In this first book in a series of five, we meet 13 year old Mallory and her 9 year old twin brothers Simon and Jared. They are moving in to their aunt's huge but falling apart old house with their mom after her divorce. Jared has been fighting at school since his father left, so when his sister and brother wake up bruised, his twin's tadpoles are found frozen in the ice cube tray, and the kitchen is wrecked with broken dishes and eggs and spilled cereal, milk and flour everywhere, mom blames Jared. The children thought mice were making the scuttling sounds they heard in the walls, but when they investigate, they find a nest of junk, a hidden library, and an old book about faeries which suggests the hidden creature is far more dangerous than mice. The children quarrel like most brothers and sisters, but they also cooperate to discover the secrets of the old house. Along with the solution to the mystery, they get a warning; "'Throw the book away, toss it in a fire. If you do not heed, you will draw their ire.'" What new dangers will they face? Find out in the exciting sequel, The Seeing Stone.