Stay Out of the Basement

A family is dealing with the father/husband being an out-of-work scientist who is conducting experiments in their basement. Almost from the moment the story begins, the mother has to leave to go tend to a family member out-of-town. She doesn't return until the end of the book. While the mother's gone, the children start noticing changes in their father but are scared to mention them. Being children, they are curious about what their father is doing in the basement even though he has told them to stay out. During one of their trips to the basement, they realize things are not as they seem with their father. It comes down to the daughter being forced to make a decision that could ultimately lead to her father's death.