"Once upon a time, in a dark city far away, there lived a boy called Walter, who had nothing but his name to call his own..." The handwritten book, with its strangely vivid illustrations, has been hidden in the old house for a long, long time. Tonight, four kids and their teacher will find it. Tonight, at last, the haunting story of Walter and the mysterious, tragic girl called Sparrow will be read - right to the very end. An extraordinary story within a story a mystery, a prophecy, a long-buried secret. And five people who will remember this night as long as they live.

For secondary school ages.

Winner 2019 CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers.
Winner 2019 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Children's Fiction.