What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

This one is really a long shot, what I remember is so vague.

I read this book about....5 years ago? I think the main character's name was something like Tree, she was a young girl, and I think she was living with her grandparents in a small town. It was summer, and there was going to be a festival or something.

A mysterious stranger comes to town, all this evil stuff is going on, something about a tree that might be a doorway or just a safe spot. The stranger turns out to be the girl's father, if I remember correctly.

I think there was something about the girls' friends too, either they were helping her with whatever she was doing, or she had to protect them somehow. I think something evil was trying to get at her.

I know, it's extremely vague, I believe there might have been a few sequels to it. It was written for adults, possibly sci-fi, I have no idea of what the title was or who the author is.

bump....just wondering if some of the new members might have heard of this?

Could this be Running with the Demon by Terry Brooks? The main character was a girl named Nest who lived with her grandparents, there's the stranger/father who comes to town, and the focus was on containing a demon-like creature inside a tree.

oh, that sounds so close...and I know I've read some Terry Brooks. I read the description but I don't remember the iron workers....but that could just be my memory. I'm going to say yes it is, and I'll check it out from the library to be sure.

Thanks!