The Creepening of Dogwood House
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2024 · Est. 8 hour read

The Creepening of Dogwood House

By Eden Royce

A haunted house reveals family secrets and hoodoo mysteries to a grieving boy.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 308 ratings
272 pages· 57,392 words· Est. 8 hour read
$19.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Roddie, reeling from his mother's death, moves to the eerie Dogwood House with Aunt Angie. As they restore the decaying home, Roddie uncovers hidden family secrets and hoodoo mysteries. Why did his mother flee at seventeen? What secrets lie within the house's walls? As the past reaches out, Roddie must confront the unknown lurking in his family's history.

From the publisher

The Walter Award Honor-winning author of Root Magic returns with a terrifying story in the Southern Gothic tradition, inspired by the hoodoo practice of hair burning.At night, Roddie still dreams of sitting at his mother’s feet while she braids his Afro down. But that’s a memory from before. Before his mom died in a tragic accident. Before he was taken in by an aunt he barely knows. Before his aunt brought him to Dogwood House, the creepiest place Roddie has ever seen. It was his family’s home for over a hundred years. Now the house–abandoned and rotting, draped in Spanish moss that reminds him too much of hair–is his home too.Aunt Angie has returned to South Carolina to take care of Roddie and reconnect with their family’s hoodoo roots. Roddie, however, can’t help but feel lost. His mom had never told him anything about hoodoo, Dogwood House, or their family. And as they set about fixing the house up, Roddie discovers that there is even more his mother never said. Like why she left home when she was seventeen, never to return. Or why she insisted Aunt Angie always wear her hair in locs. Or what she knew of the strange secrets hidden deep within Dogwood House–secrets that have awoken again, and are reaching out to Roddie…

At a glance
Format
Hardcover
Pages
272
Words
57,392
Reading age
8–12
Audience
Middle Grade
Lexile
~829L
Themes & topics
Books about auntsBooks about deathBooks about magicBooks about momsBooks about family
For readers who can't stop at one

The next favorite is already out there.

Age-appropriate books selected to help their love of reading grow, delivered right to their door.

Find their book club
Bookroo club box with books for growing readers
The author

More from Eden Royce

Explore Eden's bookshelf
Root Magic
Sale price
$1699

Root Magic

Ages 9–12 · 2021

Conjure Island

Ages 8–12 · 2023
Your next read

Books that feel like this one

See all similar books
#1 in Series
Sale price
$1799

Spirit Hunters

Ages 8–12 · 2017
The List of Unspeakable Fears
Sale price
$1799

The List of Unspeakable Fears

Ages 9–12 · 2021
When You Trap a Tiger
Sale price
$1799

When You Trap a Tiger

Ages 8–12 · 2020

One Crazy Summer

Ages 8–12 · 2010

A Wrinkle in Time

Ages 9–13 · 1962
Sale price
$1699

Ravenfall

Ages 10–12 · 2022

King and the Dragonflies

Ages 8–12 · 2020

Circus Mirandus

Ages 8–12 · 2015
The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
5.3
F&P level
~T
AR points
9
AR interest level
MG
AR quiz
550287
Publication
Published
July 30, 2024
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780063251403

Surprise a reader with their next favorite book.

Spotted a mistake or something missing? Improve this page.

Are you the author or illustrator? Claim your book.

Top contributors: Literary Leslie

Bookroo

Book Clubs

Follow Bookroo