Lost Boy (review)

His family's move to a small Welsh village has brought surprises for Matt, not least of which is his supernatural shadowing by a boy with his initials, who died in a traffic accident years ago. Matt's new friends, Tig and Rob, tell him that elderly farmer Wil Jones was at fault for the accident, and indeed Wil seems to be haunted in some way, as he repeatedly mistakes Matt for someone else. Wil's seeming recognition of Matt excites Tig and Rob, who are convinced that Wil deserves punishment for his past wrongdoing, but is Matt getting caught up in a situation that's more dangerous than he realizes? The story maintains a measured pace and accessible style, but it packs a lot in: there's suspense and mystery, some supernatural touches, an academically overwhelmed older sister, and an ethical dilemma with questionable friends. While the plot might have been served better with a deeper focus on fewer elements, the threads combine effectively, and Matt is a classic everyguy hero, a sympathetic average kid who's landed himself in a quandary through no fault of his own but who has to take the responsibility to right things. A slender and easily readable volume, this brings spooky tension to an audience not yet ready for Alan Garner or Kevin Brooks.