Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teens bond, match wits with Death in riveting tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
THE HOUSE IN POPLAR WOOD sits on the outskirts of Boone Ridge, Tennessee, which like all other villages in the region is ruled by the Shades: Passion, Memory, and Death, and the families whose legacy it is to serve them and/or keep them in line. It's a house divided; on one side 13-year-old Lee Vickery lives with his mom, apprentice to the Shade Memory, while on the other side of the wall live his twin, Felix, and their dad, who serve Death. (Lee has an otherwise deaf ear, which hears only what Memory is saying; Felix has a blind eye that keeps track of what Death is up to.) Lee in particular is determined to free the twins from their bond to the Shades so they can have a real life, but previous attempts haven't gone well. Meanwhile, across town, Gretchen Whipple, the mayor's daughter, is starting to ask a lot of questions following the untimely death of a local teen -- including why she's not supposed to be friends with Lee and Felix, and delving into some family secrets of her own.
Is It Any Good?
K.E. Ormsbee delivers a fresh, imaginative, creepy, and cheer-worthy tale of three teens trying to break family curses, escape dark forces, and do the right thing for themselves and their loved ones. The House in Poplar Wood conjures up a seemingly ordinary town where people have long been ruled by Passion, Memory, and Death, in which there's a buried secret just about everywhere you look. Small illustrations by The Brothers Hilts at the start of each chapter help bring the distinctive protagonists Lee, Felix, and Gretchen to life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories where Death is a character. How does The House in Poplar Wood compare with some of the others you know? Why do you think this idea is so popular among storytellers?
Sometimes it's nice to have a family business and know there's a place for you in it -- but sometimes you just want something else. Do you think you'd like to do the same kind of work as your parents, or do you want to do something different?
If you thought your family was cursed, what would you do about it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( Middle School ) , Fantasy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Chronicle Books
- Publication date : August 28, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 344
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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