Twelve-year-old Charlie is a tentative young man. His father died when he was younger and he lives with his Mother who runs a diner in town. The local bully likes to focus on Charlie and he is required to present a report in class that spikes his anxiety to the point of fainting. He was planning to go camping with his friends when he is suddenly abducted after accidentally overhearing a private conversation at the diner. Worst of all, no one knows he is missing.

I really enjoyed this book. Charlie is so clever and composed in this precarious situation. He is an honest kid with a strong sense of what is right. I also appreciated Nick’s not-so-bad-guy character. He and Charlie form an unlikely bond that helps boost Charlie’s confidence. The writing is clear and streamlined. The criminal characters are depicted in a way that makes them acceptable for young readers. It’s adventurous and slightly suspenseful with a sprinkle of humor.

This book is not at all what I expected. This is the first book in The Good Bad Guys series. This book has a very treasure island feel to it which transported me back to when I was younger. My niece spent some time with us over break and borrowed my kindle where she came across this and read it in about 1.5 days. She already had her mom order a copy for her! This is a really fun read for adults or young adults!