Shadow Walkers

Hartinger (Project Sweet Life) gives his usual slice-of-life style a paranormal twist in this metaphysical thriller. As a mostly closeted gay teenager living with his younger brother and grandparents in a small island community in the Pacific Northwest, Zach relies on the Internet for social interaction. When he's grounded for a minor infraction and loses his online privileges, he starts experimenting with astral projection, though with little luck. After his brother is kidnapped, Zach again turns to astral projection in an attempt to find him. Teaming up with another teenager he meets on the astral plane, Zach and his cute new ally race against time to prevent a tragedy, little suspecting that an even greater danger is stalking them. Were it not for the implausible leap of logic that leads Zach to use astral travel to save his brother (a somewhat ill-fitting plot mechanic, with too many coincidences and aspects left unexplained), this would work well as either a tense thriller or a gay teen romance. But both plot and character development feel rushed, and things never quite fall into place. Ages 12–up. (Feb.)