Great story. ( )

I am going to preface this by saying I didn’t look at the reading level when I picked this book! ( )

An interesting concept in the main character is a boy who has been stuck at the age of 11 for 1,000 years. Welford uses different typeface when each of the two main characters is narrating the story. Alfie is the 1,000 year old boy and Aidan is a normal 11 year old boy.
Alfie, his mother and his cat have each used a "life pearl" to remain stuck at the age they were when the magic ritual was performed. They live in a hidden house in the woods, avoiding detection by eating wild rabbits, eggs from their chickens and vegetables they grow. Aidan has just moved into a very small flat on the edge of these same woods with his family due to "money troubles". He meets a quirky girl called Libby next door who proceeds to show Aidan Alfie's secret cottage in the woods.
The following night, a terrible accident happens which thrusts the three kids together and sets Alfie on a course of deciding to end his non-aging by seeking out the last remaining "life pearl" on a remote nearby island. Aflie needs Aidan and Libby's help to do this, but it seems that Aidan's own Uncle Jasper is out to stop them....he looks familiar to Alfie...could he also be immortal?
Very engaging story of friendship and family love and a potted history of England thrown in. ( )