A parent might reach for this book when their curious, intelligent child feels a bit like an outsider or is navigating a tricky new friendship. The story follows Laura, who discovers her unpopular neighbor Omar can travel to the fourth dimension. She convinces him to take her along, but they soon find themselves in terrifying danger from the dimension's powerful inhabitants. This classic sci-fi thriller explores themes of bravery, loyalty, and the social pressures of middle school, making it a perfect, mind-bending adventure for readers who love puzzles and suspense.
The protagonist initially uses blackmail to force her neighbor to share his secret.
Sensitive Topics
The primary sensitive element is psychological terror and peril. The feeling of being small, helpless, and hunted by a vastly superior intelligence is a core theme. This can be read as a metaphor for navigating confusing social hierarchies or feeling powerless. The approach is entirely secular and science-based. The resolution is hopeful, but the characters are permanently changed by their harrowing experience.
Ideal Reader
A curious, analytically minded child aged 10-13 who enjoys puzzles, mind-bending concepts, and suspense. It's perfect for a reader who has outgrown simpler adventure stories and is ready for more complex scientific ideas and psychological tension. It will also resonate with a child navigating the complex social cliques of middle school.
Parent Prep
The physics of the fourth dimension are explained, but they are abstract. A parent might want to be prepared for questions about tesseracts or how a 3-D object would appear in a 4-D world. The scenes with the 4-D creatures are menacing and can be frightening; the tone is one of suspense and peril, not gore. The book can be read cold without specific prep. A parent hears their child say, "school is boring," or observes them being fascinated by "what if" scenarios, puzzles, or shows with mystery and strange phenomena. The child might also be expressing feelings of not quite fitting in or struggling to connect with a new or different kind of friend.
Age Experience
A younger reader (9-10) will primarily experience this as a thrilling and scary adventure story, focusing on the danger and the escape. An older reader (11-13) will be better equipped to grasp the abstract dimensional concepts and will also pick up on the nuanced social commentary, the shifting power dynamics between the characters, and the moral questions about Laura's initial motivations.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many middle-grade sci-fi books focused on aliens or technology, this story's entire premise is built around an abstract mathematical concept. Sleator's genius is in making the fourth dimension feel tangible, logical, and terrifyingly real. It uniquely blends high-concept science fiction with a grounded, relatable story about middle school friendship and social pressure.
Read plot summary
Popular middle schooler Laura is intrigued by her strange, nerdy neighbor, Omar. She discovers his secret: he can access the fourth dimension, allowing him to perform impossible feats. Driven by intense curiosity, she pressures him into taking her with him. Their initial explorations of the bizarre, disorienting 4-D space turn terrifying when they attract the attention of the dimension's powerful, god-like inhabitants, who see the human children as little more than interesting pests to be captured. Laura and Omar must rely on their combined wits and newfound loyalty to escape a seemingly impossible trap.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
At the start of the book, Laura uses what she knows about Omar to pressure him into taking her to the fourth dimension. Do you think her actions were fair? Did your opinion of her change by the end of the story?
2
The 4-D beings saw Laura and Omar as simple pets or playthings. Why was this so frightening for them? Have you ever felt like someone in charge didn't understand you or see you as a whole person?
3
Omar starts out as an unpopular loner but becomes very brave. What do you think was the bravest thing he did in the story, and why?
4
Imagine you discovered a secret as amazing and dangerous as the fourth dimension. Would you keep it to yourself, like Omar tried to do, or would you share it with someone you trust?
