Last year, Justin's friend Zee disappeared, right around the same time Justin's mom passed away. Now he lives with his big sister, and is dealing with the fact that Zee is back, but not the same. There's something deeply troubling about him, but everyone says to just give him time. When Zee's mom has a get-together at her house, she invites the neighborhood kids, and hopes that it will help Zee. But all he does is start screaming random rhymes at them, some of which seem like threats, and some like warnings. The next day, one of the neighborhood girls has gone missing, and even stranger things begin happening to the group of friends. Could the disappearances have something to do with their casual game of Hide and Seek? And could Justin be the next to disappear?
I loved this truly creepy tale that takes an innocent kids' game and turns it on its head. The author isn't afraid to go to dark places, while keeping it safely in the realm of middle grade. The characters are relatable, and the plot moves quickly. I will definitely keep this in mind to recommend to lots of kids, and it would make a great read aloud!
