An Elegant Tale About Family

This felt at first that it was going to be a magicky quest adventure, and it was so elegantly written, and rich but understated, that I was fine with that. It turned out, though, that all of the world building, supernatural summoning, and magical fantasy was in service of a charming and compelling story about two brothers who just wanted to reunite their family. Everything about this book was engaging - the brothers, their easy camaraderie, their parents, the setting. The slightly dry and deadpan approach allowed the focus to fall where it should, and the tale moved seamlessly to a very satisfying conclusion. A quirky, but quite appealing, find.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

An intriguing and spooky middle grade book that is perfect for the Halloween season. I plan on rereading this every Fall.

I was given a free copy of this book from #netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really didn't enjoy this book as much as the general population. Two twin brothers are put under a curse where one boy only lives with and sees his dad, and one boy only lives with and sees his mother. While involving other children in the community, the boys find a way to overturn the curse and their family is united. Not my cup of tea.

I must say I really didn't know what to expect with the title of the book, however i do know that I really loved this story! The story was so unique, and it kept me intrigued and captivated through the entire book. The twins in the book kept my hold the entire story. I barely wanted to set the book down and noticed that I was staying up late because I wanted to keep reading. The story revolves around twins Felix and Lee, who are apprentices for Death and Memory. However, both feel trapped in their apprenticeship, and it doesn’t help that their different shades separate their family. Felix cannot see his mother, Lee cannot see his father, and their parents must stay apart. They both want to escape the life that they are forced into and with the help of Lee’s classmate, a summoner named Gretchen that might be possible. This book had a slight creepy feel to it, but it was just so good. I look forward to reading other books by author K. E. Ormsbee.

I adored this story. It's reminiscent of Coraline and the Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman with its creepy, dark whimsy and precocious characters. I'm definitely looking forward to reading it again! I couldn't put it down. There was just the right amount of mystery, suspense, and romance for appropriate for a middle-grade book. I'd recommend this book for all readers who love the supernatural, and I'd love to see Tim Burton adapting this into a film.

My thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

DNF at 153 pages. The world building is confusing to me. It takes place in a world very similar to our own, however there are "Shades", actual manifestations of Passion, Memory and Death, who have apprentices and "summoners" who can summon the Shades and have them do things for them. This much I grasped after 153 pages in, but it didn't start out that clear. At first I thought it was a secret within each family, then a secret within the town, then found out it's possibly all over? Not sure if it is state-wide, country-wide or world-wide and I didn't care to read more of the book to find out.

I also didn't care for Gretchen. She was a bit TOO much for me. Over the top, in your face, I'm getting my way come heck or high water. And her brother Asa was described as a sociopath, so I wasn't overly fond of him either.

The twin boys had different issues, one was blind in one eye, other than being able to see Death in it and the other was deaf in one ear, other than being able to hear the Shades when they vocalized. The "special" ability of the lack of sight/hearing was more focused on then the actual affects of lack of sight/hearing, at least for the first 153 pages.

I wasn't overly thrilled with the world building, the characters and the missed opportunity to really dig into the issues a partially sighted/hearing person would go through. Not a bad book, it just wasn't the right book for me at this time. 2.5 stars, rounded down to 2.

Perfect middle grade novel to add to your fall/winter list. Great premise, love the depiction of the twins and the wild circumstance which they were born into. However, could care less about the unnecessary “romance” at the end. That's really my only complaint as this book had the right amount of spook factor, complicated family relationships, and DEATH. It did cement my love for middle grade novels. Thank you for allowing me the chance to read this!

I liked what this book was going for, and its vibe, but the it didn’t work that well for me.

<I> The House in Poplar Wood </I> tells the story of twin brothers, Felix and Lee, who are apprentices for two of ‘The Shades’, Death and Memory.
They have unique experiences under their different Shades, but both feel trapped in their apprenticeship, especially as it separates their family.
Felix cannot see his mother, Lee cannot see his father, and their parents must stay apart. Felix and Lee want to escape this life and end up with the help of Lee’s classmate, a summoner named Gretchen.

The ideas in the story are interesting and it has a good level of creepy, but the story just had a lot going on and (for me) often felt clunky and jumbled. The writing was lovely, but the execution of the plot was a little heavy handed.

I think others may enjoy this book more than I did, so I do recommend it, especially for middle school classrooms or young fans of <I> Coraline </I>. It has themes of friendship, family, and death, and some fun middle grade adventure.

Solid concept, okay execution. The publisher's description really played up the mystery/conspiracy elements but the actual book isn't really like that. I mean, there's more going on than appears, but do we really get sufficient indicators? I liked the shades, the agreement, the limitations, and the rules. And I liked the reveal that shades in other towns work together more. But I'd have liked to have seen that fact, or had it revealed in a clear manner.

A really unique and slightly spooky story. The universe is a little complicated, but it all makes sense in the end. Told from the perspective of three characters--all with a unique voice. (

This scary mystery book is about two brothers who live separately but get to see each other whenever they like. However, their parents are not allowed to see each other or the brother that they don't live with because of a mysterious agreement that rules their lives. One of the brothers, Felix, and their dad, live with and work for Death. The other brother and their mom, live with Memory. It's an exciting, fast moving story with lots of opportunities for discussion about things you want to remember and things you don't as well as death and dying. It was a great story.

Metaphors for the most universal human impulses and experiences walk and talk in K. E. Ormsbee's The House in Poplar Wood, a chilling and mournful but ultimately uplifting middle grade novel about duty, family, and creating your own path in life.

Twins Lee and Felix Vickery occupy the titular house, which is divided into two sections: the west end where Lee and his mother serve Memory, and the east end where Felix and his father serve Death. This is the Agreement, and it is has been in effect since the twins were born. They tried to break it once before, but that ended in disaster, so they have resigned themselves to the fact that they will have to suffer under the Agreement for the rest of their lives. However, one day a girl named Gretchen Whipple shows up who may be able to help them defeat Death and break the Agreement once and for all.

Casting your story with the personifications of Death and Memory is quite a risk. Such heavy metaphor could weigh down the narrative to the point that the reader never engages with the book. Luckily, that is not the case here; there is indeed a heavy sense of dread infused throughout the novel, but it never overwhelms the riveting story or compelling characterization. Rather, it propels the action, as Lee, Felix, and Gretchen race to try to break the Agreement, fully knowing how ridiculous it is to try to beat Death. That heaviness also gives you immense sympathy for the Vickeries — Ormsbee never veers into maudlin territory, but she certainly knows how to tug on your heartstrings when she wants to. (Though my sympathy never extended to Gretchen. I must admit, I wished more than a few times early on in the book for Death to get his elegantly gloved hands on her.)

The mythology that Ormsbee has created with this book is fascinating. I hesitate to reveal too much, but I will say that this is one of the few books that has made me understand fans who pepper authors with questions about the minutiae of their fictional worlds. (Not condone, mind you, but understand.) However, this is a wholly satisfying stand-alone book. There are no loose ends here, only lingering thoughts and warm feelings left from a magical, masterfully told story that I didn't want to end.

The House in Poplar Wood is a beautiful exploration of destiny, familial obligation, and free will. It's also a moving, suspenseful tale that you won't want to put down. K. E. Ormsbee has accomplished something wonderful with this book. Filled with magic, mystery, love, and fear, it asks what it means to be human and what it takes to reach for the life that you want rather than the one that you have been promised.

5 STARS

TW: death

It's been a long time since I've read a middle grade book, since I mostly read YA nowadays, but I am SO GRATEFUL that I received a copy from NetGalley, because this was a delight.

For starters, I feel like the cover totally matches the autumn after dusk young mystery vibe that this book has going on (not to mention it's a super photogenic cover, dang!). It's atmospheric that way from the get-go, not nearly as atmospheric as some other books I've loved, but appropriately atmospheric in a way that suits an MG book.

The other aesthetically neat thing is that the chapter POVs are marked by a simple doodle of the character in question! Felix and Lee's doodles are visible on the cover (Felix is the one with the eye patch on the top half, Lee is on the bottom half), and Gretchen's POV also has a lovely little illustration.

But onto the plot! I was really impressed with the pacing, since it moves at a good clip, introducing little bits and pieces that make you ask further questions. Why are the Vickeries and Whipples enemies? How did the Agreement come about? What happened to Essie Hastings? It isn't very heavy on the subplots, and I love intricate subplots, but before I could be disappointed with that, I remembered it's MG, and everything feels just right for that.

Possibly my favorite thing is the concept, though. From the summary, I wasn't exactly sure what it means for the Vickeries to serve Memory and Death, but once the book got into it, I was really, really impressed! There are Shades (Memory, Death, and Passion) for every town, and they need human apprentices in order to carry out their work. Typically, they steer clear of each other, which is part of what created the Agreement the Vickeries are bound by. On top of that, the way Lee and Felix negotiate the Agreement and the expectations Memory and Death have for them is really well done. They're kids, and what matters most to them is their family.

The only thing I didn't enjoy was the last minute, sort of awkward romance between two of the characters. It just felt out of place and in the context of a narrative so focus on family and friendship despite the obstacles, it felt like it was too much.

Other than that, though, The House in Poplar Wood was an amazing read, and I'm so glad I got the chance to check it out. If it sounds like something you or a family member would enjoy, you can preorder still, and it releases on August 28th, just in time for some solid fall storytelling!

Every town has them - the 3 shades Death, Memory, and Passion and a Summoner who balances them out. But in the town where Felix, Lee, and Gretchen live things have gone terribly wrong. There has been a mysterious death of the apprentice to Passion, there has been meddling by Passion that resulted in an unfair agreement between the apprentices of Death and Memory forcing the married apprentices to never see each other and also keep them from seeing one of their children.
But, Felix, Lee, and Gretchen want to "rite" the wrongs. Deliciously creepy and creative and also touching on cause and effect - I really enjoyed it. Of course I personally appreciated where Gretchen was worried about her spleen exploding - I feel your pain girl.

Peace and blessings to NetGalley for giving me a free read of this book. Hopefully I can convey my honest reaction accurately in this review.

The House in Poplar Wood embodies the spirit of everything I look for in a summer reading experience. Throughout the exhaustingly warm and dry temperatures, there’s a certain type of nostalgia that lingers in the air, genuinely placing me back to when the world felt a bit more infinite than it can feel now, as the Halloween/fall season begins creeping up from around the corner during the cool summer night breezes.

The story follows brothers Lee and Felix Vickery, along with their newly inducted friend, Gretchen Whipple, as they come together to solve the murder of a local towns girl. What begins to unfold is that the forces beyond their comprehension are seemingly even more present within the bones of the town than they imagined.

The world of Boone Ridge is filled with so much history, from the histories of the local families, to the inner workings of many of the deals that occur around them. Ormsbee does such a magnificent job of placing the reader within this world, delicately allowing for the reader to be running amongst this town alongside the characters that inhabit it. Feeling every broken branch, with every scent of the dirt to the towns, creating a truly haptic experience.

What I really enjoyed from this reading experience was Ormsbee’s language and prose, as quality and content aren’t sacrificed, in an an attempt to make this story more accessible. The vines that entangle this Southern Gothic tale are sure to grasp at any reader willing to fall into this story, much like I did.

While the familiar beats are there, Ormsbee really does create an original story, evoking many of my personal favorites such as: Hocus Pocus, Paranorman, Stranger Things, Coraline, and IT. Truly placing this somewhere amongst those that are also filled with rich world-building, and genuine characters with touches of magical realism.

As soon as I read the teaser for this book, I was excited! It was hailed as a “Stranger Things meets The Haunted Mansion middle grade fantasy,” and ended up being the perfect mix of mystery and intrigue with a few unusual characters. I couldn't put it down!

The House in Poplar Wood did not disappoint as a great fantasy read for middle grade students and up. The characters were endearing, the relationships between them realistic, and even the fantasy elements were believable within the context of the story. I really appreciated the detail given to the Shades and their work, which made the motivations and actions of the characters much more authentic.

What I loved most about this book was the characters. Each and every one of them was so believable and engaging. I have a special place in my heart for the cheeky, industrious, and very mischievous Gretchen, who isn’t willing to give up. The brothers, Felix and Lee, are super relatable and their sibling issues will resonate with readers of all ages. The story moves quickly and is told from the perspectives of these three main characters, which gives the story more depth and complexity, and in my opinion, makes it more fun to read.

I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers and up. It would be great for fans of Neil Gaiman and those who like stories that have a little dark humor to them. I am so impressed with this book and cannot wait to share it with my middle school readers!

The House in Poplar Wood is a chilling middle-grade mystery that will captivate young readers. Readers will instantly get wrapped up in the Vickery twins world and desire to be free from their familial obligations, Lee's apprenticeship in training with Memory and Felix's apprenticeship in training with Death. They were told the Agreement that bound their house and divided their family was permanent, but what if there was a chance it could be broken? These two young boys are determined to not give up and find a way to free themselves and their parents. Darker forces are at work, though, and will it really be possible for them to trick Death? The possibility alone of living with Death himself will attract readers who love a good creepy, scary story. The mystery of the town will keep them turning the pages for more. Great read and a must have for any library.

Interest Level: YA

What if you lived in your house but you were not ever allowed to see your mother or your father? This is the problem that brothers, Lee and Felix, face. These two brothers live in the same house but Felix lives on the side of the house with his dad and Lee lives on the opposite side with his mom. Long ago their parents fell in love when they were not supposed to. An agreement was made and their mom had to become an apprentice to Memory and their dad had to become an apprentice to Death. Felix and his mom were never allowed to see each other and the same for Lee and his dad. The Vickery boys had tried to break this agreement before and were punished severely for this. Little do the boys know that their world is about to be turned upside down when Essie Hastings, Passion's apprentice, dies unexpectedly. This is when Gretchen Whipple steps in. Her family runs the town of Boone Ridge and are summoners. They are supposed to work with Death, Memory, and Passion to help the townspeople. But the current Mayor Whipple is selfish, greedy, and abusing the system. When Gretchen finds out that her dad is hiding something to do with Essie's death, she is determined to find out what is going on. To do this, she has to work with her family's enemies, the Vickery boys. When they start their quest they have no idea what they are getting themselves into. Will they face the same fate as Essie? Or will they find the answers they are looking for? Read The House in Poplar Wood to find out if they succeed or fail!

To me, this book starts off a little confusing trying to figure out the people and what they do, but stick with it... I promise it is worth it. Once this story picks up, it is very hard to put down.

I love this book. There are so many themes going on, such as family conflict, school. and sibling rivalry, and navigating the struggles of growing up. Those are not all by any means. The idea of the Shades and their apprentices made me think of the BBC comedy, Mulberry, where the titular character was the offspring of Death and...someone that you wouldn't think would have fallen in love with the Reaper (I don't want to ruin it if someone looks it up and wants to watch it). The House in Poplar Woods is a beautiful and spooky little tale. I'll be recommending it for purchase at my library.

Twins Lee and Felix Vickery live in a secluded house in Poplar Wood with their parents. The hitch? Their dad Vince is the apprentice to Death and their mom Judith is the apprentice to Memory.
Death and Memory despise each other and have had a feud going for years so when Passion brought Vince and Judith together thirteen years ago, an Agreement was made,
(All those capital letters aren't a mistake: the shades Death, Memory, and Passion are almost human in this tale and the Agreement is a binding contract that Death and Memory created and any discussion of it is filled with dread.)
The Agreement has several rules: Felix lives with his dad and Death in the East wing of Poplar House, Lee lives with his mom and Memory in the West wing. Lee can never see his dad, Felix can never see his mom, and their parents can never see each other again. The boys can meet, but only outside the house.
Gretchen Whipple, the mayor's daughter, is from a family of summoners who are meant to keep balance between the 3 shades so they don't overstep their bounds interfering in the lives of the townspeople. She knows that the recent death of Essie Hasting (apprentice to Passion) wasn't an accident; her father is covering for Death.
The Whipple and Vickery families are sworn enemies but Gretchen knows she has to work with Felix and Lee to figure out what really happened to Essie and maybe even help break the Agreement holding the boys and their parents hostage to the feuding shades.
The House in Poplar Wood is an exciting and original story with kids learning to trust their instincts, question the world around them, and finding the courage to stand up for themselves and their loved ones.
I wasn't prepared to love this story as much as I do! I can definitely recommend this book to both middle grade and adult readers. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.