Hiding

Gr 8 Up—When a lovesick teen goes for a walk one night, he "accidentally" finds himself in the basement of his ex-girlfriend's house. Unable to leave because of the home alarm system, he resigns himself to an overnight stay. When the maid arrives in the morning, the teen sees his chance to leave, but curiosity gets the better of him and he begins to explore; as he moves around the house he describes his relationships with his parents and few friends, but mostly he recounts the relationship he shared with his ex-girlfriend. The teen prides himself on his ability to hide and uses this skill while stuck in the house but despite this titular theme, the work's true focus is on the connections people share. Twists in the story line will keep readers engaged, but the main plot, which is peppered with curses and some sexual references, frequently becomes lost in the many tangential plotlines. Abrupt returns to the present may leave some teens confused.