Ruby and Slate, both products of dysfunctinal families, find themselves embarked on a supernatural adventure when they reply to a notice for an 'audition for life'. Ruby, who is very short for 11 and must wear thick glasses, lives with her single mum - an aggressive, unhappy woman. Slate, cool and antisocial, lives with an older brother and has a dad in prison. When embarking on their trip after having passed their 'audition', both are petrified. But Slate realises 'You, like sometimes, have to take risks. The right sort of risks, that is, otherwise you get nowhere'. And risks they do take - adventures involving a secret island full of dangers, accompanied by stowaway Lee (Ruby's best friend from school who has always bullied her), refugee Nadine, who has lost all her family, and chirpy little French boy St Ives, whose parents have died. All these children are 'needy' and all come through their experiences strengthened, having found hope. While the experiences are supernatural, the children's needs are fully rational. A good read.