This is a fast moving outdoor adventure with hero Chase, a fourteen-year-old, who has begun geo-caching in the foothills of Arizona. With his first find, he also discovers a clue that leads him into a sequence of events: danger, hungry young boys, a strange campsite, a computer search--all kept secret from his family and friends. A great story and read-aloud.

Top Selected/Recommended Title by the Kansas State Reading Circle Commission

Chase is a 14-year-old boy with a great interest in geocaching. After receiving a new GPS, Chase begins to frequent the mountains surrounding his home in Arizona. One day he finds a misplaced geocaching box that contains an cryptic, unfinished note. He feels as though the author(s) may be in some kind of danger so he decides to investigate. It's not long before he finds the two young boys who left the note in the uprooted box. After spending time with the boys, Chase learns that they have been staying with their strange father at a hidden campsite and suspects they may have been kidnapped. Will he be able to help them without getting hurt? You'll have to read to find out. This is a survival story that will keep readers in suspense. Highly recommend, especially for Gary Paulsen fans.

The summer season has ended and the tourists have finally made their way home. For fourteen-year-old Chase, whose family runs a bait and tackle store and rents cabins, this is a relief. He treasures the peace when he is out exploring, cycling, and geocaching (using a GPS to locate hidden caches). With his loyal dog Dexter, Chase sets out for his first solo geocaching quest. The adventure becomes a mystery when Chase discovers a childlike message scrawled in the geocache log book reading HELP WE NE. Chase’s curiosity sends him back to the cache the next day. When he opens the log book, the message now reads HELP WE NEED FOOD. Chase discovers two young boys who appear to be in some sort of trouble. As Chase unravels the mystery he is suddenly caught in the midst of a family abduction, a very sick little boy, and an unstable father. Part mystery, part outdoor adventure Hide and Seek should appeal to middle grade thrill seekers. Many readers will relate to Chase’s blended family, his desire to do something important on his own, and his mixed feelings about moving. Recommended.

Grant artfully describes the nuances of geocaching without detracting from her story. Believable characters, credible subplots, and adventure with an air of mystery combine to form a heart-pounding young-reader novel.

The plot is unique, the characters are likeable and real, and the writing is tight and engaging. All four of us thoroughly enjoyed this new novel that’s perfect for middle-grade readers or as a read-aloud!