"Two reflective unblinking saucers stared right into him. Night-eyes.Startling. Yellow and piercing. Archie felt chilled, rooted, enchanted. Eyes that hovered in the dark. But he knew immediately." His mother drinks too much, his father is a telly addict and his baby sister died a year ago. There's little joy in Archie's life: he rarely goes to school and is left to his own devices. His only friend is Rory, but Rory is 'trapped inside a tree'. Each week Archie stays with Uncle Craig and Aunty Brenda deep in Midmar Forest. His life turns round when his uncle trains a long-eared owl which he gives to Archie, who names the creature 'Free'. All is not lost, for Free brings joy and hope into Archie's life...