The Crystal Forest

This is an illustrated story about three teenagers (Aura Jones, Francine Dubois, and Charlie Alwyn) who have been close friends for most of their lives. One day, Charlie collapses at the beach and is taken to the hospital in a coma. When the doctors are unable to find out what is wrong with Charlie, and have abandoned all hope of saving him, Aura and Francine decide to act. With the help of a mysterious old lady, who has great powers and the most unusual friends, they embark on a dangerous journey to an exotic locale in order to find the only medicine that can save their friend. In the meantime, the local community panics when a newspaper article claims that Charlie is infected with a deadly virus that could wipe out everyone in North America. The pressure forces the hospital to schedule an experimental treatment for Charlie that is nearly always fatal, giving Aura and Francine precious little time to complete their mission.