Eleven-year-old Brian Page lives with his father in British Columbia. He spends much of his time exploring the woods behind his house and he isn't happy that his parents think he should move to Vancouver to live with his mother. On the day that his mother arrives to pick him up for a week-long visit, Brian is nowhere to be found.

Four-twenty. Later, he would wonder where the time had gone. How he had gotten so involved in a simple engine rebuild that he had lost track of the hours? Had lost track of Brian?

"He's probably in the house," he said, gesturing toward the back porch. "I told him to be back by 3:30 to get cleaned up for you."

But Brian wasn't in the house.

...from page 14

Searchers are called and a long anxious night begins.

I chose this book because of the cover. I had no idea what it was about but I loved the cover art by Erik Mohr and the title was intriguing. Sometimes choosing a book that way leads to disappointment but in this case, it did not.

The story flipped back and forth between two points-of-view and the contrasts were striking. On one hand, there was a father, scared out of his mind because his child was missing, feeling powerless because the searchers wouldn't let him help, while dealing with the woman who used to be his wife. On the other hand, a son, full of wonder and possibility, discovering things he never knew existed, and falling in love for the first time. And there was a connection to the son's experiences that the father had long forgotten.

I'm going to admit that I can't do this book justice. It is a novella, and therefore short, but it has more layers and depth and symbolism than most books many times longer. So you're going to need to read it yourself. I promise it's worth the time.

Reviewed by Lynn Bornath on 29 May 2010.

There is a chapbook sampler available at ChiZine Publications.

Find this book at Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, AbeBooks.com.