HIDING

A teen boy who excels at hiding must figure out the secrets of a seemingly perfect family.

An unnamed, never-described 16-year-old has been hiding all his life. He explains from the start, “Real hiding happens when everybody can see you, but they don’t notice you.” In this unconventional thriller, the teen tells readers directly all that he’s noticed lately. It’s been three months since his ex-girlfriend, Laura, broke up with him. He says, “I know you think I’m crazy,” perhaps even a stalker, but he felt compelled one night to observe her wealthy home (in which he was never allowed while they dated). When he sees a basement window left open, the teen seizes the opportunity to be closer to Laura. Once inside, though, he becomes trapped when the alarm system is turned on and discovers that Laura had been hiding her true self from him. Despite the danger, the teen makes it his mission to piece together the real Laura. Reminiscent of The Catcher in the Rye’s Holden Caulfield, the teen is an unreliable narrator whose thoughts often drift back to previous events of sexual awakening, a friend’s false identity, and his own feelings of not fitting in. Readers will often wonder if he is unwell—or the only voice of reason.

A taut thriller for thinkers who enjoy adventures of the mind.