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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Lee and Felix are brothers that live in the same house with a weird agreement--one lives with their mother on one side, the other lives with their father on the other side. Their parents can never see each other, and each cannot see the parent they do not live with. This complex arrangement is fueled by the fact that each parent is the apprentice to a Shade--mom is apprenticed to Memory, dad is apprenticed to Death. They weren't supposed to fall in love but they did, and this is the result. Lee and Felix have always hated this agreement, and the idea that they each will be asked to be the next apprentice. But Lee gets to go to town, because Memory is easier to work with than Death. Felix is trapped at the house 364 days out of the year. So of course, on Halloween he goes out and things start to happen. The story follows Lee, Felix and Gretchen in chapters that don't evenly alternate. Gretchen is the mayor's daughter--he has other powers and she has other ideas. Everything that happens in this book is borne of the frustrations of middle school-aged kids. It's interesting to see how that works, and what they find.
Charming, spooky middle grade book that I think is going to be a Halloween classic.
While I don't normally read middle-grade books, Poplar Wood was the best possible way to ring in the fall season! Without shying away from the permanence and dread of death, Ormsbee brings in characterizations of big forces in people's lives - Death, Memory, and Passion - and realistic child-characters whose fear of death (and Death) and curiosity and sense of justice are all at war. Parts of this story ended up on the wrong side of ridiculous for my taste (namely the end of Asa Whipple's story arc), but the relationship at the center of the book (ie Felix and Lee's brotherhood) was brilliant and remained so throughout. The plot was unique and interesting and I certainly found myself curious to see how every twist panned out.
Fun premise and good characters, although I found the ending somewhat lackluster
I really liked the concept of the three shades, and the nasty curse Memory and Death put on the family in the Poplar Wood. Lee's struggles against this contract, and Felix's attempts to deal with Death by himself were very effective. Gretchen's spirit often came out as bullying, and I couldn't understand the reactions to her -- she seemed a very unpleasant person to be around. Her integration didn't work as well for me; I don't understand how she ended up so emotionally independent from her family (no one was at all decent to her) and yet so accessible to the children she mistreats. And the ending left me with a lot of questions, especially about the benevolence of Passion and Memory.
I hated the romance, but then I always do :-)
I hated the romance, but then I always do :-)
This book was very good, and while there isn't anything wrong with it, I wouldn't give it the same rating as my other five star readings.
I LOVED how Death, Memory, and Passion were actual characters. Moving, speaking characters. And, no spoilers, but Death did not disappoint. If you like a book modern fantasy, twins, funny teenage boys, AMAZING character development, and an engaging mystery, this book is amazing. The ending was a little rushed, but it didn't ruin the story.
(It has a female main character in addition to the twins, so it was a nice balance.)
I LOVED how Death, Memory, and Passion were actual characters. Moving, speaking characters. And, no spoilers, but Death did not disappoint. If you like a book modern fantasy, twins, funny teenage boys, AMAZING character development, and an engaging mystery, this book is amazing. The ending was a little rushed, but it didn't ruin the story.
(It has a female main character in addition to the twins, so it was a nice balance.)
dark
lighthearted
Lee and Felix Vickery are twins, but the only thing they do together is travel to town on Halloween, the one night that Death allows. For the rest of the year, they go about their lives in Poplar Wood, on opposite sides of their house, as the Agreement states. Felix helps his father, who is an apprentice to Death, and Lee does the same for his mother, who is Memory’s apprentice. It’s not the best life, but they make it work – until the daughter of Passion’s apprentice is killed, and Gretchen Whipple, the mayor’s daughter, and sworn enemy of the Vickerys, decides to get to the bottom of a feud that has controlled the lives – and deaths – of everyone in their small town for years. Lee, Felix, and Gretchen form a friendship as strange as their living arrangements to set things right. Poetic descriptions give this book a contemplative feel, though the action ensures it’s never bogged down in too much detail.
After their parents made an Agreement with Death, the Vickery twins had to live with it. It meant that Felix had to serve Death alongside his father, witnessing healing and dying every day. Felix was not allowed to go to school and could not ever see his mother. His father could not see his brother Lee or his mother ever again. Lee in turn lived with his mother on the other side of the house serving Memory. He took bottled memories, labeled them and placed them on shelves. Both brothers had errands in Poplar Wood, Lee to dispense of the memories and Felix to gather herbs. Their life was terrible but steady until Gretchen entered it, determined to figure out how Essie was killed. From a family of Summoners, Gretchen is second born and unable to conduct the Rites. Still, she insists on untangling what is happening in their small town as Death, Memory and Passion let their rivalry get out of hand.
Just writing that summary demonstrates how unique this book is, yet it also plays with existing myths about shades and summoning. The book makes Death, Memory and Passion into figures that are non-human but still have human desires like revenge and dominance. The book is constructed so that the reader learns more about this fictional world alongside the characters. Each brother knows separate elements and Gretchen brings her own understanding of the other part of the relationships with Shades to the book. The organic way that it plays out via the story itself makes it immensely satisfying.
The characters are definitely worth noting as well. Gretchen is the most compelling character. She is wonderfully curious, prickly and determined. There is no way to tell her no that she will accept and her tenacity drives the story forward. The two brothers are unique from one another as well, one who goes to public school and the other who doesn’t. Their lives are as different as can be, each raised by not only one parent but also influenced deeply by the Shade too. These factors play out in their personalities in a way that is subtle but also clear.
A great fantasy Gothic novel with a mystery at its heart. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
Just writing that summary demonstrates how unique this book is, yet it also plays with existing myths about shades and summoning. The book makes Death, Memory and Passion into figures that are non-human but still have human desires like revenge and dominance. The book is constructed so that the reader learns more about this fictional world alongside the characters. Each brother knows separate elements and Gretchen brings her own understanding of the other part of the relationships with Shades to the book. The organic way that it plays out via the story itself makes it immensely satisfying.
The characters are definitely worth noting as well. Gretchen is the most compelling character. She is wonderfully curious, prickly and determined. There is no way to tell her no that she will accept and her tenacity drives the story forward. The two brothers are unique from one another as well, one who goes to public school and the other who doesn’t. Their lives are as different as can be, each raised by not only one parent but also influenced deeply by the Shade too. These factors play out in their personalities in a way that is subtle but also clear.
A great fantasy Gothic novel with a mystery at its heart. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
I did not want to put this book down and nearly cried when I had to. Lee and Felix are twins separated at birth due to their mom apprenticing for Memory and their dad apprenticing for Death. The shades apprentices fell in love on Halloween, thanks to the help of Passion. Halloween is the ONLY day the shades take a break from their apprentices. After discovering their union, the 2 shades made an agreement that the dad would keep Felix, who would prepare to be Death's apprentice when he became of age, and their mom took Lee, who prepared to apprentice for Memory. The worst part, that took me til the middle of the story to realize when the parents were told they would never see each other nor the other child again, they LITERALLY meant it. They could NEITHER see nor hear them. That drew the last straw for me and I was rooting for the boys to somehow break the agreement. Irresistible to put down from start to finish with an unexpected ending. I would rate it 10/5 stars if I could!!!!