At first glance, the Dawkins seem like an ordinary small-town family: sloppy, sixteen-year-old Zach; responsible, pretty, thirteen-year-old Piper; and their quiet, glasses-wearing, six-year-old brother Elijah. But looks are deceiving. On the Run begins a four-book, supernatural suspense series for 'tween readers (ages 8-12).

Zach and Piper don't understand their little brother. Elijah is not only quiet; he is too quiet. He hardly (if ever) talks. Even more disquieting is Elijah's bizarre ability to perform miracles. The two teens aren't the only ones to notice their brother's supernatural gifts, either. Something evil is also paying attention. When their parents disappear and leave behind a cryptic note, the three kids are suddenly on the run. Not only do they want to find their parents, who have been kidnapped, but they must also protect Elijah and not draw attention to themselves. Not an easy task when they're driving around in a borrowed motor home. Pursued by an unknown (and really creepy) enemy, Zach, Piper, and Elijah must depend on God to help them escape.

On the Run is 103 pages long and divided into ten short, fast-moving chapters. Best-selling author Bill Myers presents a cast of characters who are fun to get to know and are full of snappy dialogue. Aside from the "really creepy" enemy, whom readers only get glimpses of, the children's pursuers are more along the line of bumbling idiots. This keeps the supernatural aspect light rather than delving into the darker side of the subject. The book caught my attention from the first page by introducing Zach, Piper, and Elijah as kids I'd like to share an adventure with. Young readers will get caught up right away.

Thirteen-year-old Piper took the lead in nearly all situations, and her older brother let her. It seemed odd that a sixteen-year-old boy would allow his sister to take over so much. However, there are three more books in the series, with plenty of opportunities for all three main characters to grow and change.

On the Run is full of action and an easy read, but readers should buy all four books at the same time if they don't want to be left hanging. That was my only disappointment with this first book. It left me hanging in what I consider the middle of a scene. The first two chapters of the next book, The Enemy Closes In, are included at the end of On the Run. Chapter 1 of the second book is titled "The Chase Continues," and it just picks up the story where book 1 left off.

Product review by Susan K. Marlow, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, July 2009