The 13th Reality

Atticus "Tick" Higginbottom is an average 13-year-old until he receives a mysterious letter from Alaska, signed "M.G." That marks the beginning of a deadly and crazy adventure, and Tick is reintroduced to the world as he never knew it. Accompanied by new friends while he tries to evade frightful enemies, he sets off on a life-threatening journey through the Realities, alternate worlds created every time a choice is made, to discover secrets and to solve missions.

• Atticus 'Tick' Higginbottom — The 13-year-old main protagonist of the series lives in Deer Park, Washington, of Reality Prime. He is introduced to the Realities after being recruited by Master George through a series of curious letters and clues, becoming a fully-fledged Realitant.
• Master George (M.G.) — The old, short, quirky leader of the Realitants.
• Mistress Jane — The main antagonist of the series was once a Realitant, but she betrayed her kind after she got her hands on the mutated power of the 13th Reality. She is now seeking to create a Utopia Reality. Her favourite color is yellow, and she is bald in the first book.
• Mothball' — A Realitant from the 5th Reality, where everyone is tall and speaks with a thick British accent. She was given her strange name when Bugaboo soldiers were attacking her family.
• Rutger — A Realitant from the 11th Reality and Mothball's best friend. He is short and fat, like everyone else in the 11th Reality.
• Sofia Pacini — Sofia is a 12-year-old girl from a rich Italian family known for its spaghetti. She is recruited to the Realitants the same way as Tick, by letters. Although sometimes snappy and mean, she is known for her brains and for being tough as nails.
• Paul Rogers — A 14-year-old boy from Florida, he, like Tick and Sofia, was recruited by Master George's letters. He can be a little full of himself, and his love for cracking jokes causes him frequently to butt heads with Sofia.
• Sato — An orphaned boy from Japan whose parents used to be Realitants until they died from Mistress Jane's power. Because Master George was there at the scene Sato became reluctant to him, which slowly extended to everyone.
• Edgar Higginbottom — Tick's outgoing father who loves to eat. He is the first to know about Tick receiving the letters and trusts his son unconditionally.
• Lorena Higginbottem — Tick's mother, who is later revealed to be a Realitant as well.
• Kayla Higginbottom — Tick's younger sister who is only 4-years-old. She loves to burn objects in the fireplace and play tea party.
• Lisa Higginbottom — Tick's 15-years-old older sister. She plays horribly on the piano and likes to talk on the phone.
• Reginald Chu — Tick's science teacher in Reality Prime. His alterant (the alternate version of someone in different realities) is the genius owner of Chu Industries in the 4th Reality, famed for his business skills and ruthlessness.
• Windasill — Mothball's mother.
• Tollaseat — Mothball's father.
• Frazier Gunn — Mistress Jane's loyal servant.
• Annika — A spy for the Realitants until she is found out by Frazier and killed by Mistress Jane's pets, the fangen.

Kirkus Reviews labeled The Journal of Curious Letters science fiction for ages 10–12 and called it "the start of a series that will capture the imagination of young and old alike. ... though there are chunks of text that are overwritten, the telling is generally laced with a strong sense of humor and a sure hand at plot; the author is plainly in tune with today's fan base."[2] One year later, Kirkus labeled The Hunt for Dark Infinity fantasy for ages 10 and up. The story features the "next assignment" for "the trio" Tick, Paul, and Sofia. "Readers will be as puzzled as the characters, who tumble from one complex and outrageous situation to the next, rescued from each at the last minute—sometimes with no explanation. But it all holds together remarkably well, encouraging suspension of disbelief to make way for glorious flights of imagination."[3] Kirkus credited illustrator Bryan Beus but did not comment on his contribution.[3] Evidently it did not cover the third or fourth volume at all.[4]

• Shadow Mountain Publishing
• Dashner's blog
• James Dashner at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database