Amulet's story is about a young girl named Emily (Nickname Em) and her younger brother, Navin. They along with their mother, Karen, move to their great-grandfather's house in a town after their father, David, died in a car accident and she cannot afford to pay the rent. The locals believe that the house is haunted, but Karen ignores the rumors. But soon, the family discovers a small door in the basement of the house leading to an alternate version of earth. Here the story takes form.