Saving Marissa (Doll Hospital, Book 4) [Paperback]

Joan Holub (Author), Ann Iosa (Illustrator), Cheryl Kirk Noll (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003 | Age Level: 7 and up | Series: Doll Hospital (Book 4)

The fourth book in the Doll Hospital series tells the dual stories of a beloved 1950s babydoll and modern-day sisters Rose and Lila.

Sisters Rose and Lila, ages 10 and 8, are spending the year with their grandmother (who runs a doll hospital) while their parents are working out of the country. Their grandmother has a special power to communicate with dolls, and to tell their stories.

In this book, the girls find a damaged babydoll at the home of their babysitter, Jill, an older woman who lives in the neighborhood. Rose and Lila persuade Far Nana to restore the doll, and the girls learn its story. The doll, Marissa, belonged to Jill when she was a little girl. Marissa was a gift from Jill's beloved aunt. (cont.)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 043940181X
• ISBN-13: 978-0439401814
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 6.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #955,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for family reading time., July 5, 2003

By 

Emily Ard (Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saving Marissa (Doll Hospital, Book 4) (Paperback)

The Doll Hospital books are great for reading with your daughters (My girls are 7 and 9.). We read a few chapters aloud every night. My older daughter got hooked on the series when her school book club read the first Doll Hospital #1, and now we're on #4.
Rose and Lila are chagrined at being sent to a babysitter (actually a day care center) one day while their grandmother is off doing something mysterious. They discover a cute baby doll at the day care, which turns out to be the childhood doll of Ms. Jill, the day care owner. Marissa's (the doll's) face has been marked on, and her hair is falling out. Worst of all, she can no longer talk as she once could. But Ms. Jill still loves her. Rose and Lila convince their grandmother to repair the doll. While she's being repaired, Marissa the doll tells her story in a sweet childlike voice that is innocent and just perfect for a babydoll. (I got so involved with her and worried about her safety at one point that I almost cried, believe it or not.)
All of these books are well written and we learn something about history and doll repairing. This book did not disappoint. We loved it. And we like the new illustrations on the cover. Can't wait for the next one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book everrr!, August 28, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Saving Marissa (Doll Hospital, Book 4) (Paperback)

I have a doll like Marissa and a friend named Marissa too. Marissa and I have a doll club and we read doll books with our dolls and also with Another girl named Claire that we know. We were running out of good doll books and now we read the doll hospital books and they are soooo good. we love them and read them over and ove. I read this one two time and Marissa is reading it three times. I am almost 9 and Marissa is already 9. I like Glory's Freedom too and Claire does too. The stories are real and the oldfashion part about the dolls are so good and you love the dolls and want things to work out. This book is great times ten thousand!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Saving Marissa, March 23, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Saving Marissa (Doll Hospital, Book 4) (Paperback)

Far Nana is going to meetings and won't tell Rose and Lila why. And Rose and Lila have to go to a...daycare! But Ms. Jill has an old baby doll...

Aunt Alice bought Jill Marissa at a baby doll store. But Jill's mother doesn't like dolls! Will she make Jill give Marissa to Cousin Ellen?