The Mystery of A Nubbins by W.S. Wiist follows teenage Peter, who spends his days in the woods with his younger brother Andrew, building a fort near a rock outcrop called Falcon’s Head. Their project draws the attention of a strange boy who calls himself A Nubbins, and who seems to know hidden paths, underground rooms, and routes no one else can find. As Peter is drawn deeper into the territory, he encounters others who move through the woods by their own rules and feats that test physical limits. An initiation that promises access is offered to Peter, but requires him to separate from Andrew. As rival boys move closer and the terms of the initiation tighten, Peter is forced to choose between finishing what he started and protecting what he did not realize he might lose.

The Mystery of A Nubbins by W.S. Wiist is a unique story that blends a bit of classic Peter Pan with a pinch of contemporary The God of the Woods, and comes out with an excellent novel. I like that Peter has the very normal desire to belong, and when he's invited into hidden places by children who operate by their own rules, the appeal lies in how natural those invitations feel to a boy. I learned a lot about comic books, with proposed comic trades working especially well and Wiist explaining why a single issue matters so much, tying its value to ownership, pride, and the fear of being taken advantage of. As a parent, the growing mystery of missing children is the most engrossing aspect, but to my daughter, whom I read this with, it was all about Wiist's brilliant obstacles for Peter. Overall, this is a heartening and really wonderful book. Very highly recommended.

The Mystery of a Nubbins by W.S. Wiist is a fascinating story that explores the bond between two brothers and a link with something supernatural. It is a perfect story for middle-grade readers, set in the summer of 1983. Peter and his younger brother Andrew wander through the forest near their home. Each of them wants to build a fort, but their adventure is interrupted by a boy with a loaded toy gun who shoots rubber bullets at them. He is nimble on his feet and moves easily between the trees. Peter meets a girl who is also very mysterious. Who are they, and what do they want from Peter and Andrew? Are they real or just trying to draw them into something dangerous?

W.S. Wiist knows how to create suspense in The Mystery of A Nubbins and make you curious about the characters with moments like this. I enjoyed the bond between Peter and his brother Andrew; they love each other, enjoy adventures together, and build things together. I loved how they struggled to protect each other. The Mystery of a Nubbins has a setting that is designed to delight young readers; it is imaginative, and the terrific descriptions of the woods and what it feels like to wander through them transported me back to my own childhood and the adventures I had growing up. I enjoyed the lyrical nature of the prose, the deft characterization, the symbolic illustrations, and the spellbinding suspense that keeps youngsters turning the pages.