Ten-year-old Alan doesn't live in a fantasy world, but he visits one as often as he can.

In the summer of 2001, Alan and Zak try to fill their days with magic and adventure. Bike rides turn into epic quests, while evenings are spent reading books, watching movies, or better yet, creating original stories and characters.

Zak unknowingly helps Alan with life at home, where Alan's mother struggles nightly with the lure of alcohol. Both Alan and his mom, each in their own way, find a purpose and a comfort in escaping reality for a little while.

But reality is about to change.

Now...

When summer ends, the fear begins

School is back in session, and Mickey Bloom is starting the fifth grade. Mickey is a typical ten-year-old with some typical ten-year-old problems-a tough teacher, a relentless bully, a beautifully intimidating girl that he likes, and a dad who doesn't really understand him.

There's also the little matter of a fiery-eyed figure of darkness that stalks him from his closet at night.

Mickey knows no one will believe this shadowy monster exists-he can barely believe it himself. As his life begins to unravel, Mickey desperately hopes to find the...