Three boys attending a residential private high school come up with a plan to sneak off for the weekend for a camping trip. The fourth friend decides not to go at the last minute. From the given blurb about the book, we know that several unplanned events will occur along this trip. The opening is gripping as it describes a boy and girl drudging through snow to get back to camp, while a third camper is pacing with something dark on the front of his jacket. We're left wondering what has happened to the campers, who is the girl, were they prepared for the weather, and so on.