The House in Poplar Wood: (Fantasy Middle Grade Novel, Mystery Book for Middle School Kids)

Three teens investigate a mysterious death to break a curse, escape dark forces, and do the right thing in this suspenseful tale for middle schoolers. For as long as the Vickery twins can remember, Lee and his mother have served Memory, while Felix and his father assist Death. This is the Agreement. But one Halloween, Gretchen Whipple smashes her way into their lives. Her bargain is simple: If the twins help her solve the murder of local girl Essie Hasting, she’ll help them break the Agreement. The more the three investigate, however, the more they realize that something’s gone terribly wrong in their town. Death is on the loose, and if history repeats itself, Essie’s might not be the last murder in Poplar Wood . . . Simultaneously heartwarming and delightfully spooky, The House in Poplar Wood is a story about a boy’s desire to be free, a girl’s desire to make a difference, and a family’s desire to be together again. Praise for The House in Poplar Wood “With expert pacing and detailed worldbuilding, the story unfurls into a smart, thrilling mystery, equal parts dark and gentle, that explores questions about freedom, power, and choosing one’s master.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review “The suspenseful plot is unspooled slowly, but the magical elements, evocative, intelligent writing, and ever ratcheting suspense keep it interesting.”— Kirkus Reviews , starred review “The foreboding atmosphere perfectly matches the dark mystery and high stakes confronting the middle-schoolers.” — Booklist “A breathtaking and elegant tale with vivid prose, a spooky setting, and a fiercely determined group of unlikely friends. Will have readers flipping pages late into the night.” —Ashley Herring Blake, acclaimed author of Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World Haunted Mansion meets Stranger Things

★ "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, Lee and his mother have served Memory, while Felix and his father assist Death. This is the Agreement. But one Halloween, Gretchen Whipple smashes her way into their lives. Her bargain is simple: If the twins help her solve the murder of local girl Essie Hasting, she'll help them break the Agreement. The more the three investigate, however, the more they realize that something's gone terribly wrong in their town. Death is on the loose, and if history repeats itself, Essie's might not be the last murder in Poplar Wood. Simultaneously heartwarming and delightfully spooky, The House in Poplar Wood is a story about a boy's desire to be free, a girl's desire to make a difference, and a family's desire to be together again. Haunted Mansion meets Stranger Things ? "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, Lee and his mother have served Memory, while Felix and his father assist Death. This is the Agreement. But one Halloween, Gretchen Whipple smashes her way into their lives. Her bargain is simple: If the twins help her solve the murder of local girl Essie Hasting, she'll help them break the Agreement. The more the three investigate, however, the more they realize that something's gone terribly wrong in their town. Death is on the loose, and if history repeats itself, Essie's might not be the last murder in Poplar Wood. Simultaneously heartwarming and delightfully spooky, The House in Poplar Wood is a story about a boy's desire to be free, a girl's desire to make a difference, and a family's desire to be together again For as long as the Vickery twins can remember, theyve only ever been able to leave the house together once a year, on Halloween. The rest of the year, Lee and his mother serve Memory, while Felix and his father assist Death. This is the Agreement. But one Halloween, Gretchen Whipple smashes her way into their lives. Her bargain is simple: If the twins help her solve the murder of local girl Essie Hasting, shell help them break the Agreement. The more the three investigate, however, the more they realize that somethings gone terribly wrong in their town. Death is on the loose, and if history repeats itself, Essies might not be the last murder in Poplar Wood. Simultaneously heartwarming and delightfully spooky, The House in Poplar Wood is the story about a boys desire to be free, a girls desire to make a difference, and a familys desire to be together again. The Vickery twins, Lee and Felix, live in a house in Poplar Wood, where, because of the "Agreement," their mother serves Memory, and their father assists Death, and only Lee is allowed to leave the house, except for Halloween; but when a local girl is murdered, Gretchen Whipple, daughter of the mayor, offers the boys a deal--help her solve the crime and she will help them break the Agreement, and regain their freedom.