The House in Poplar Wood

A heartwarming and haunting story about two boys’ desire to be free, one girl's desire to make a difference, and a family's desire to be together again. Now available in paperback!

“A smart, thrilling mystery.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Magical elements, evocative, intelligent writing, and ever-ratcheting suspense.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The foreboding atmosphere perfectly matches the dark mystery and high stakes confronting the middle-schoolers.” —Booklist

For as long as the Vickery twins can remember, Poplar House has been divided into two parts: On the east side, Felix lives with his father and Death, and on the west side, Lee lives with his mother and Memory. And the brothers are only able to leave the house together on one night a year—Halloween.

This is the Agreement, and it is permanent. They’ve learned that the hard way.

But one Halloween, Gretchen Whipple smashes her way into their lives and offers them a deal: If the twins help her solve the murder of a local girl, she'll help them break the Agreement.

However, the more the three investigate, the more they realize that something is terribly wrong in the town of Boone Ridge. If they don’t solve the case—and soon—history will repeat itself, and this murder won’t be the last.

INTERSECTION OF SPOOKY AND COZY: Lyrical prose and transporting world-building tell a story of mystery, magic, scares, and adventure.

RELATABLE CONCEPTS AND THEMES: The Vickery twins are balancing a growing friendship with a girl from a rival family in town, trying to reunite their family, and investigating a murder, all while being forced to work for the personifications of Memory and Death. These struggles will resonate with young readers and illustrate the transformative power of true friendship and family love. 

PRAISE AND ACCLAIM: The House in Poplar Wood received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly, as well as glowing reviews from the New York Times, Booklist, and more.

WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR: K. E. Ormsbee’s books have been critically acclaimed, translated into eight languages, selected for the Indie Next List and Junior Library Guild, and made “best of” lists at NPR, Amazon, Kirkus, and the Chicago and New York Public Libraries.

Perfect for:

Readers of middle-grade fantasy, horror, and spooky-scary or spooky-cozy magical realismFans of Stranger Things, The Haunted Mansion, or WednesdayFans of the City of Ghosts trilogy by V. E. Schwab or Scythe by Neil Schusterman

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