Wander Lost

White-cued 12-year-old twins Rhett and Nash have always chafed at their mother’s board game prohibition. It’s only after she vanishes that they finally learn the truth. They’re picked up by their estranged, taciturn grandfather, who takes them to stay at his home in remote Indiana woods, where he informs the siblings that members of their family can enter the worlds within board games by exchanging places with the game’s inhabitants. But their mother did not go willingly. They discover that she’s been kidnapped and stashed in one of myriad game worlds by pirate captain Ogden, a former enemy who escaped into the real world years ago. With their grandfather’s mentorship and assistance from 13-year-old Cress, a brown-skinned board game character capable of bounding between worlds, the twins must hone their powers, search the games, and thwart Ogden’s nefarious revenge plans, all to rescue their mother. Combining the mechanics of Jumanji with the interconnectedness of Wreck-It Ralph, Martin (Vanishing Act) spins a humorous and heartfelt homage to classic board games via fictional creations as real and evocative as any childhood favorite. Idiosyncratic characters, thoughtful worldbuilding, and a palpable sense of possibility permeate this fanciful adventure. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (June)