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I am trying to find the name and author of a children's fantasy/sf book. The plot involves people who are simply disappearing from the world. Usually they come to some decision and mysteriously tell their family they are leaving, and soon after they simply cannot be found.

The protagonist (I think a boy) discovers that the family cat can see strange black blobby creatures that are invisible to everyone else. (This is why cats stare at things we cannot see.) I think the cat decides to "leave" as well. Finally, the boy discovers that the blob creatures are the connection to another world where everything is rural. He and his family step into the other world. The story ends with a description of how they farm the blob things.

I think the author is female.

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  • Any idea when the book was published? Do you remember whether it had ever won any awards (Hugo, Nebula, Caldecott, etc.)?
    – TML
    Nov 23, 2011 at 0:38
  • @TML Given when I remember reading it, probably published before 1992. I don't remember any awards.
    – lofidevops
    Nov 23, 2011 at 6:53
  • This isn't the book Tunnels (part of a series), is it? (I don't remember cats in it, though.)
    – JLG
    Apr 6, 2012 at 19:23
  • I recall it as well. I will try to find it in my library.
    – Francesco
    Jul 28, 2012 at 12:42

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Sounds very like my recollection of "On The Flip Side" (1983) by Nicholas Fisk (1923-2016).

The plot was essentially that, with the blobs becoming first visible to some humans around television sets. The principle character was a girl (Lettice), but the story was told from her brother's viewpoint.

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