Burl Crow hasn't had many breaks in his young life. His father is a manipulative lout with a dangerous temper; his mother, worn down by years of abuse, now resorts to her little helpers to get her through the days. Then he meets Nathaniel Orlando Gow, the Maestro, and in just one day, this eccentric genius changes Burl's life forever.

TIM WYNNE-JONES is one of Canada's foremost writers for children. The author of over thirty-five books, he is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Award, as well as a two-time winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award and of the Arthur Ellis Award. His short-story collections include Some of the Kinder Planets, Book of Changes and Lord of the Fries. He is also known for his Rex Zero series. Recently, he wrote the young-adult novels The Ruinous Sweep; Emperor of Any Place, which earned seven starred reviews; and Blink & Caution, which won the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Tim is also the recipient of the Edgar Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award for a Body of Work. In 2012, he was made an Officer to the Order of Canada. He lives in Perth, Ontario.

Tim Wynne-Jones' profile page

• Commended, PPYA (Books that Don't Make You Blush)
• Winner, CLA Young Adult Canadian Book Award
• Winner, IBBY Honor List
• Winner, Governor General's Literary Awards: Text

Complex and poignant, wrapped around a dramatic story line.

Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

A truly compelling adventure story.

Kirkus Reviews

(as The Survival Game)...marvelously tense...It's a remarkable book.

Books for Keeps (UK)

(as The Survival Game) Wynne-Jones paints a powerful picture of the effects of abuse...One of the most delightful aspects of this compelling story is Wynne-Jones's sharp perspicacity and language...An intensely enjoyable read for 12+.

Inis Magazine (Ireland)

...a gift for a group of readers not often enough offered work of this caliber.

Globe and Mail