When I was roughly 10-years-old I read a children's novel about a
young boy who was haunted by the spirit of a dead uncle. The uncle had
magic powers, and it was believed that one member of each generation
in the family inherited those powers. Everyone in the family thought that the
main character of the novel (a young boy) was the one, but at the end
of the novel it turned out that the magic powers went to the boy's
sister. In the last scene of the book the boy's sister uses her powers
to spin the entire world.

An Australian TV movie was later made of the book, also many years
ago.

Based on my age at the time, the novel would have had to have been be
published no later than the mid-1980s.

Can you find out the title and the author of the book for me?

Greetings!

The name of your favorite childhood novel is “The Haunting” by
Margaret Mahy.

The New Zealand film, “The Haunting of Barney Palmer” is based on the
novel, "The Haunting," by Margaret Mahy
“Young Barney Palmer fears he has inherited his family curse when he
is haunted by the spirit of his dead great-uncle.”
http://www.cinar.com/desc-e/thehau.htm

The book “The Haunting” by Margaret Mahy is out of print but at Amazon
you may buy used copies of this book.
ASIN: 0590331078; (June 1984)
Amazon Website 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/0590331078/all/ref=dp_pb_a/103-6448728-3493405

Here are several reviews of this book:

"Barnaby is dead! I'm going to be very lonely." When a ghost appears
to young Barney and speaks these words he's terrified. Barney's always
been a little different, but what can the eerie voice that haunts him
want? It's up to Barney and his big sister, Tabitha to find out what's
happening. Something, or someone is coming to fetch Barney--and its
getting closer each day. Tabitha is about to discover that her
ordinary family . . . is not so ordinary after all.”

“Mahy has a way of weaving supernatural elements into the ordinary
everyday world and allowing the reader to experience both in a
fascinating tapestry. The subtle, but powerful magic that takes over
the story. The mysterious past of a long-lost relative become
intriguing elements as the plot unwinds. But what gives this book its
power is the element of family and the varied and often challenging
relationships that exist.”

“Various family members act and interact with each other in different
ways, with surprising undercurrents and support structures. It's
interesting to see how these pieces all fit together--Mahy doesn't
present readers with a perfect family, but a family with its ordinary
flaws . . . and one very extraordinary, tantalizing secret.”

“This book will probably appeal most to the sensitive reader who
enjoys subtlety and emotional development vs. direct action and
adventure. Children feeling out of place, whether in their family or
in society, may identify strongly with this story and gain an inkling
of their own identity. This might be for the child who is looking for
something more sophisticated than Harry Potter, yet enjoys the aspect
of fantasy and magic in a contemporary setting.”

“The title of the book is "The Haunting." Margaret Mahy is the author
and illustrator of the book. If I had to give a shot summary of the
book, this is what it would be: There is a family named the Palmer
family .There is a boy named Barnaby who thinks he is dead because
there is a voice or ghost that tells him ,but it really is his great
great uncle who died and he also has the same name. His family also
has many powers. That is why I say they are weird or cool.” --
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0590331078/qid=1035935315/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-6448728-3493405?v=glance

The Haunting of Barney Palmer made in 1986, New Zealand
Directed by Yvonne Mackay
Writing credits: 
Margaret Mahy (adaptation)
Margaret Mahy (novel)
Source: Internet Movie Data Base
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0175704

The movie “The Haunting of Barney Miller” is available for purchase
online at CD Universe.
Price: $11.45 for purchase online - 60 minutes - VHS
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?style=movie&PID=1555096&frm=sh_google

Search Criteria:

film based on children's book haunted by uncle
"The Haunting," by Margaret Mahy


I hope you find this helpful and if there is anything that I've
written that needs clarification, please ask before you rate this
answer.

Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga

Incredibly fast, very thorough and 100% accurate! Thank you!!!