Annie Graves is twelve years old, and she has no intention of ever growing up. She is, conveniently, an orphan, and lives at an undisclosed address in the Glasnevin area of Dublin with her pet toad, Much Misunderstood, and a small black kitten, Hugh Shalby Nameless. You needn't think she goes to school - pah! - or has anything as dull as brothers and sisters or hobbies, but let's just say she keeps a large black cauldron on the stove. This is not her first book. She has written six, so far, none of which is her first. Publisher's note: We did try to take a picture of Annie, but her face just kept fading away. We have sent our camera for investigation, but suspect the worst.