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.

"...a gift for a group of readers not often enough offered work of this caliber." - Globe and Mail

"A truly compelling adventure story." - Kirkus Reviews

"Complex and poignant, wrapped around a dramatic story line." - Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

"(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)