Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge

Triss is just not feeling right.  She's been ill but this isn't sickness really.  It's just that things are a bit off and don't seem familiar.  It doesn't help when her dolls start talking to her...

Amulet Books sent me an ARC of this book for review (thank you).  It was published May 12th, so you can find a copy at your local bookstore now.

This story has the flavor of a Stephen King or Ray Bradbury novel.  There's evil, magic, and meanness in this story.  There's also a specially conjured "person" that has more moral rightness than the humans.  I started the story with a "Where is this going?" thought and at the end it was "Just where it should."  It's a horror story that scares, but good triumphs over evil.

Triss is not human.  She's been made by a "man" that lives in the Besider's world and makes dolls.  She find that pieces of the real Triss' diary have been part of her making and that's what gives her memories.  Triss has no friends.  Her (human) sister hates her and is scared of her.  She's going to find the real Triss and save her.  The problem is that she has a limited life and may not live long enough to do that.

There is plenty of excitement, lots of scary moments, and it makes you sit on the edge of your seat while you read it.  The best part to me is watching the two girls work together towards saving the real Triss and seeing how they gradually become friends.

The ending is a bit hairy, but it settles several issues and winds up things neatly.  Ms. Hardinge does a nice job with a creepy story that will stick with you for a while.