Mina is, in her own words, extraordinary. Exceedingly bright, obsessed with words - making them up as well as enjoying the sounds of unusual ones - she writes a diary of her thoughts and all the things that have happened to her. She has had 'one big sad and horrible thing' in her life, the death of her father, and while we never hear how or when he died, his presence in her thoughts is always there. Mina is home-educated because she became so difficult at school that her teacher (a stickler for conformity) couldn't cope - not because of Mina's behaviour, but because she thought and acted differently from other children. Too original by half, her story on the SATS exam is complete nonsense, thus triggering her mum removing her from school. Mum understands her unusual daughter very well, and while she sometimes finds her prickly and priggish, she knows how to handle her. Birds are another obsession with Mina, the birds in the garden, the pictures and models she makes of them, what they feel and think. Her diary is part philosophy, part the stark reality of her own experience, and part lyrical expression. This book won't appeal to every child, but for many it will prove life-enhancing and of seminal importance. Along the way, Mina gives us 'extraordianry activities' to do, such as 'Stare at dust that dances in the light' or 'Write an empty page...now look closely at the emptiness. This is quite easy and quite delightful.' As this book is a prequel to Almond's 'Skellig' the two really should be read one after the other. Together they make a remarkable story of two children's minds. Superb!