*“Anderson, the author of the YA novel Feed (2002), proves himself a natural in this genre, tightening the screws of suspense one twist at a time, and occasionally piercing the sinister atmosphere with a cheeky ray of comedy… Deliciously scary, often funny, and crowned by a pair of deeply satisfying surprises, this tour de force leaves one marveling at Anderson’s ability to slip between genres as fluidly as his middle-grade heroes straddle worlds.”

—Booklist, starred review

“Anderson gleefully deploys his wicked wit, leavening the Gothic atmosphere with hilariously anachronistic details like duct tape in the unlikeliest places. Jazzier than Susan Cooper, funnier than Philip Pullman, this is a highly original and enormously entertaining read.”

—The New York Times Book Review

“[A] smart, consciously complex offering that never panders.”

—Kirkus Reviews

*“Anderson keeps the tension high even as he cuts it with colorful prose and an insightful motif involving the boys’ friendship. Dexterously juggling a seemingly impossible profusion of elements, the author builds to a climactic series of surprises that, exploding like fireworks, will almost certainly dazzle readers.”

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Joan Aiken meets Douglas Adams in this well-done, humorous fantasy… The novel never ceases to entertain, and the ending is genuinely unexpected. The book should strongly appeal to any teen interested in an original fantasy adventure.”

—Voice of Youth Advocates