining power she had over the dolls; leading them to stop doing as Mimi says.
I liked this demonstration of a bully is only as powerful as those around them who are willing to do what they say. The story shows that not every bullies power comes from individual strength, but strenght in numbers. Once you deplete those numbers, you deplete the bully.
There were two parts of the story that I did not like. First was when Annabelle and Tiffany got mad at each other through some hearsay that Mean Mimi tells Annabelle. Annabelle knew that Mean Mimi was sneaky, so, she should have been a lot more suspicious about what Mimi told her. Second was the resolution of the Mean Mimi following Annabelle and Tiffany home. Mean Mimi gets her just desserts in the end, but it is is not in a way that allows her to change or grow. The former could have helped in reinforcing a message about not being a bossy bully.
February 16, 2024
Nostalgic, helping me get out of my big book reading slump.😂
February 17, 2016
The Meanest Doll in the World lacks some of the charm of The Doll People. The illustrations are as gorgeous as ever and the adventures are even more hair-raising, yet there’s still something missing. I’m going to guess that it’s because Meanest Doll has too many pithy statements and Annabelle spends too much time angsting over her uselessness and then goes on and on about “taking deep breaths.”
Basically, Meanest Doll is a little too pat with its message, to the point of overbearance. The Doll People was a little more subtle, whereas Meanest Doll does its hardest to hit the reader over the head with a toy sledgehammer.
The book also feels a tad short, and I wish that Mimi’s time at the Palmer’s house had been slightly extended, so that we at least got some more explanation for her motivation. As it stands, she’s a bit of a moustache-twirling villain. Not necessarily a bad thing in children’s books, but it led to a lot of “it’s not nice to be mean” moments. Again, not a bad thing in children’s books, but it was too preachy for me.
Overall, The Meanest Doll in the World lacks some of the charm that made The Doll People so delightful, probably due to the numerous instances of “let’s make this a teachable moment” that were slightly lacking in subtlety and consisted of pithy “being mean is bad”-type statements. Not necessarily bad if a child is reading it, but for me, it made the book less enjoyable.
Basically, Meanest Doll is a little too pat with its message, to the point of overbearance. The Doll People was a little more subtle, whereas Meanest Doll does its hardest to hit the reader over the head with a toy sledgehammer.
The book also feels a tad short, and I wish that Mimi’s time at the Palmer’s house had been slightly extended, so that we at least got some more explanation for her motivation. As it stands, she’s a bit of a moustache-twirling villain. Not necessarily a bad thing in children’s books, but it led to a lot of “it’s not nice to be mean” moments. Again, not a bad thing in children’s books, but it was too preachy for me.
Overall, The Meanest Doll in the World lacks some of the charm that made The Doll People so delightful, probably due to the numerous instances of “let’s make this a teachable moment” that were slightly lacking in subtlety and consisted of pithy “being mean is bad”-type statements. Not necessarily bad if a child is reading it, but for me, it made the book less enjoyable.
August 15, 2022
Just as good as the first. I was surprised by the fact that there’s no conversion for the villain in this book. It seemed ripe for a “redemption of the antagonist” situation but nah — you’re a bully and a menace and you’re unrepentant? Sorry pal. Byeeeeeeeee!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2014
I am on page 126 and I like this book because of the fascinating adventures. So far they have been in two backpacks, Kate and Nora's school and someone in Kate's class's house. In the house they meet many friends, and also a mean and bossy doll called Mean Mimi. At first they thought Mimi was nice , but now Mimi wants to destroy them and they try to protect themselves and everything they can't fix by the time the humans come home. if they aren't able to fix something they could go into Doll State or even worse Permanent Doll State. The main characters names are Annabelle and Tiffany. I would love to be Tiffany and go n all of those exciting adventures Annabelle is a fragile doll that can easily break, but that doesn't stop here from protecting her and her friends. The other characters that thy have met so far are very interesting two of them are trolls with big and long hair, another are the Cutouts who sing, Sandra doll, Sleeping billy, and Techno-man. I wonder what will happen next?
April 8, 2008
As an adult I found this book terribly silly, but most young girls would probably adore this story. Many children imagine their dolls and stuffed animals are secretly alive. This story indulges this fantasy and provides a lesson about friendship along the way.
April 12, 2008
i really liked this book it is so good i read it 3 times its about a doll who has a best friend they end up in a baCK PACK WITH THEIR OWNER AND GO TO SCHOOL THERE THEY GO ON A ADVENTURE AND END UP N the wrong backpack and end up @ a wrong house
May 14, 2019
I don't think I put together that this was book two of the Doll People saga when I was younger. Regardless, this was another book that I read with fondness as a child, and it's safe to say that Mean Mimi still scares me...
December 24, 2007
its about this doll who is really mean and the other dolls teach her a lesson(it sounds babyish but its not!!!)
April 9, 2008
This is the sequel to The Doll People. I recommend to not read this book if you haven't read the first one. You would not understand what is happening. This book is just so exciting and adventurous!
December 15, 2009
I love the whole idea of dolls living in a world of thier own. Can you imagine turning your back and your dolls start moving? Wonderful *keep reading*
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April 19, 2024Super cute. My daughter loves this series.
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