Prepare to be scared silly in this creepy middle-grade novel! Twins seek medical help in a remote village after their father is in a canoeing accident...only to discover the scarecrow that stands watch in town may have a stronger hold over the residents than expected. Perfect for fans of R.L. Stine, Dan Poblocki, and Mary Downing Hahn.

Twins Oliver and Trisha are on a canoe trip with their dad when a freak accident leaves their father badly injured. With no cell phone reception, their only choice is to continue down river and hope to find civilization.

And they do-in a small village. Except the people there behave strangely, and weirdest of all is the giant scarecrow in the village square. The townspeople seem nervous-obsessed-with the scarecrow. "He watches over us," the twins are told. "He keeps us safe."

An old woman whispers to the twins that they should not, under any circumstances, spend the night in the village. Not if they ever want to leave. But with the sun soon to set and their father at the medical center, can they escape? And if not, can they survive?