The Creepening of Dogwood House
“Gotta keep pushing, Baby. No matter what.” Since his mom’s death, Roddie (Black) holds onto her words, along with memories of her smile, of cooking together, of her braiding his hair. Aunt Angie has offered to help with his hair, but he prefers doing it himself. Aunt Angie and Uncle Erik (both Black) live in Dogwood House, where his mom and aunt, her younger sister, grew up. The old house built by his ancestors is in serious need of repair, and an airing—there’s a funk in almost every room. Roddie’s grief is eased a bit by his aunt and uncle’s love and he throws himself into helping, but he’s unsettled by what he finds beneath the old wallpaper: hair, in strands and coils. Aunt Angie has given him a bowl to burn his own stray hair—a ritual of her childhood, although, she explains, it was his mom not her who loved hearing their grandmother’s stories of hoodoo traditions, like burning hair to keep the Bridgeweaver from returning. Aunt Angie can’t remember more, no matter how hard she tries, just like she isn’t sure why Roddie’s mom left so suddenly as a teenager. Roddie’s nighttime wanderings reveal scenes from the past that convince him that, like his mom before him, he must face the Bridgeweaver to protect his family. This shivery middle grade novel balances its eerie horror elements with the love and warmth in Roddie’s life. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 9-12
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
African Americans
Aunts
Faith, Spirituality and Religion
Grief and Loss
Orphans
Scary Stories
Supernatural
Suspense
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Other Religion
Publishers:
HarperCollins, Walden Pond
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 257
ISBN: 9780063251403
CCBC Location: Fiction, Royce