"I wish I had some mud," said John.

"Mud!" said his mother, staring at him.

"Yes," said John. "I like to dig in mud. And I wish I had a swing. I would like to swing and swing all day."

His father and mother looked at each other, and then his father said, "Do you know what he needs? He needs a backyard."

When John Taylor and his parents move from their apartment in the big city to a house in the suburbs, the adventure has just begun. With a big backyard and woods to explore, he quickly finds that there is a whole exciting world to discover with his new friend, Jim. As the boys search for answers to the mystery that they uncover, they learn that treasured friendships can be found in the most unexpected of places.

From The Good and the Beautiful edition