Deep in the Woods — Larry J. Hillhouse

This is a coming-of-age adventure of a young girl in a small Appalachian community. Have you ever been deep in the woods, far from civilization, when suddenly even the birds are quiet? Have you ever been in a deep cavern and wondered what strange creature might be lurking around the next bend? Many years previously, entire families disappeared overnight from Spooky Hollow, never to be heard from again. When two local youngsters vanish, the oldtimers silently ask themselves, "Is it happening again?" As Betsy Parker and her dog explore deeper and deeper into the woods, she eventually finds the answer to the question, "Are we ever really alone?"