First published 2016
Benji and Red live in separate towns and have nothing in common. They aren't friends. They don't even know each other exists. Then a random encounter brings them together, and they make a startling discovery. Both boys have seen something lurking in the Piney Woods. Something that watches them. Something that follows them through the trees. The other kids whisper about the Madman of Piney Woods, but could the stories actually be true? As Benji and Red dig deeper into the mystery, they realize their connection runs far deeper than a shared sighting. The forest holds secrets that will change how they see themselves and each other. Curtis weaves a story that moves between fear and friendship, between the darkness of the woods and the warmth of unexpected bonds.
Genres: adventure, mystery, contemporary, young-adult
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, mystery
Setting: Piney Woods
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
384 pages · Paperback · Scholastic Inc.