Many years ago, around the time I entered the sixth grade, I went through a phase where I read just about every scary book my school library had to offer, and none has made such a lasting impression on me than "The Night Walkers" by Otto Coontz.

The story centers around Nora, a brave 13 year-old girl who suspects that the mysterious infection afflicting most of the children in her town is more than a virus. When she cannot convince anyone that her fears about the disease are rational, she sets out to discover the truth for herself and uncovers a hideous secret.

Looking back on the story now - a pretty formulaic horror story with some fairly heavy environmentalist overtones - I don't recall that it was much different than anything else I read in those days, other than that it was probably better written. Still, it scared the daylights out of me at the time, and there are portions of it that still give me chills when I think of them. The heart of the story is a lot more interesting, and certainly scarier, than the typical "Fear Street"-esque horror written for young adults. Though the plot devices are familiar, they are presented uniquely enough that the reader is thoroughly intrigued, and the message, albeit a bit heavy-handed, is a valuable one. I'd highly recommend this book to young horror fans, were it easier to get a hold of, (it's been out of print for some time). Definitely worth reading.