Sammy, a mentally challenged boy, gets lost in the woods where he accidentally meets a wild kid, Kevin, who keeps him prisoner a short while before the boys become friends. I applaud Mazer's effort in making a disabled character his protagonist, but frown on his diagnosis. Sammy is meant to have Downs Syndrome, but either Sammy is one of the highest functioning, mild cases of Downs ever or Mazer didn't get enough information before writing. Mazer's relationship with the natural world is spot on, as always, and the male bonding between two socially challenged boys is real. 3rd through 5th grades, some girls, but mostly boys. ( )