Trigger warnings: abusive parent, kidnapping, abduction

6.5/10, looking back at the first book I've read from Tristan Bancks this was an enjoyable read but now I see a lot of glaring flaws in this however I still would read other books he made that might be better than this like Detention and The Fall and I've read another book from him that I've enjoyed which was called Cop and Robber. It begins with the main character Ben Silver living his apparently normal life until police arrive and apparently interrogate his parents, suddenly he, his sister and parents are in the car and arrive at an old cabin in the forest to escape from the police, but for what reason I don't know yet but I found out when I read more of the book. Anyways as I read on I discovered why Ben was on the run and it was because his father was hiding a sinister secret and it was that he hid a lot of money that he got illegally and so Ben ran off on his own into another part of a forest next to a river which took up the middle part of the book. Towards the end Ben finds his way back to civilisation, tells the police what happened so they arrest his father and that wraps up the book nicely. ( )

I read this in one sitting. Very exciting and suspenseful and a really lovely coming-of-age story. The characters are interesting and well-rounded and they all grow as the story unfurls. Brilliant job, Tristan! ( )

This ended up being a good, little survival story. I liked thirteen-year-old Ben, the main protagonist. He is insecure, a bit of a loner and a thinker, and when he grows up he wants to be a detective. After misgivings about his parents behaviour, he gathers evidence and slowly pieces together what they have done. This leads to unexpected consequences as Ben battles with moral and ethical decisions - choosing what is right or protecting one's family? Throughout the book Ben grows in strength physically, mentally and emotionally until, at the end, he comes face-to-face with his nemesis. Although less than 200 hundred pages, there is lots to discuss after reading this book: right and wrong, family responsibilities, resilience, moral values and choices. A worthwhile read. ( )