When Jem moves to the countryside with his family, he doesn't like his new home one bit. Nothing feels right and, worst of all, strange things are beginning to happen. There is a folk tale told in the village about a little creature called the nouka, who lives in the hill behind Jem's house and likes to come out at night to cause mischief and mayhem.

Jem doesn't believe in the nouka. Whoever heard of a creature who seeks out unhappy people? Unhappy people just like Jem.