Melony Yoshimura's parents have always been overprotective. Don't ride your bike too far. No sleepovers with friends. Don't talk to strangers. They say it's because a demonic spirit called the Amanjaku once preyed upon kids back in Japan, but Melony suspects it's just a cautionary tale to keep her in line. So, on her twelfth birthday, Melony takes a chance and wishes for the freedom and adventure her parents seem determined to keep from her. Knock, knock, knock. Soon after, as if conjured by her wish, the Amanjaku appears. At first, Melony is wary. If this creature is real, are the stories about its destructive ways also real? In no time, however, the Amanjaku woos Melony with its ability to shape-shift, grant wishes, and understand her desire for independence. But what Melony doesn't realize is that the Amanjaku's friendship has sinister consequences, and she quickly finds every aspect of her life controlled by the demon's trickery--including herself. Melony is determined to set things right, but will she be able to before the Amanjaku turns her life, her family, and her community upside down? -- Provided by publisher.