The Midnight Folk (Kay Harker, #1)

The Box of Delights, a beloved Christmas fantasy by John Masefield, has an orphaned kid named Kay Harker as its protagonist. Kay Harker is introduced to readers in The Midnight People. Kay is cared for by an ugly pair: the obnoxious and repulsive Sir Theopompous and the petulant and punishing Sylvia Daisy Pouncer. Kay lives in a large old country home. Kay’s toys have all been taken away by Sylvia Daisy in her haste to teach her the nuances of Latin language. Life appears to be terribly dull until Kay’s great-grandfather, a sea captain who, according to folklore, stole a priceless treasure, emerges from an old family portrait.