The Lost Boy

Gr 4–7—Nate has recently moved to town. He's resistant to his new situation until he finds an old reel-to-reel tape recorder under the floorboards. Through a series of recordings, he learns about Walt, who once lived in the house. Soon Nate and his new friend, Tabitha, are in the middle of a sinister web that began with Walt's disappearance 50 years ago. The friends have no choice but to venture into The Kingdom, a dangerous world populated by talking animals, "buglings," worn-out toys, and the evil Vespertine. The first part of the story alternates between the present-day world and the recordings made by Walt in the 1960s. Nate and Tabitha's journey into The Kingdom comprises the second part. The fast-moving plot has several scary elements, and many of the characters have unsettling dark sides. The story culminates with a satisfying battle between good and evil, but also reveals that there are more evil forces to be dealt with and that this is the start of a series. Although the fantasy elements are intriguing, the dialogue often seems contrived and the attempts at sarcastic humor are uneven and forced. The detailed and realistic black-and-white illustrations use a variety of angles to create a visually exciting, cinematic atmosphere. Though the shifts in perspective can be sudden, confusing, and disruptive to the flow of the story, this creepy volume will still find an audience among tweens.—Amy Seto Musser, Denver Public Library