Elijah worries constantly and is known for his less than courageous nature. He suspects that his family's ancient farm, Dredmoore Hollow, is haunted, and lives in a state of constant fear. His worst fears are realized when his two creepy aunts appear at the Dredmore farm for a family visit. His mother and father mysteriously disappear the following day. Elijah has no choice but to accompany his aunts to their home in Moaning Marsh.
Twelve-year-old Cullen lives with the Samuels, a foster family that treats him horribly. He is picked on at school, and his only friends are fellow outcasts Maddy and April. Cullen spends much of his time in a magnificent redwood forest near his home, where he is safe to imagine magical worlds where anything is possible.
