Joplin never knew her grandfather but when he dies she and her mom still have to clean out his house. Her grandfather was a famous author and all her mom wants are his papers, but she does let Joplin have one keepsake. Joplin takes a broken platter in a tin. When she gets it home her mom's friend Jen helps her get it restored. The first person they take it to is Lucius Doyle who creeps them both out. Once the platter is repaired Joplin notices the young girl on it and wishes she had a friend like that. The next day the girl in in the garden waiting for her. Turns out Sophie's soul was trapped in the platter by a magician and she can grant wishes. Joplin and her friend Barrett resolve to help Sophie and get her returned to her own time and family. 

I enjoyed this story even though there were certain elements that I didn't think worked as well as others. I liked the friendship that evolves between Joplin, Sophie and Barrett. I liked that Joplin tells her mom and Jen the truth about Sophie and they believe her. I really liked the twist about Sophie and mom's connection in the past. What I didn't think worked as well was Lucius Doyle. For a villain he wasn't very villiany. I also didn't really like how the situation was resolved. Seemed like a strange resolution for a middle grade novel. I will also admit that when I read that Jen was mom's best friend and had been their roommate I assumed there was a romantic relationship and was actually a bit disappointed when that turned out to be a wrong assumption.