When Marco's shy and fragile little sister, Lilly, tells him about the strange lights in the basement, he thinks she's imagining things. But Marco is curious, and before long he investigates. He finds a passage into a strange world, where he meets insect-like creatures who seem to know all about Lilly. They believe she is special and beg Marco to bring her to them so that she can embark on a dangerous quest to save their world from ruin. Can Marco help the creatures while protecting Lilly from harm?

"Sleator achieves some dazzling effects here." – The Horn Book, starred review

Published
2001
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Author

William Sleator

William Warner Sleator III (1945–2011), known as William Sleator, was an American science fiction author who wrote primarily young adult novels but also wrote for younger readers. His books typically deal with adolescents coming across a peculiar phenomenon related to an element of theoretical science, then trying to deal with the situation. The theme of family relationships, especially between siblings, is frequently intertwined with the science fiction plotline. Due to the suspenseful and often eerie nature of some of his works, Sleator has been compared to young-adult horror writer R. L. Stine. Others cite a strong resemblance to the…