cry and disturbed me, but I also found it beautiful and touching.
The book is about a young Mormon family that moves from Indiana to a
town in North Carolina. Step, the father, is a software developer. His
wife, DeAnne, is a stay-at-home mom. They have three children, Stevie
(age 7), Robbie (age 4), and Elizabeth (age 2), with another baby on
the way. Stevie has trouble adjusting, and has a teacher that is quite
cruel to him. Soon, he begins talking to imaginary friends, which his
parents attribute to his stress of moving and difficulties with his
teacher. All the while, the town has had young boys disappearing,
beginning before the family arrived in town, causing a panic with area
parents.
The family background is very autobiographical on the part of the
author, who is himself a Mormon. One of the interesting aspects of the
book is the insight given into the rituals and beliefs of Mormons.
Another bit of fun is the nostalgia aspect, as Step is a software
engineer in 1983, just as the PC is being introduced. Commodore 64 is
the reigning King in this world, with doubts that the PC will ever
take off.
This was a wonderful book. It has a very original storyline, and was
probably influential in several other books and movies that have since
been released since this book was published in 1992. I highly
recommend this book, but be sure to have a box of tissues handy as you
reach the end.
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