NIGHTFALL

Three 14-year-olds struggle to survive as they find themselves accidentally left behind when their town migrates away from the 14-year-long Night that is descending upon their island.

Marin and her twin brother, Kana, come from a traditional family, but their friend Line is an orphan who cares for his little brother on his own. The townspeople follow strict rituals as they prepare to leave: they scour their homes clean and follow a rigid formula for arranging the furniture. But amid the preparations for departure, Line disappears, so Marin and Kana race inland to find him—returning, of course, too late. Soon the three realize that they are far from alone on the island, and the new inhabitants seem determined to find and kill them. A mysterious voice tries to guide them to a hidden boat, but Line has badly hurt his arm and is suffering both fever and possible gangrene, while Kana experiences an odd transformation. Halpern and Kujawinski invent a fascinating world that comes to life, full of intriguing monsters. The beginning half of the book shines as readers slowly discover the other inhabitants of the island, but the long escape sequence, with the three teens struggling against Line’s increasing illness and the monsters looming ever closer, is also effective.

The teens’ desperate journey to find their way off the island will keep readers turning pages.