"This is a Borzoi Book published by Alfred A. Knopf." -- Title page verso.

A thriller about one boy's attempt to unravel the mysterious phenomenon affecting students in his new town, as he finds a way to resist sinister forces and pursue hope for them all.

Wallace Cole's father has some deeply important job with an energy company. They're constantly moving, and Wallace finds the job suspicious. Just as Wallace is getting settled into a comfortable life in Kentucky, his father lets him know they need to immediately depart for a new job in a small town in Upstate New York which has recently been struck by an outbreak of inexplicable hysterics-- an outbreak which is centered at the high school Wallace will attend. Everyone seems to take an instant dislike to Wallace; the student body president seems to be falling for him... and trees appear to be talking to people.