The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story facts for kids
The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story is an exciting children's novel written by Mary Downing Hahn. It was first released in 1989.
About the Story
Ashley's New Home
The story begins with ten-year-old Ashley. She is feeling very sad and angry because her father recently passed away. Ashley and her mother move into a new home. They live on the top floor of a house owned by Ms. Cooper. Ms. Cooper is not very friendly and she really doesn't like children.
Ms. Cooper warns Ashley to stay away from the old, wild garden behind the house. But Ashley is curious. She decides to explore the garden anyway. There, she meets a younger girl named Kristi, who lives nearby.
The Mysterious Garden
Kristi tells Ashley that other kids in the neighborhood think the garden is haunted. They believe a ghost cat lives there. Kristi also says they often hear strange crying sounds coming from the thick bushes. Later that night, Ashley hears the same mysterious crying from the garden.
Ashley convinces Kristi to help her clean up the messy garden. While they are pulling out weeds, Kristi finds a buried box. Inside the box is an old doll named Anna Maria. There is also a note with the doll. The note is an apology from a girl named "Carrie" to "Louisa."
As the girls wonder about Carrie and Louisa, a white cat suddenly appears. Ashley and Kristi quickly hide the doll. Ms. Cooper then comes outside. She sees the white cat and looks very scared. That night, Ashley goes back to the garden. She takes the doll and hides it in her room.
A Trip to the Past
The next morning, Ashley and Kristi argue about who gets to keep the doll. Kristi gets angry and leaves. The white cat appears again. Ashley follows the cat through a small hole in the garden hedge.
On the other side of the hedge, Ashley meets a girl named Louisa. Louisa is very sick. Louisa shows Ashley her collection of dolls. But she tells Ashley that her favorite doll, Anna Maria, was stolen by a girl named Carrie. Ashley realizes that the doll she found belongs to Louisa. She promises Louisa she will bring Anna Maria back.
When Ashley gets home, she finds out that Kristi, still upset, told Ms. Cooper about the doll. Ms. Cooper demands that Ashley give her the doll. Ashley tries to explain that she promised to give the doll back to Louisa. But hearing Louisa's name only makes Ms. Cooper angrier. Ashley's mother believes Ashley stole the doll. She makes Ashley give it to Ms. Cooper.
Ashley makes Kristi follow her back through the hole in the hedge. They need to explain to Louisa why they can't return her doll. The girls then understand something amazing. The hole in the hedge is a secret doorway to the past! They realize Louisa's spirit might be stuck in the past until she gets her doll back. Ashley secretly hopes that if the doll is returned, Louisa might not have died.
Finding Peace
The two girls talk to Ms. Cooper again. Ms. Cooper finally admits something important. She was the "Carrie" who stole Anna Maria from Louisa when they were young girls. She was unable to give the doll back before Louisa passed away. Because she felt scared and guilty, she buried the doll in the garden. Now, she believes Louisa sent the ghost of her cat as a sign. Ms. Cooper thought Louisa would never forgive her.
Ashley and Kristi explain that Louisa just wants her doll back. They convince Ms. Cooper to return it. The girls lead Ms. Cooper through the hedge. On the other side, Ms. Cooper becomes a little girl again! She gives the doll to Louisa, who forgives her.
Back on their side of the hedge, the adult Ms. Cooper thanks the girls. She is grateful they helped her make peace with her old friend. Ashley is sad that Louisa still passed away, even after all their efforts. But she starts to understand something important. The sadness she feels for Louisa is actually her own sadness for her father. She had not fully accepted his death.
Ms. Cooper becomes a much kinder person. Ashley believes that Louisa's true goal was not just to get her doll back. It was to free her friend from the guilt that made her so unhappy. Ashley wonders if her dreams about her father are his way of telling her to let go of her own guilt. She feels guilty for not being able to save him. While she still misses her father, she is no longer angry that he left her. As Ashley falls asleep, she hears a child laughing in the garden. She knows Louisa is finally at peace.
