Keras

All his life, Jack Henley has felt at home in the woods - more at home than when he's actually at home with his parents. He loves watching the badgers play-fighting in the summer evenings, and pretending to be outlaws or cannibals with his two best friends. When Jack discovers that the woods hide an incredible secret - a beautiful, extraordinary, unicorn - he cannot believe his eyes.

He and the owner of the woods, the eccentric Mr Finistaire, embark on a journey to save the unicorn from extinction. But as they continue in secrecy, Jack begins to wonder whether Mr Finistaire is quite what he seems.. Will the bond between Keras and Jack be enough to withstand the danger that awaits them both?

Simon Rae is a poet and broadcaster. For many years he wrote topical poems for the Guardian newspaper and was also presenter of the popular Radio 4 programme, Poetry Please! He then branched out, writing the definitive biography of the great Victorian cricketer, W.G.Grace, followed by a number of plays, before turning to fiction. He published his first novel, Unplayable, in 2009. Keras is his first title from David Fickling Books.