The first novel in a brand-new adventure series by Carnegie Medal Winner Katya Balen for fans of Greenwild and The Whisperwicks

Kit is visiting the island of St Aleston for the first time for her summer holidays. On the map her mum shows her, the island is an idyllic speck of green in a sea of blue just off the coast of Scotland. In reality, Kit will be spending the summer holidays with her dad, his new wife Elizabeth (who is actually one of the best things Kit could have hoped for) and her three children: Milo, Finn and Coco. Who definitely don't want a fourth member joining their gang and spoiling their summer fun.

To her surprise, Kit feels immediately at home on the island, in a way she can't understand. It's as though she belongs here, even if her step-siblings don't want her. And then she discovers the way to Saltstone, an island identical to St Aleston, but hidden in the folds of time and filled with magic. Here is a secret of Kit's very own – something her step-siblings know nothing about.

But the islands have a dark history – it seems that every generation or so, a child around Kit's age has gone missing from St Aleston – attributed to string of unfortunate accidents. The last was Elizabeth's brother, Thomas. Kit soon realises there have been no accidents and she might even have discovered what happened to him, but can she stop it from happening again?