Thirteen-year-old Kit goes to live with his grandfather in the decaying coal mining town of Stoneygate, England, and finds both the old man and the town haunted by ghosts of the past.

Liz says:

“Three stories are woven together so beautifully and seamlessly that when you finish reading this book, you will feel like you’ve been through a very strange and awesome experience. Kit’s world is filled with harsh realities, mystical stories and ghosts. This is a complicated book and is a bit dark. I would recommend this book to strong readers who don’t mind eerie stories. I loved it and think David Almond is one of the best writers for young adults.”

Unhappy about his baby sister’s illness and the chaos of moving into a dilapidated old house, Michael retreats to the garage and fins a mysterious stranger who is something like a bird and something like an angel.

Liz says:

“This contemporary fantasy is both an accessible story of friendship and family and a mystical, poetic tale. This is David Almond’s first book and it’s a winner.”