skip navigation links

Readers > Talk it Up! > Discussion guides > The Doll People

The Doll People by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin

Summary

Annabelle Doll is 8 years old--and has been for over 100 years. Nothing much has changed in the dollhouse during that time, except for the fact that 45 years ago, Annabelle's Auntie Sarah disappeared from the dollhouse without a trace. After all this time, restless Annabelle is becoming more and more curious about her aunt's fate. And when she discovers Auntie Sarah's old diary, she becomes positively driven. Her cautious family tries to discourage her, but Annabelle won't be stopped, even though she risks Permanent Doll State, in which she could turn into a regular, nonliving doll. And when the "Real Pink Plastic" Funcraft family moves in next door, the Doll family's world is turned upside down--in more ways than one! (from Amazon.com) 256 pages, 4th grade and up

Discussion questions

Spoiler alert! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. Why do you think Annabelle is so bored? What does she want to happen?
  2. Explain the Doll Code of Honor. What is it? Could you follow it if you had to?
  3. What happened to Aunt Sara? Would you have gone off exploring too if you were a doll?
  4. What do you think it feels like to go into Doll State? When does this happen?
  5. How did Katie come to own the dollhouse?
  6. What is your first impression of the Funcrafts? Did it change at all as you read the book?
  7. What information does Annabelle find in Aunt Sara's diary?
  8. What kind of a cat is the Captain? Is he a threat to the family?
  9. The Doll People is a book that has pictures mixed in with the story. Did you like having the pictures included? What did they tell you about the story that you didn't get from the words?
  10. What is it that causes Annabelle to not feel restless in the world anymore? Who comes into her life?
  11. What do you predict for the future for the Doll People and the Funcrafts?

Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, Reading Promotions Coordinator