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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
while I enjoyed the family ending, I disliked most of the characters and one of the mains was a big bully.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very enjoyable middle grade read with excellent fall vibes! I loved the overall concept of the book, two brothers being unwilling apprentices-in-training to Death and Memory, while a suspicious death in the town sends a member of a rival family into an investigation to who, or what, is truly behind it. I really liked the softcore spooky feeling the book has, which is to be expected when Death is literally hanging over the shoulders of the characters. It did take a while for the action to pick up, but when it did it was flying straight through.
I did find Gretchen a little overbearing and entitled at times, though she became somewhat more likable towards the latter half of the book. The romance aspect was kind of shoehorned in, the focus was more on the families themselves and the dynamics within them, thereby making that plot somewhat tacked on just for the sack of "conventional kid's media trope." Still, I had fun reading it and would definitely recommend it as a worthwhile fall read.
I did find Gretchen a little overbearing and entitled at times, though she became somewhat more likable towards the latter half of the book. The romance aspect was kind of shoehorned in, the focus was more on the families themselves and the dynamics within them, thereby making that plot somewhat tacked on just for the sack of "conventional kid's media trope." Still, I had fun reading it and would definitely recommend it as a worthwhile fall read.
Peace and blessings to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for giving me an ARC 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.
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.
The House in Poplar Wood by K.E. Ormsbee is a middle grade horror that brings to mind the Death of the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, except that this is Earth and there are more than Death. Also there are two other types of fates working to control human destiny. They can't, though, work directly on humanity, they need a human to do the actual one on one interactions.
Felix and Lee, twin boys, live in a divided house in Poplar Wood. While they can see each other, they can only see one parent each. Before they were born, their parents broke a taboo, the apprentice to Memory fell in love with the apprentice to Death. Death and Memory hate each other and are now forced to reside in the same house. So they've made the Agreement and that's what keeps the family separate.
CC6666 - siblings home offroad
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comments_07/house_in_popular_wood.html
Felix and Lee, twin boys, live in a divided house in Poplar Wood. While they can see each other, they can only see one parent each. Before they were born, their parents broke a taboo, the apprentice to Memory fell in love with the apprentice to Death. Death and Memory hate each other and are now forced to reside in the same house. So they've made the Agreement and that's what keeps the family separate.
CC6666 - siblings home offroad
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comments_07/house_in_popular_wood.html
DISCLAIMER: I received an e-ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
5 STARS
EXPECTED AUGUST 28, 2018
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!
5 STARS
EXPECTED AUGUST 28, 2018
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!
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The first quarter of the book took a little bit to get moving, but once it did, I thoroughly enjoyed this little tale. The idea of Death, Memory, and Passion being actual beings that we can interact with is fascinating enough, but add to that the dynamics of families and deep-rooted prejudices you get a wonderfully charming and interesting story.