Ten-year-old Emma doesn't believe in faerie tales or monsters that secret children away in the night—until she meets one. She lives in a quiet village at the edge of Widowswood with her parents, her Nan, and her little brother, Tam. Ready to abandon the whimsy of childhood, she finds the boredom of chores comforting and Nan's fanciful bedtime stories silly. One morning, a wan and weary older girl staggers out of the woods and sets the entire town aflutter with whispers of a child-stealing monster lurking in the forest. Nan tells her of the Banderwigh: a dark soul who feeds on sorrow and drains the life from children's tears. Darkness comes calling on Emma's happy home, threatening the reality to which she desperately clings. The impossible becomes more and more real, forcing Emma to reach inside herself for the ability to believe. Her family depends on it.

Once again safe at home, Emma clings to the comfort of family and tries to put the fright of the Banderwigh behind her—but deeds, even good ones, often have consequences. With a new reality of spirits and magic open to her, Emma feels a strong connection to Widowswood. She means to make good on her promise to the Spider Queen, bringing a monthly supply of silk in trade so humans cease their trespass upon the forest. A guild of thieves infiltrates the quiet town, lured by the incredible value of spidersilk flowing so freely from the forest. At first, they don’t believe the source is a ten-year-old girl, but once they learn, they’ll do anything to control her. Stuck between protecting her family or protecting her forest, Emma draws courage from her grandmother’s stories and makes a choice—that could cost her life.

A druid’s work is never done… even if she’s ten years old. With the Silk Thieves no longer a threat to Widowswood, Emma enjoys the solace of home and the peaceful routine of her chores. She is happy to be with her family, but still hasn’t quite forgiven herself for making them worry about her. One afternoon, Neema, the Faerie she freed from the wizard’s lantern, returns seeking her help. Her people are dying, and she’s convinced Emma can save them, and do it in only a few minutes. The plea proves hard to resist, and Emma soon discovers cursed animals are attacking the faeries. Even though some Silverbells have perished, they are hesitant to kill the creatures. Their queen hopes Emma can find a way to save both animals and faeries alike. Far from her family in a strange magical forest, Emma feels too small for the task set before her, but cannot abandon the faeries to their fate—even if it means she may never find her way home.

Emma tries to balance her newfound abilities as a druid with only being ten years old. Chores and having to go inside before dark leaves only a few hours a day to save the forest―or at least her home town. Strange magic plagues the people of Widowswood Village. None of the adults take it seriously, as the effects are short-lived and whimsical. Emma suspects something darker is going on, having listened to Nan’s tales of night pixies who aren’t as nice as the Silverbells. Convinced someone or something wishes ill upon her home, she decides to do what the adults won’t. Amid the chaos, the daughter of a wealthy gem merchant, goes missing. Emma’s father and the entire Widowswood Watch spend all their time searching for the abducted girl. Worse, a bully blames Emma for the girl’s disappearance, but after dealing with a banderwigh and the silk thieves, he doesn’t scare her at all—until he turns violent. Emma knows everything is connected, and isn’t about to let a mean-spirited older boy stop her from protecting her home.

Ten-year-old Emma has battled dark creatures and protected her home from errant magic, but an unexpected letter brings her scariest trial yet―attending a wedding in Calebrin. Da’s younger sister has invited them for her ceremony, but Emma dreads the huge city, its strange people, uncomfortable fancy clothes, and worst of all: shoes. Her anxiety builds when Nan refuses to go, filling her head with worries about what could be wrong with her father’s side of the family. On Emma’s first night in Calebrin, spectral crying wakes her. She creeps out of bed to discover a forlorn spirit wandering the halls, who seems to be trying to warn Emma of danger. Alas, Da’s prim and proper mother has a low opinion of druids, and an even lower opinion of Mama. His younger brother takes particular delight in tormenting Emma, and her efforts to assist the spirit only annoy him more. She suspects something far darker than an arrogant uncle lurks in the giant manor house where her father grew up. No longer afraid, Emma tries to help the ghost—before she becomes one herself.