Hide and Seeker

Hide and Seeker (2020) by Daka Hermon delves into the dark twists of a seemingly innocent game of hide-and-seek. The story begins when Justin’s friend Zee returns after mysteriously disappearing for a year. At his welcome-back party, the children decide to play hide-and-seek, but they quickly realize that this is no ordinary game. The Seeker, an eerie entity from their childhood games, emerges and turns their fun into a nightmare. As they are pulled into a terrifying alternate reality, Justin and his friends must uncover the secrets of the Seeker’s world and origin. They must face their fears and find a way to end the Seeker’s game before it consumes them all. Hide and Seeker delves into themes including The Strength of Friendship and Unity, Reality Versus the Supernatural, and Learning Courage and Resilience Through Childhood Games.

This guide refers to the 2020 Kindle e-book edition published by Scholastic Press.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of bullying, mental illness, illness, and death.

Plot Summary

Eleven-year-old protagonist Justin Vaughn attends a welcome-home party for his friend Zee, who has been missing for a year.