fifteenyearold alexander cold is about to join his fearless grandmother on the trip of a lifetime an international geographic expedition is headed to the dangerous remote wilds of south america on a mission to document the legendary yeti of the amazon known as the beastbut there are many secrets hidden in the unexplored wilderness as alex and his new friend nadia soon discover drawing on the strength of their spirit guides both young people are led on a thrilling and unforgettable journey to the ultimate discovery when seventeenyearold valerie runs away to new york city shes trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her sporting a new identity she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the citys labyrinthine subway system but theres something eerily beguiling about vals new friends and when one talks val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming