Masterminds by Gordon Korman

Eli and his friends are growing up in the ideal town of Serenity, NM. None of them have ever been out of town--not even to just outside the city limits. They don't question this because they have everything they need in their town of 184 people. However, when Eli's best friend Randy convinces him to go on a bike ride out of town, Eli discovers that he can't leave--literally. He gets so sick right after the city limit sign that he collapses and has to be carried back to town. 

This is the first clue that Eli has about something being very strange in their little town, but then Randy is sent away and leaves Eli a note that changes how he thinks about everything.  And when his Internet changes on the night of a big storm, and Eli discovers that he and his friends have been being taught a different version of history, he really starts to wonder what is going on.

Told from the multiple viewpoints of Eli and four of his friends, Masterminds by Gordon Korman (Lexile: 730; Interest Level: Grades 3-7) is a page-turning, mysterious adventure story that is truly hard to put down.  Fans of Gordon Korman, Margaret Peterson Haddix, and other adventure stories will not be disappointed! 2016-2017 Indian Paintbrush Nominee (352 p.)

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