Summary

A scarecrow is found lashed to the tallest tree in Friendship Park, in the city of Anthem, New Jersey, far away from the country. Larry Rubio and his group of friends, including Gus, Juan Carlos, and Mondo, are the ones who discover the scarecrow lashed to the tree. The tree, an oak, overlooks a limestone ravine everyone calls “the Cone,” which has become nothing more than a large trash can. The tree is carved with graffiti, including some done by Larry and his friends, who call themselves Camp Dark. The scarecrow, upon closer inspection, is very lifelike and even has fingers. It is cold to the touch. Mondo recognizes the scarecrow as resembling Eric Mutis, a new kid they knew years ago who was nerdy, prone to seizures, and unpopular. Larry remembers how everyone made fun of him, calling...