Sinbin Island
Doug Naylor
David Fickling Books

Jack Winston Claremont Digby, Digs to his friends, has become an orphan and instead of being cared for as anticipated by family friend, Mrs O’Malley, he learns that he is to go to the Cyril Snigg’s Correctional Orphanage for Wayward Boys and Girls (Cowbag, so its pupils call it), said by some to have been founded by a pirate. Before going he is given an ancient magical Russian soldier nesting doll (handed down through generations of his family) and told to open it when the need arises.

On arriving at the school, the boy begins to make some new friends and they endeavour to avoid the attention of the bully, Lewis Seaforth. They also try to avoid accumulating high numbers of lashes: one hundred means a pupil will be sent to Sin Bin Island at the end of the year. Some so it’s said, have never returned, while some returners have never been the same since their ordeal.

Come the end of term it’s Digs, Amber, Cav and Noah who are to spend the week on Sin Bin Island.

The second part of the book is concerned with the four ‘Binners’ – a pretty smart lot it turns out – endeavouring to survive on the terrifying island. They find themselves facing some pretty hair-raising ordeals and risking life and limb, (those Russian dolls prove invaluable), some revelations are made and as the adventure draws to a close, it looks as though for Digs a great destiny awaits. First though there’s a second year at Cowbag to look forward to.

This is exceptional storytelling from Doug Naylor, fast paced, thrilling and with lashings of humour: a real treasure of a tale in more ways than one. Older KS2 readers and beyond will find it utterly compelling, assuredly this adult reviewer did.