My 5th grade teach read this book to us in 1988 but I got the idea that the book wasn't terribly new even then. I just remember a few vague things from it: a girl and a parrot (one named Polly), a basement (that the kids weren't supposed to go into) that had something to do with witchcraft. For some reason "House of Dies Drear" keeps coming to mind (I know that's not it), leaving me to think perhaps the title is similar. I know that's not much help, but does anyone remember this book?