Hide is the story of a boy with an audacious plan to save himself. At turns suspenseful, comic and philosophical, Hide always returns to Seb's questions: How have we become so lost, so detached from nature, so stupid about a planet we depend upon completely? How will he, or any of us, find our way back?

The book starts with this message:

I've gone away. I don't like hurting you, and I want to be as fair as I can, but this is how it's got to be. Try to remember how smart I am. I can take care of myself. This was planned out. I'm safe. I honestly am. Try not to worry. But of course you will.

You will get other emails from me soon. You have to follow the instructions in those emails, or I won't come home. I know you will try to find me since I'm fourteen and the police have to get involved. They won't find me.

One other thing. This email is one way, so if you reply, I won't get it.

This all must seem obnoxious. I can't explain now, but in my next message, I'll start. Seb

Burton and Maddy Franck's fourteen-year-old son has disappeared from a Buddhist retreat. Frantic, they organize a search and look for clues as to where Seth has gone. Why did he leave? Where did he go?

Seb sends more messages with the same instruction, to respond by video on YouTube. Will those videos make him return to their family? Or is Seb gone for good?