A raging disease called the 'Berry Eye' has swept through the world. All the surviving inhabitants have fled to a remote island in the middle of the Ocean. Kester Jaynes, a mute boy and the main character, is torn from his family and is dumped into a sort of school known as Spectrum Hall situated on the edge of the island in the Quarantine Zone. Here the children don't learn anything, instead they only eat, sleep or are confined to their prison-like cells doing nothing. Kester is kept here for six years until he makes his escape. This is how it happens...

One unsuspecting day, he finds a flock of one hundred pigeons in his bare bedroom - and they start talking to him! He finds that he has the gift of the 'voice': the tongue of animals (if you've read The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness you will be familiar with the 'voice' spoken by the Spackle or you can read my review of The Ask and the Answer). Kester and the pigeons escape Spectrum Hall (hold your noses ladies and gentlemen!) by the sewage drain. Then they get carted off to the Ring of Trees summoned by the noble and majestic stag who requests something very important from Kester...

The author carries you away on an amazing and adventurous journey with the characters from beginning to end. My favourite character was Wolf Cub who is arrogant and always thinks he's the best at everything, "I think I played the best part" even though he didn't do anything! The story is told in the present tense - something I generally dislike but this is a real exception: you will find that you are subconsciously glued to this extraordinary and exciting story. It is too good to be given a simple rating but I shall do it anyhow. 10/10!

P.S. you won't regret reading it.

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