Twelve-year-old Mitchell Moinian is obsessed with cars, so he is thrilled when his father purchases a sleek, vintage silver sports car from a mysterious neighbor. The deal seems too good to be true, and Mitchell soon discovers the vehicle has a predatory mind of its own. The car locks its doors spontaneously, accelerates without a driver, and emits strange, organic heat from the upholstery. Mitchell learns that a malevolent spirit is tied to the chassis, turning the dream ride into a mobile trap that refuses to let its passengers escape.
Middle-grade readers who enjoy fast-paced supernatural fiction and suburban gothic settings find this story effective for its mix of mechanical dread and dark humor. It appeals to children who want suspenseful scenarios where everyday objects become lethal threats. The reader finishes the book with a classic twist ending that subverts the protagonist's victory, reinforcing the genre's tradition of unresolved tension. It provides a quick, high-energy narrative centered on the fear of losing control over a machine.
- Published
- 1999
- Language
- EN
