The dollhouse and its dolls represent the book’s three major themes: guilt, growing up, and abilities/disabilities. The dollhouse is an exact replica of Grandma and Grandpa Treloar’s actual house. At various points, the dollhouse comes alive, and the dolls act out the night of Grandma and Grandpa Treloar’s murders. At first, Amy fears the dollhouse. As the story progresses, she realizes there is a secret that the house is trying to tell her. Later, Amy still fears the dollhouse, but she resolves to learn the secret to set things right for Aunt Clare. Through solving the mystery, Amy grows up and takes responsibility.

The dollhouse also represents guilt, particularly for Aunt Clare. For 30 years, Aunt Clare believed her fiancé murdered Grandma and Grandpa Treloar. Aunt Clare doesn’t want to believe the dollhouse comes alive. She can’t handle the guilt of Grandma Treloar’s blame from beyond the grave. When the books fall off the dollhouse parlor shelves, Amy realizes the dollhouse wants them to look in the real house’s parlor for the truth. They learn Aunt Clare’s fiancé didn’t murder Grandma and Grandpa Treloar. Aunt Clare releases her guilt with the realization that Grandma Treloar doesn’t blame her.