The Misspellers: (Book 1 of The Misspellers Trilogy)

They should have known not to nose around. Outside, the house smelled of rotten cabbage, burnt onions and wet dogs. Inside, there was no phone, no television, not so much as a single electric light. Carlin and Jack didn’t like the place, but all they had to do was water plants while the owner was away. No one told them to discover the house’s biggest secret: science and magic don’t mix.

This books is great for middle readers, and especially nice for reluctant ones.