Published by Viking Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Lucy’s dealing with a lot in her life: an overworked single mom, a younger sister with some social issues, and bullying by the seventh grade mean girls.  So when her sister Antonia finds an old doll’s head in the woods, it’s the least of Lucy’s concerns.  Antonia starts talking to the doll, whom she names Hush-a-Bye after a song their mom used to sing to them.  When bad things mysteriously start happening to some of the bullies in the girls’ lives, Lucy slowly realizes that Hush-a-Bye has supernatural powers.  She’s scared of the doll, but also feels tempted to use some of those powers against her own enemies.  While doing research for a school project, Lucy learns some disturbing town history that includes some insights as to who Hush-a-Bye might be.  As each evil deed seems to strengthen Hush-a-Bye’s magic, Lucy starts to wonder if there is any way to defeat her.  240 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  An evil disembodied doll’s head?  Horror fans will love this story which effectively deals with a lot of middle school issues as well as the creepy stuff. 

Cons:  An evil disembodied doll’s head.