The library had just shelved new copies of some of the Battle of the Books list, so both Natasha and I picked copies of this one. And then, because she didn't have her card, we ended up checking them both out on my card. I thought that was funny.***One was returned unread, but I finally got around to it. And then I recommended it to Tash. The characters are a little flat, not fleshed-out. Although we're told that this is taking place in Ohio, there isn't a strong sense of place. All the writing effort was put into the plot, which steadily builds in intensity and danger and weirdness, to great effect. I really hated putting it down during the last twenty pages.The book most resembles Gone, albeit for slightly younger readers. These kids are straight, white, middle-class, middle-schoolers with no significant problems other than the big one. I'm kind of amazed Disney hasn't snapped this up and produced the hell out of it.Library copy.